Members may recall having seen information in the old SailMail Primer that was on the previous SailMail website. While we have tried to move all current information to this site, if members want to refer to the previous SailMail Primer, here it is:
Obviously there are broken links pointing to other parts of the old website.
Windows “NCSI” is “Network Connectivity Status Indicator”, which monitors network internet connectivity by actively probing the connected networks for internet access. This is a part of Windows networking that attempts to provide a seamless internet experience in a dynamic WiFi environment. As sailors, our WiFi environment is certainly dynamic but also not always well-behaving in convention terms. Offshore, connections are slow and costly, and hopefully firewalled against unwanted use. In particular, the Iridium GO! won’t connect to internet until configured by Airmail or another app. This, in turn, causes NCSI to provide bad advice to Windows networking which can result in disconnections.
Using the Iridium GO! with Sailmail is normally straightforward:
But sometimes things go wrong. This article will review the more common issues and explore solutions.
If you have a Mac that uses an Intel processor you can use Parallels or BootCamp to run Windows. You then run AirMail in the Windows environment on your Mac. Parallels has the advantage that you don’t have to re-boot to switch operating systems. See www.parallels.com. BootCamp also works fine for Mac’s with Intel chips but does require re-booting to change between operating systems. In both cases you need to have a copy of Windows.
Newer Mac computers that run on the M-series processors (e.g. M1, M2) processors are also supported by Parallels running Windows-ARM (bundled with Parallels) and happily run AirMail, but connecting a USB device requires ARM device drivers– which are not available at this time for the USB versions of the SCS Pactor modems (e.g. PTC-II/IIIusb, DR-7×00). Network-connected modems do not require drivers and should work (but are untested), Bluetooth may work but is also untested. Older modems with a serial-port interface and a FTDI USB/serial adaptor should work with FTDI’s ARM drivers, other USB/serial adaptors will depend on ARM drivers.
Another approach to running AirMail on a Mac is to use the Mac version of WINE or Crossover. This approach allows running Windows programs without Windows, but again Apple’s switch to the M-series processors has changed things. And setup can be a challenge. For details on how to run AirMail on a Intel-processor Mac using WINE/Crossover see: http://tritonmarinesystems.com/Media-Sailmail/ Thanks to Stas’ Lewak for this information.
SCS model numbers and pactor modes are confusing. Current modems in production are the PTC-IIIusb and the P4dragon, and are recommended. Any previous PTC-II, IIe, IIex, IIpro, or IIusb modem can be licensed to use the Pactor-III protocol for a fee (paid to an SCS dealer or to SCS, not to SailMail) but can’t be used for P4. Pactor-III transfers data 3-4x faster than Pactor-II with good signals, and is slightly faster than Pactor-II even with weak signals. P4 is somewhat faster still, particularly with strong signals. We strongly encourage all members to use at least Pactor-III. SailMail’s stations are all capable of all modes including Pactor-4. We expect that PTC-II-family modems (licensed to use Pactor-III) will continue to be used by most SailMail members because of the significantly lower cost. But for those with greater communications needs, Pactor-4 offers a way to increase capacity. Pactor-III mode was developed after the PTC-II and PTC-IIe were introduced, and was an “option”– part of the newer firmware-updates but had to be “unlocked” with a purchased license-code. For later modems this Pactor-III license-code was keyed to the modem’s electronic serial# (ESN) and was transferable with the modem. For earlier modems, all PTC-II’s and early production PTC-IIe units, without an ESN, the original policy was for SCS to issue a license code that was keyed to the user’s callsign. This license-codes are not transferable to a new owner and are no longer available. If you have a PTC-II or early PTC-IIe that does not have an ESN (i.e. no barcode sticker on the bottom), it may be possible to have the modem retrofit with a hardware ESN. contact Gary at Farallon Electronics to find out. If it is possible, the ESN retrofit and P3 license will cost around $350.
Leave the modem selection in AirMail set to your modem model number. If your modem has indeed been upgraded to Pactor-III mode then Airmail will detect that, and use it. Continue reading
Here is an article that gives on overview on grounding systems for boats. A good ground is required for good SSB performance. Improper grounds can cause electrolytic and galvanic corrosion.
Slow receiving speeds is usually a symptom of interference- electrical noise from some on-board equipment creating interference with your radio receiver. Common culprits are shore-power battery-chargers (yours or a marina neighbors, or running from a genset), also some AC inverters (especially small ones often used to power computers), also some 12v fridge units (e.g. Adler Barber, Frigiboat), some 12v florescent lighting, some instrument systems, etc. This is a general radio problem, not particular to Sailmail or email.
