INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION OF AIRMAIL3.3

 

Airmail is a complete stand-alone package for e-mail over Ham Radio for either HF PacTOR or VHF-UHF Packet. It contains a complete message management system, address book, and an "Outlook Express Look-alike" E-mail Client.

 

Airmail is a 1) radio messaging system, 2) a radio terminal program for keyboard to keyboard, and keyboard to bulletin board system communication, 3) a standalone email program, and finally 4) an interface to Windows Outlook or Outlook Express email program. Presently, Airmail does not support soundcard operation.

 

Airmail's Packet Client is not yet AGWPE compliant. Work on compliance is progressing and a compliant version should be available soon. It will not integrate messages into other e-mail clients such as Eudora, Thunderbird, Outlook Express, Outlook, etc. A hurdle to overcome in Airmail is the inability to support SSIDS (example:W1ABC-9,K4MJG-10, etc) needed for multiple connections

 

Presently, A TNC IS NECESSARY TO OPERATE AIRMAIL VIA RADIO to RADIO. It works just fine through the TELNET system on the Internet. No TNC is required for this installation.

 

Right now I want to limit operation to Telnet with Airmail and talk about the TNC needed for radio to radio communication.The TNC must support the HOST mode and may need a firmware upgrade. Compatible TNCs are:

 

Kantronics KPC3, KPC3+, KAM98, KAM+, KPC9612

 

AEA/Timewave PK-88, PK-232, PK-232MBX, PK900, DSP232, PK-96

 

MFJ-1278 – ROM version 3.7 needed

 

Not all TNCs will work with Airmail3.3

 

Airmail will run properly on computers using the Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP operating systems. No TNC is required for THIS installation. Your computer needs a working Com port (COM1 to COM6) and connectivity to the Internet. You should have already downloaded   amhc33048.exe .

 

**** INSTALLATION OF AIRMAIL ****

 

1.  Locate and run amhc33048..exe

 

2.  Take all of the defaults as they appear. Airmail should install in C:/Program Files/Airmail.  Installation should be automatic and trouble-free.

 

3.  A shortcut to Airmail3 should be on your desktop.  If not, go to C:/Program Files/Airmail and create a shortcut for airmail.exe to the Desktop.

 

**** AIRMAIL CONFIGURATION ****

 

A TNC IS NOT REQUIRED for this configuration.

 

1.  Start Airmail from the desktop icon.

 

2.  Across the top row click on Tools/Options..

           

AirMail Options screen

 

3. Click on Settings - Enter your call letters in HAM Callsign then  Apply

 

4. Click on Modules - Click on Terminal Window, VHF Packet Client, and Telnet    Client. Check marks should be loaded into the boxes in front of each option.    

Show in Task Bar should have a check mark in its option box.

 

5. Click on Setup to the right of VHF Packet Client.

 

Packet Settings screen

 

Connection - If you have a TNC, using the drop down menu select TNC type, Com Port, and Baud Rate for the Comport.

 

Port Settings - The TNC packet parameters are set using the right side of the Packet Settings screen. We will not configure this section at this time.

 

Click  Cancel

 

Click Apply

 

Click OK and you should be back to the Airmail Message Index screen.

 

You have now installed Airmail3.3 and the program is ready for configuration of a data terminal or TNC for use on VHF packet.

 

 

Across the top, click on Modules, then Telnet Client

 

The Telnet Client screen should appear.

 

Across the top, click on New (farthest option to right of green dot). The Telnet Settings window appears.

 

This window is used to configure the Telnet Client for connection via the Internet to a PMBO (participating mail box operation) Telnet Server. There many that offer Winlink service: WX4J in FL, WU3V in IL, N0IA in FL, and K4SET in KY.

 

6.  Load the Connection Properties screen with the following parameters for one of these stations, using the PMBO's call where 'call' appears below:

 

ITEM                     FILL IN                                                      SAMPLE

Remote Callsign:     call                                                       WX4J

Remote Host:           call.no-ip.com                                     wx4j.no-ip.com

Port:                          12001                                                  12001

Timeout (sec)           300                                                      300

Local callsign           yourcall                                                W8ABC

Password                 WL2KTELNETCLIENT                     WL2KTELNETCLIENT

Protocol                    B2                                                        B2

 

Leave "Include in Auto Check" blank.

 

Click on OK to return to the Telnet Client screen. Repeat this process for as many PMBOs you would like to use.

 

NOW MAKE YOUR FIRST WINLINK2000 CONNECTION

 

7. The PMBO call used for the Remote Callsign in the previous section should now be loaded in the Connect to: Window.  If you have loaded multiple PMBOs, the pulldown menu is used to select the PMBO Telnet Server you want to use.

 

 

8. To the left of the Connect to: window are four Icons:

 

    Green Dot "Go"

    Red Stop Sign "Stop"

    Handshake

    Keyboard

 

9.  The Handshake icon should be highlighted.

 

10. Click on the Green "Go" icon and observe  the screen.

 

11. If you had a Telnet connect, you have just been registered with                 yourcall@winlink.org

 

12. It is necessary to send an e-mail using the account yourcall@winlink.org before you are able to receive email via the winlink.org system. I will cover that procedure in the next lesson. Sorry to leave you hanging!!!!

 

13. Close Airmail.