Airmail Version 3 for SailMail

Updated Mar 10 2008 ver 3.4.022 beta

This is the download page for the Airmail 3 client program for SailMail. Airmail is a radio-email program, this page is devoted to the SailMail client applications. Airmail 3 is compatible with all Windows through Vista. It also works fine on Mac's using Parallels, and on Linux under WINE. Supported modems include the SCS PTC-II-family modems plus most Pactor-1 modems. Development is continuing, please report any problems and stop back often for updates.  

Installation instructions (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

New Sailmail members and members with new computers): You will want to download three programs: The Airmail "Complete install" below (or the floppy version below), the Propagation program, and Airmail's "Getfax" weather-fax companion under "Weather fax".

Alternately scroll down to "beta" below and download the single (Vista-friendly) install-file which includes everything.

To update Airmail download the "Complete install" below and install into the same folder. Your messages, settings and address-book won't be changed. If you are updating from some long-ago version and see the "Setup Wizard" when you restart,  then you can cancel that- you are already set up.

Got Vista??  Read==> this page <== for info! Also consider installing the ver 3.4 "beta" below.

If you can download directly to your own computer (or a memory-stick, or a CD) then do this:

Download Airmail 3.3 SailMail client complete install (ver 3.3.081, about 4.4 MB) into a “downloads” folder. Make a note of the filename and the folder that it was stored into. (If you are working on someone else's computer then make a CD with all of your downloads, or copy them to a memory-stick, then copy them into a "downloads" folder on your own computer). When finished, open that "downloads" folder and double-click this downloaded file, that will start the Airmail install program. This file includes everything you need (except propagation and weatherfax, see below), and includes PTC-IIusb drivers, the most-recent PTC-II firmware updates for Pactor-3 mode and the “Viewfax” Grib/fax viewer.

Note: Ver 3.3.081 is the same as beta 3.3.080 with a fix to a problem enabling shadowmail in some circumstances).

If you really need to write floppy-disks then see "floppies" below.

OR, if you already have the current ham version of Airmail and only need to add Sailmail: Then download this SailMail setup file to add SailMail to your existing ham version . There is no need to download Airmail again and you can skip the rest of this.

Other Downloads:

Propagation: Airmail also includes a propagation window. This uses the “ICEPAC” propagation program as a prediction engine. In order to use Airmail’s propagation window, ICEPAC must be downloaded and installed into its default directory. ICEPAC can be downloaded from the NTIA/ITS website or from here (this is the version I have tested with, it may be older but works fine). This download is around 5MB. If you need to download this to floppies then see "floppies" below, the technique described for Airmail will also work for the propagation program. (Not needed for Airmail ver 3.4 beta).

Weather fax and Grib info: An update to Airmail’s weather-fax companion is available, including a viewer which decodes and displays Ggrib weather-data files as well as most image types for viewing wefax images. It is available from Airmail’s “weather fax” page (click here) . (Not needed for Airmail ver 3.4 beta)

Spelling Dictionaries: Additional language dictionaries for the spell-checker are available here. These are “zip” files, after downloading then open them (by double-clicking) and drag the “.adm” file into Airmail’s Dictionaries folder. Restart Airmail, then use Airmail’s Tools/Options/Spelling window to enable the new dictionary. (If you can’t open a “zip” file then go to www.winzip.com and download the demo version of Winzip, free and fully functional).

Firmware: Current firmware is included with the Airmail download, use Airmail's Update-Firmware window (Tools menu) to install. If you only need updated firmware then download the current SCS firmware (ver 3.8, about 1 MB). Download the same way as above and then double-click the download file to run the install program. This file includes firmware for all PTC-II models and will be installed into the Airmail folder for easy access by Airmail’s Firmware-update window.

USB Drivers: These drivers are Digitally-Signed (i.e. blessed by Microsoft) and will not generate warning messages for Win-XP. There are two choices: To pre-install drivers before connecting the PTC-IIusb modem (Win-2000 and XP), then select this Driver-installer for the SCS PTC-IIusb modem. Click the link and select "Run", or save the file and run it later, before connecting the PTC-IIusb modem. Then when the modem is connected it will be installed automatically.

Alternately, you can download this USB drivers for the SCS PTC-IIusb modem (zip file) (Win-98se onwards). Click the link and save the file in a "downloads" folder, then open it and extract the contents to a "PTC-IIusb drivers" folder on your computer. Then connect the PTC-IIusb, when the "new hardware" wizard appears select "Specify a location" and point it to the folder where you stored the drivers.

Beta versions:  Airmail beta ver 3.4.022 is available here (about 8MB). This is an "all in one" install with Airmail (including wefax), propagation, and a new Viewfax grib/fax viewer with "get it now" (File menu) and support for Gulf-stream current grib's ("RTOFS"). This version (and the installer) is Vista-friendly (well, "Vista-aware" might be a better term) and installs data-files into the "ProgramData" application-data folder by default to avoid Vista security warnings. It will also transfer messages and settings that were stored elsewhere by earlier Airmail versions, including files which have been hidden (i.e. "virtualized") by Vista's security.

Installation: Download and save this install-file to a "downloads" folder on your computer, then open it (i.e. run it) to start the Airmail installer. For Vista you may see a confirmation for "amsXXX.tmp, Sirius Cybernetics LLC", click "Continue". For the Airmail installer the default settings should work fine in every application. When you are finished you may see a "This program may not have installed correctly" message, click "Ignore" or just close that box. Vista is confused, Airmail did install correctly.

Note: This is still a beta release, please check back here for updates and let us know of any problems. If you are headed offshore tomorrow then we suggest sticking with ver 3.3.081 (above) and don't forget to read the "Got Vista?" note if you are running Vista.

Floppy Disks: If you think you need to copy Airmail onto floppies, then please find another solution- like running to the store for a USB memory-drive. The reason is that floppies are notoriously unreliable, especially after being stored in the bilges for a few years. If there is absolutely no other option then here is one way to do it: First, download the Airmail install-file (above) into a new, empty temporary folder on the computer you are using. Then run this "FileSplitter" program, no need to save it. Click the "Browse" button next to the "File To Split" box and select the Airmail file that you just downloaded. Then click the "Split" button, and the program will create a number of file "pieces" in the same temporary folder. Copy each of these file-pieces to a floppy disk plus the "Create" file which was also created (and which might fit onto the last floppy). Then take your floppies home and copy them to another new temporary folder and run the "Create" file. That will re-assemble the Airmail download file into one piece. Then double-click that Airmail download and start the install program.     

Contact information:

Questions/comments about using Sailmail or the SailMail version of Airmail should be sent to: support@sailmail.com