Clues that this is a problem include continuous or periodic tones or squealing or chirping over a wide range of frequencies, or simply a higher-than-normal level of static or “hiss”. The radio’s signal-strength indicator may also show a higher signal level than expected for a quiet channel- the M710 should no signal-strength bars when listening to a quiet channel above 8 megs, and perhaps 1 or possibly 2 bars on lower frequencies.
Isolating receiver noise requires a bit of rigorous testing, don’t try to shortcut this. When underway or in a quiet anchorage (and away from marinas and power lines), turn off everything except the radio (everything!). Then find a weak-but-clear radio station (e.g. WWV on 5 or 10 megs, or a shortwave broadcast station). Then listen carefully while you turn on each circuit one at a time. If the station disappears under static, or you hear suddenly hear beeps or squeals, then you found a source of interference- turn off that circuit and continue, there may be more source of interference.
Depending on what you find, it may be possible to filter the offending equipment but the short-term fix is to make sure that circuit is turned off when using the radio. The biggest problems are often in marinas, where noisy battery chargers can wipe out radio reception for a whole dock or the entire marina. Short of pulling the main breaker, there is no easy solution. Fortunately most marinas also offer some sort of wireless internet connection. There is information here on how to connect to Sailmail directly via internet.
Also check the antenna and ground connections carefully, a corroded connection can cause problems for both sending and receiving. It is a good idea to disassemble, clean and reconnect the antenna and ground connections at least once a year, especially in the tropics.
And of course pay attention to Airmail’s propagation window, make sure your lat-lon is up to date and select times and frequencies which are well within the “green” zone.
Good luck and good sailing,
Jim & Sue
If your sending speeds are consistently slow then there is something wrong on the transmit-side of your equipment– an incorrect setting, a problem with the radio itself, or perhaps a problem with the tuner or antenna. Check your equipment carefully, or find a qualified radio technician to help (and have him read this also). In order to send at optimum speed your needs to be transmitting full power (or some reasonable fraction) and the antenna must be working efficiently.
Start with the radio power-settings and make sure that your radio is set to hi-power mode, power-level “3” for an Icom-M710. (Note that these comments are general but include some specific details for the Icom M710, other radios will vary). One of the myths is that low-power works just as well, this is only true when the station is relatively close- and definitely NOT the case from the middle of the South Pacific.
Next check the tuner connections- make sure that the ground and antenna connections are clean and tight. It is a good practice to remove, clean, and reconnect these connections every year or so, and make sure they are protected from the weather. Also make sure that the wire from tuner to antenna is as short as possible and spaced away from other wiring and metal by at least 2-3″, do not strap this wire into a harness bundle or to the lower backstay for example.
Next check the tuner function: Most marine radio’s have a “TUNE” indicator which indicates when the tuner is active, and when it has properly tuned. For an M710 and M802 radios the “TUNE” indicator on the display will flash for a few seconds when first transmitting as the radio completes its auto-tune cycle, then “TUNE” will remain ON steady. If “TUNE” flashes and goes off then the tune-cycle failed, and the radio will be transmitting very inefficiently and only with a few watts. This is either a tuner problem, or a problem with the control-cable, or a corroded antenna or ground connection.
Next check the transmit power-output. Most radios have a power-output indicator, the M710 has a “bar-graph” of 8 segments. For a M710 the power-out indicator should indicate 7 bars on steadily when calling the station, with the 8th bar (above the “SQL” label) flickering). (You can initiate FSK-transmission with Airmail’s “Set-PTC Aplitude” control, under the Control menu on Terminal window).
If you have a battery monitor which shows DC amps used from the battery, then another good way to check transmit-power is to check the INCREASE in DC amps while transmitting (with battery-charger OFF). For an M710 or M802 this should be 8-14 amps, 100W radios will be a bit lower. For example, if the battery-monitor shows 5 amps when listening, then it should show about 15 amps (a 10-amp increase) when the radio is transmitting.
If the transmit power is low, then this likely indicates that the “FSK” and “PSK” amplitude settings in Airmail are not correct for your radio. (These settings control the modem’s audio “volume” control for the signal sent to the radio, and this in turn controls the transmit-power. The FSK setting is used for calling, PSK once connected. PSK should always be about 30% higher than FSK).
