LESSON #4 - Installing and configuring the Airmail Program and making your first WL2K connection. (Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP) ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED: 30-40 minutes. Airmail is a complete stand-alone package for e-mail over Ham Radio for either HF PacTOR or Packet (ostensibly on VHF or UHF.) It contains a complete message management system, address book, etc., and an "Outlook Express look-alike" email client. The Airmail program was originally written for HF and is the mainstay program for all remote user access on HF, as well as for many users of commercial radio e-mail services such as SailMail. An accompanying HF propagation program may be integrated to provide those inexperienced with HF help with propogation paths to WL2K e-mail servers called Participating Mail Box Operators (PMBOs) which will soon be re-designated as Remote Mail Servers (RMS.) NOTE: Airmail's Packet Client is not yet AGW PE compliant, but should be sometime soon. (The AGW TNC selection is in the Airmail packet client now, but is not active.) Airmail does not support nested packet connect scripts. The present scheme for making node or digipeater packet connections is somewhat awkward for the experienced packeteer, but should not adversely affect making connections once understood. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Computer running Win95, 98, 2000 or XP operating system, ON THE INTERNET. Working COM port (1 through 6) if/when a Data Controller/TNC is available. The Airmail full-install file named amhc33048.exe (or the latest version). OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS: Completion of Lesson #3 - All programs downloaded from the internet and saved to local computer. INFORMATION: It is necessary to establish an e-mail account (yourcall@winlink.org) using an RF or telnet link to a PMBO before being able to use the WL2k radio e-mail system. The very first time you connect to a PMBO your e-mail account will be registered. However, you will not be able to receive e-mail from this account until you first SEND an e-mail from this account to any legitimate e-mail address (in a subsequent lesson!). What call sign should you use for YOUR WL2K account? In packet networking each amateur radio call sign may support up to 16 individual calls (i.e. packet stations) on a single frequency within the radio horizon. This is effected by the use of a Secondary Station IDentifier (SSID) made by the call sign followed by a dash and a numeral from 0 -15. The base call -0 is understood when there is no -n used. Examples of calls are N3ABC N3ABC-1 N3ABC-6 INSTALLING AIRMAIL - 1. Run amhc33048.exe (or amdisk1.exe from #1 floppy). START/RUN - browse to amhc33048.exe or just double click on amhc33048.exe. 2. Take all defaults - otherwise you are on your own for later problems. This should install in c:/program files/airmail and be quite straightforward. 3. A shortcut to Airmail3 will be on your desktop. If this is not obvious, go to c:/program files/airmail and make a shortcut for airmail.exe to the desktop. CONFIGURING AIRMAIL When Airmail starts it is ready to be configured for HF PacTOR, vhf Packet, or a Telnet Client. It is not necessary for an HF data terminal or a packet TNC to be connected to the computer while configuring. 1. Start Airmail from the desktop shortcut/icon. 2. Across the top row click on TOOLS/OPTIONS/ AIRMAIL OPTIONS SCREEN CONNECTIONS TAB -This for HF PacTOR only and will not be configured at this time. But if you need this, join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airmail2000 and ask for help. 3. Click on SETTINGS Tab, put your call letters in 'HAM Callsign', then APPLY 4. Click on MODULES tab 4a. Enable Terminal Window, VHF Packet Client, and Telnet Client 4b. All three should default to Show in the Task Bar. 5. Click on SETUP to the right of the VHF Packet Client. PACKET SETTINGS SCREEN - Connection (left side). This screen is where you select the TNC type, COM port and COM port baud rate if/when you have a TNC attached to the computer. Port Settings - This is where you will set the tnc packet parameters. We will not configure this section in this lesson. For now - click on CANCEL then APPLY then OK which will take you back to the main Airmail [Message Index] Screen. Airmail is now installed and ready to be configured for a data terminal on HF or a TNC on VHF packet. Across the top click on MODULES, then Telnet Client. This brings up the Telnet Client screen. Across the top click on NEW which brings up the Telnet Settings Window. In this window you will configure the Telnet Client for targeting a PMBO Telnet Server to which you want to connect via the internet. Many PMBOs offer this service, including W3EOC (PA), K4CJX (TN), and KN6KB (FL.) 6. Fill in the 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 W3EOC Remote Host: call.no-ip.com W3EOC.no-ip.com Port: 12001 12001 Timeout (sec) 300 60 Local callsign yourcall W1ABC Password WL2KTELNETCLIENT WL2KTELNETCLIENT Protocol B2 B2 Do NOT check off the box "Include in Auto Check". For a list of Emcomm PMBOs that offer telnet servers, go to http://digital.w3eoc.org/ and navigate using "Network Status Links" and then "Current National ARES EmComm PMBO List". Click on OKAY to be returned to the Telnet Client Screen. MAKING YOUR FIRST WL2K CONNECTION Note that the PMBO call you used for the Remote Callsign in the last section is now in the 'Connect to:' Window. If you have setup more than one PMBO Telnet Server to use you may select the one you want with the pull-down arrow. 7. Select the Telnet Server you want to use. To the left of the Connect to: window are four Icons: Green "Go" light Red "Stop" light Handshake icon Keyboard icon 8. Be sure the handshake icon is highlighted. 9. Click on the Green GO light and watch the screen. If all is okay, you have just been registered to the system with an email address of yourcall@winlink.org. NOTE: You will not be able to receive e-mails until you have sent an e-mail using the account yourcall@winlink.org. WAIT, WAIT! That is in the next exercise. 10. Take Airmail down. NOTE: If you have an HF data terminal or TNC and want to configure them now, consult the airmail2000 yahoo group if you need help right away. Or, ask for a mentor to help you by sending an email to this activity's email list. But please, do not burden everyone if you want to move ahead past the purpose of this group. REPORT: In an e-mail from your normal e-mail account to the list ('reply all' to this email): Subject: Lesson #4 Report the following: Your call OS Following Yes or No: HF data terminal? If Yes - is it configured in Airmail? Packet TNC? If Yes - is it configured in Airmail? Do you have an e-mail address @winlink.org? If so what is it? * * * Go right on to Lesson #5 Thanks for your interest in this activity.