Sailmail internet-access via "telnet"


If you have an internet connection into your computer (e.g. a Wi-fi connection in port, or cell-phone or sat-phone) then you can connect directly to Sailmail via internet using Airmail's "Telnet" window, instead of connecting via HF-Radio. This is very handy when you are in a marina where internet access may be available, and radio conditions are often very poor because of local electrical interference.

Recent Airmail versions have the telnet window pre-configured to connect to Sailmail. Simply open Modules menu, Telnet-client. Select station WRD719 (the Palo Alto station), make sure you have an internet connection, and click the green "connect" button. Airmail will connect to the Sailmail server via internet and send/receive messages, the same as a radio connection except much faster. The same compression is also used, making this a much more efficient connection than a POP3/SMTP email connection- this is especially useful for cell-phones and sat-phones. There is no reason to use a compression service when connecting via Telnet.

The following details will allow you to set up earlier versions of Airmail, or to check your settings:

To set up Airmail's telnet window, first select the Tools menu, Options window, Modules tab, and make sure that the box to the left of "Telnet Client" is checked. Click OK.
Then go to the "Modules" menu and select "Telnet Client", this opens the Telnet window. Check the list of stations, both "WRD719" and "WHV382" should be listed.

Select "WRD719" and click the "Settings" button (or click "New" if there is no listing for WRD719). Check or enter the following settings:

Remote callsign: WRD719
Remote host: pop3.sailmail.com
Port: 50001
Timeout: (leave blank)
Local callsign: (your Sailmail/marine callsign)
Password: (your Sailmail internet "POP3" password, Case-Sensitive!).

Click OK, then select "WHV382" (or click "New"), and check (or enter) the following:

Remote callsign: WHV382
Remote host: 64.119.5.153 (or: r7fh.no-ip.com but the numeric-IP is quicker)
Port: 50
TImeout: (leave blank)
Local callsign: (your Sailmail/marine callsign)
Password: (your Sailmail internet "POP3" password, Case-Sensitive!).

Click OK to save settings. (Note: Don't change the "B2" selection)

If you want Airmail to also dial a telephone connection then check the "First dial..." box and select the appropriate connection. (NOte: earlier versions of Airmail did not properly disconnect even when the "hang up" box was selected, always make sure that the phone disconnects).

To check mail, go to Airmail's Modules/Telnet menu, make sure that WRD719 or WHV382 is selected in the callsign box and click the green "connect" button. If "dial first" is checked then Airmail will dial the phone, then it will connect with the server and exchange mail. Whatch the connection and disconnect when finished. There's a good chance it will all get done in 20-30 seconds.

Note that as of June 1 2005 Iridium has blocked most internet ports, as a result Sailmail is currently supporting port 50 on the WHV382 server- use that for Iridium connections, or if there is any problem connecting to WRD719- it may be a blecked port at the local connection.

More information:
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For more details on accessing Sailmail via an Iridium sat-phone, send a (blank) email to: IridiumPPP@saildocs.com
To access Sailmail from a standard email program or web mail, send a (blank) email to: pop3@saildocs.com

Also, for HAMS, remember that Winlink also supports Telnet but the settings are different. Check the Airmail help file and the MBO List (View menu) for settings and server addresses, or contact k4cjx@comcast.net.

Cheers, Jim
sysop@sailmail.com
(2006-10-24)