Open Airmail’s Tools/Options menu, connection tab, and check these settings in the lower-right. (You can also access these settings when Terminal-window is open, via Control/Set PTC amplitude menu). Older Icom M710’s are usually 140/170 for FSK/PSK, newer M710’s and M802’s are usually 250/330, systems which Marc Robinson set up usually have special cables and are set to 600/1000, Furuno radios are usually 1500/2000.
If increasing the FSK/PSK levels does not increase transmit power then the radio may be set to low-power mode (see above), or there may be a failure in the radio’s power-output transistors. You can verify the transmit function independently of the modem by finding an unused voice-frequency (e.g. 12,359.0) and whistling into the mic while watching the power-out indicator and/or battery-monitor. You should be able to reach full-power output no problem.
If problems persist then Sailmail members should write to sysop@sailmail.com with as many details as possible.
Good sailing,
Sue & Jim
Most new computers do not include RS-232 serial ports, and a USB/serial adapters is the most common way to connect serial devices such as a Pactor modem or a GPS. Most USB/serial adapters are reliable but unfortunately there are enough bad ones out there to cause a lot of problems. Our current favorites are any of the adapters that use the “FTDI” chipset, for example the Sabrent CB-FTDI or search Amazon for “FTDI RS232”. Many others also work fine, just be sure that drivers are included for whatever version of Windows you are using.
If you are having problems with a serial device connected with a USB/serial adapter, here are some troubleshooting tips.
First, try to enlist the help of whoever you purchased the adapter from. If it was a Comp-USA store or a low-budget local vendor, then you may find this approach unrewarding. File that away for next time, and keep reading…
The first step in troubleshooting any system is to simplify it as much as possible. If you have multiple devices connected, then remove all but one and focus on that. If you are connecting through a USB-hub (multiple USB ports connected to a single USB-connector on the computer) then remove that, and plug your USB/serial adaptor directly into the computer. Be methodical, take notes, and simplify the configuration to the minimum and get that working before adding other devices.
Next, open Airmail’s Options window (Tools menu) and click the connection tab. Select each com-port in turn and note the description. Find your device and make sure that it is selected. The most common problem is having the wrong COM-port number. Also make sure that the baud-rate is set correctly, some USB adaptors do not like 115200 baud but all should be happy with 57600. (PTC-IIusb modems always use 115200 baud, and Airmail’s “Getfax” fax companion will be happier at 115200 if the modem-firmware is current).
If the device is not visible in Airmail’s options window com-port list, then open Windows Device manager: Right-click on “my computer” and select properties, or open Windows control-panel and select “System”. Click the “Hardware” tab and then the “Device Manager” button. Look for yellow question-marks, this would indicate a device whose driver did not load properly. If you find one of these then you need to identify the device, get the appropriate drivers and then right-click on the device and “update drivers”. Next find “Ports”, expand that (click the little “+”) and look for your USB/serial adaptor. If found, note the com-port number. That same com-port number should appear in Airmail’s Option window (remember to re-open the options window after changing devices), if not they it did not install properly.
If still no luck then make sure you have the correct– and latest– drivers for your USB/serial adaptor. Go to the manufacturer’s website, click on “support” or “dowloads” and find the drivers page. Download the driver-files for your device, save then in a “drivers” folder and then go back to device-manager (above) and try updating the drivers.
If still no luck then you may just have a turkey, see the comments above about Keyspan single-port adaptors or Edgeport multiport boxes. Or find a dealer who can supply an adaptor that they will stand behind, and will help you with if things don’t go according to plan.
Also worth noting: Some adapters assign com-port numbers according to the device serial number, so that a given adapter will always be “COM4” for example. Alternately, some devices assign COM-port numbers according to which USB-socket the adapter is plugged into. In this case moving an adapter from one USB socket to another will cause things to stop working. So a good rule of thumb is to always use the same USB socket for each adapter.
Good luck and good sailing!
Jim Corenman
Pactor modems are connected to the computer via a “communications port”, either a built-in 9-pin serial port (unusual these days), a USB/serial adaptor, or a direct USB connection e.g. from a PTC-IIusb. COM-port numbers are assigned by Windows as new devices are connected. COM1 will often be a reserved number, even if no COM-ports are previously connected.
Airmail must be set to use the same COM-port number that the Pactor modem is connected to. In the case of a PTC-IIusb, Airmail may have found it automatically, otherwise it needs to be selected from a list of available ports. In any case, if you see an error message from Airmail that initialization failed, or that a particular COM-port does not exist, then the correct COM-port is not selected, or the device was not properly installed and the drivers are not available.
