Ham Radio Extra Class Practice Test 2026 - Free Extra Class License Exam Questions and Study Guide

Winlink is primarily designed for email and message transfer over radio frequencies, allowing users to send and receive emails through a network of gateways. While it utilizes digital modes for transmitting data, it is not typically characterized by real-time, keyboard-to-keyboard communication. Instead, it focuses on message store-and-forward functionality, where messages can be sent and stored until the recipient is ready to retrieve them.

In contrast, the other options like RTTY, PSK31, and MFSK are all synchronous digital modes that support real-time keyboard-to-keyboard operation, enabling operators to communicate instantly over the airwaves. In RTTY (Radio Teletype), users can type and see the conversation on their screens as it happens. PSK31 is specifically designed for low-speed data transfer and allows for real-time conversation much like a chat application. MFSK (Multi-Frequency Shift Keying) also enables similar real-time communication, making it distinct from Winlink's primarily asynchronous operation.