This note describes using Sailmail with Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband service. The FBB terminals offer a relatively high-seed internet connection which works well with Sailmail, and Sailmail provides important protection against unwanted content as well as a means to prevent unauthorized use of bandwidth. This is an important consideration as the Inmarsat gateway allows full internet access. This means that other programs (including a variety of auto-update software) can hijack the connection and run costs up very quickly. Sailmail’s client program includes a “Dedicated Route” option provides this protection in a simple way.
Setup is done as follows:
First, open the FBB/BGAN web page (http://ut.bgan) and make sure that there is a “start standard” link on the “Dashboard” page. If not, see below for “Disable auto-connect”.
Then open the Settings menu, then LAN and then PPPoE on the left, and select “Enabled” for PPPoE. Click “Apply”.
Set up a PPPoE connection for Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 as follows:
1. Open the “Network and Sharing Center” window from Windows Control Panel.
2. Click “Set up a new connection or network” and then click Next.
3. Select “Connect to the Internet” and click Next.
4. If you see “You are already connected to the internet”, then click on “Set up a new connection anyway”.
5. Then select “No, Create a new connection” (unless you are checking settings of an existing connection).
6. Select “Broadband (PPPoE)”, click Next.
7. In the next window enter “void” for username and “void” for password (without the quotes).
(Note: If you have a login name and password from your airtime provider then use those).
Check the “remember password” box.
For connection name enter “Inmarsat-FBB” (or something descriptive).
8. Then click “Connect”, Windows will try to connect– you can click “Skip” to continue.
9. Click “Close” and return to Network Center.
That’s it. To connect manually, click on the Networks icon in the system-tray (lower-right corner of the screen), select “Inmarsat-FBB” (or whatever name was entered) and select “Connect”. Repeat to disconnect. You can also get to the connections properties from this window.
Once all that is done, open Airmail’s “telnet” window (click the “Internet” button on the toolbar or open the Modules menu then Telnet-client). Check the “dial first” box in the Telnet window, and select “Fleet” (or whatever name was used), and check the “Dedicated Route” option. At the top “Server1” should be selected (WRD719 for previous Airmail versions).
To check mail, click Airmail’s “Internet” button (or go to Modules menu, Telnet-client), make sure “Server1” is selected, make sure the phone has a good signal (should be 4-5 bars) and click the green “connect” button. Airmail will dial the phone, contact the server, and exchange mail. Watch the connection and make sure it disconnects when finished.
Troubleshooting:
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Remember that you must be logged in as an administrator user to make system or settings changes.
If the terminal connects automatically (and no “Start standard” appears on the “Dashboard), then go to the Settings menu, then LAN on left, find the “Profiles” heading and set “Automatic Activation” to “disabled”.
If you do not have an internet/telnet window at all then go to Airmail’s Tools menu, Options window, Modules tab, and check the box to the left of “Telnet Client”. Click OK.
To check your telnet settings first open the Telnet window (click the “Internet” button or go to Airmail’s Modules menu and select Internet or Telnet Client). Make sure “Sailmail” is selected if you have also configured Airmail for ham use. Select “WRD719” and click “Settings”, or if not found then click “New”.
Check the following settings:
remote callsign: “Server1” (or WRD719)
remote host: 72.32.198.206 (or pop3.sailmail.com)
Port: 50
TImeout: (blank)
Local callsign: (your Sailmail/marine callsign)
Password: (your Sailmail internet password, Case-Sensitive!).
Click OK to save settings.
If you want to initiate a Data connection manually, open the Dial-Up Networking window and open the “Fleet” dial-up connection and click “dial”. And don’t forget to disconnect when you are finished!
support@sailmail.com
(revised 2015-06-24)