The quickest way to get Airmail’s COM-port set correctly is to use Airmail’s Setup Wizard. With the modem connected and powered on, open the Setup Wizard from Airmail’s Tools menu. Click “Next” until you get to the “HF modem” page (answering questions if this is the first time). If you have a PTC-IIusb then is should have been found automatically– check the COM-port number, and description below the baud-rate box. If you have a serial-connected modem, then click the “Search” button and Airmail will try to find and identify the modem. Click “Next” to finish, or “Cancel” to quit without updating settings.
Another way to check Com-port assignments is with Windows Device Manager. With the modem and adaptor plugged in, open Windows control panel, select small or large Icon view, and click on “Device manager” (for Win-XP, from Control panel select “System”, “Hardware” tab, and then the “Device Manager” button).
In device manager find “ports”, expand that (click the little arrow or “+”), and check for your USB device– it should be listed, with a COM-port number. Take that back to Airmail’s Options window or the Setup Wizard.
If the modem or USB/serial adaptor is not found, then the drivers did not get installed correctly. Look for a yellow “?” or “!” icon, that represents an “unknown device”. Unplug the modem or adaptor from the computer’s USB connector and watch Device manager– it should refresh, and if the yellow icon represents your modem or adaptor then the icon will disappear, and re-appear when plugged back in. That confirms the identify of the device.
USB devices need driver files which have been updated to include your version of Windows. Teh current version of Airmail includes drivers for the PTC-IIusb for all current Windows versions, but the CD’s that are supplied with many USB/Serial adaptors are years old and out of date. Go to the manufacturer’s website, find the “Support” pages and look for driver files, and follow the instructions there.
If you need more help, send a note to support@sailmail.com and include the type of modem (e.g. PTC-IIusb, etc), what version Windows, and how the modem is connected (e.g. for a PTC-IIex or PTC-IIpro, what make/model USB adaptor), and what you found in Windows Device Manager.
Cheers, Jim
2011-10-31
The same copy of Airmail can can be used to access both the SailMail system and the ham radio stations.
The SailMail Association is a non-profit association of yacht owners that operates and maintains a network of private coast stations in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service. Sailmail provides low-cost email service to its membership, which is limited to recreational vessels. Users must be registered, details and registration information are available from http://www.sailmail.com/. The advantage for hams is that Sailmail has no restrictions on third-party traffic or business-related messages. The stations are also in different places which might provide easier access from some locations.
In order to activate the Sailmail mode for Airmail you need to copy a system definition file (System.Sailmail.ini) to the airmail folder. This is normally done by the same download that brought you this note. (Alternately, send a blank message to: stations@saildocs.com).
When you restart Airmail it reads the definition file and makes the appropriate changes to airmail.ini to add a system called “Sailmail” in addition to “Ham”.
Connecting to Sailmail:
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In order to handle other stations such as Sailmail, a new level of control was created called “System”. Logically speaking, each system includes a set of stations, and each station includes a set of frequencies. Airmail (as downloaded from the Airmail site) comes configured for the “Ham” system alone.
When a second system is defined then a new pull-down box appears to the left of the “Station” box in the Terminal Window, for “System” – HAM, SAILMAIL, etc. When you choose a system it will remember the previous station and frequency and set the appropriate mode if required.
So first select the appropriate system, then the station and (if the remote frequency interface is connected) then choose a frequency. To connect click the green “Connect” button (or use the F5 key), exactly as before.
Posting outgoing messages
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Sending messages to a ham station is done in the same way as before, by posting to the station’s callsign (or multiple callsigns). A message can also be posted “WL2K” for any Winlink-2000 station, or to “Ham” to send it to any connected ham station. There should be a default entry in your Auto-post list (Tools/Options, Routing Tab) that says “Default=Sailmail” or “Default=WL2K” or whatever, if it is not there then add it. This will cause any message to be automatically posted to that system, unless specified otherwise in the Address Book or Message Header “Via” box. You can always change the posting with the File/Change Posting menu (or by right-clicking the message in the message index).
Messages to Sailmail are addressed to the gateway name “EMAIL” rather than “NEXUS”, but Airmail will take care of this automatically. Messages for Sailmail should be posted to the system name “SAILMAIL” rather than the station callsign. Messages posted to “Sailmail” will be sent to any Sailmail station which is connected to. So an address book entry for a message which should always go via Sailmail would specify “Sailmail” in the Via box.
Be sure to add a “support@sailmail.com” entry to your address book as above, that is how you send a note to the Sailmail support folks in case of any difficulties or questions. And for membership questions, send a note to: admin@sailmail.com