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.
Airmail's 'autoset' function has been updated and works well for the M803. Frequency Control: The radio's 'REMOTE' frequency-control connection is via a standard RS232 serial port and can be connected to the modem with a Farallon #8083 cable (2M, or 8084 for 4M). Connect this from the modems 'Control' connector to the radio's.
- I'll leave the virtual serial port setup posted for Airmail users using version 3.4.034 EUREKA! The Airmail packet server module can be interfaced to a KAM+ tnc or the AMPEstreams emulator running on windows XP. Heretofore believed to be incompatible. The secret is in the Airmail.ini file. Enable the Airmail packet server in the tools/modules menu.
- AirMail is a free temporary email service, you are given a random email address you can use when registering to new websites or test-driving untrusted services. All emails received by AirMail servers are displayed automatically in your online browser inbox.
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.
The best way to find out the Pactor-III status is to connect the modem to the computer (no radio needed), open Airmail and open terminal window, and wait a few seconds for the modem to initialize. The initialization string will show the modem serial# is there is one, and the Pactor-III license status.
SCS Pactor Modem Guide
Model numbers are shown on the front panel, e.g. PTC-IIe or PTC-IIpro. The original PTC-II was an all-metal box, the later modems have gray plastic bezels around the front-panel. (Current SCS modems– DR-7400/7800 and PTC-IIIusb) have black plastic bezels). The early modems were all PTC-II models of various sorts which may or may not have been upgraded to enable Pactor-3 mode. No PTC-II or PTC-III modem of any type can be ungraded to run P4. All SailMail stations support Pactor-II, Pactor-III, or P4.
From oldest to newest (see below for explanations of terms):
PTC-II (no suffix, original all-metal box):
Serial, TTL radio control, P2, No ESN.
PTC-IIe: Serial, No radio control.
Early PTC-IIe's have no ESN (no bar-code label on bottom), P2
later PTC-IIe have ESN (same as PTC-IIex), P2/P3*
PTC-IIex: Serial, No radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
PTC-IIpro: Serial, full radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
PTC-IIusb: USB, full radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
The current modems (PTC-IIIusb, DR-7400, DR-7800) are all USB. The PTC-IIIusb supports Pactor-II and Pactor-III. The DR-7400 and DR, support Pactor-III and P4.(no license-code needed), Again, all SailMail stations support P-II, P-III, and P4.
Explanations:
Serial: 9-pin serial computer interface, generally requires a USB/serial adaptor (we currently recommend any of the devices with a FTDI chip set, e.g. search Amazon for 'FTDI RS232'
'TTL radio control' is the original 8-pin 'control' connector, TTL (0-5 volt) radio frequency-control only, compatible with M700pro, M710 (not M802).
'Full radio control' is 13-pin 'control connector', either 0-5v or RS232 levels, compatible with pretty much any recent radio to set frequency.
ESN: Electronic serial #, stored internally and also on a paper bar-code label on the bottom of the modem. It is used as the 'key' to an optional Pactor-3 license (unlock-code). Early modems without ESN can be upgraded to add the ESN chip, only a few have been.
P3*: Units with an ESN *may* have been upgraded to P3 with a license code, most were. These license-codes are transferable to a new owner. The code itself will be stored in the modem (unless somehow erased), and can be checked or retrieved from SCS via email (info@scs-ptc.com).
Model numbers are shown on the front panel, e.g. PTC-IIe or PTC-IIpro. The original PTC-II was an all-metal box, the later modems have gray plastic bezels around the front-panel. (Current SCS modems– DR-7400/7800 and PTC-IIIusb) have black plastic bezels). The early modems were all PTC-II models of various sorts which may or may not have been upgraded to enable Pactor-3 mode. No PTC-II or PTC-III modem of any type can be ungraded to run P4. All SailMail stations support Pactor-II, Pactor-III, or P4.
From oldest to newest (see below for explanations of terms):
PTC-II (no suffix, original all-metal box):
Serial, TTL radio control, P2, No ESN.
PTC-IIe: Serial, No radio control.
Early PTC-IIe's have no ESN (no bar-code label on bottom), P2
later PTC-IIe have ESN (same as PTC-IIex), P2/P3*
PTC-IIex: Serial, No radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
PTC-IIpro: Serial, full radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
PTC-IIusb: USB, full radio control, ESN, P2/P3*
The current modems (PTC-IIIusb, DR-7400, DR-7800) are all USB. The PTC-IIIusb supports Pactor-II and Pactor-III. The DR-7400 and DR, support Pactor-III and P4.(no license-code needed), Again, all SailMail stations support P-II, P-III, and P4.
Explanations:
Serial: 9-pin serial computer interface, generally requires a USB/serial adaptor (we currently recommend any of the devices with a FTDI chip set, e.g. search Amazon for 'FTDI RS232'
'TTL radio control' is the original 8-pin 'control' connector, TTL (0-5 volt) radio frequency-control only, compatible with M700pro, M710 (not M802).
'Full radio control' is 13-pin 'control connector', either 0-5v or RS232 levels, compatible with pretty much any recent radio to set frequency.
ESN: Electronic serial #, stored internally and also on a paper bar-code label on the bottom of the modem. It is used as the 'key' to an optional Pactor-3 license (unlock-code). Early modems without ESN can be upgraded to add the ESN chip, only a few have been.
P3*: Units with an ESN *may* have been upgraded to P3 with a license code, most were. These license-codes are transferable to a new owner. The code itself will be stored in the modem (unless somehow erased), and can be checked or retrieved from SCS via email (info@scs-ptc.com).
A modem with ESN, but which was never upgraded to P3, can be upgraded with the purchase of a license-code, cost is around $200 (contact Gary at Farallon Electronics in Calif, garywood@farallon.us).
Exceptions: Early, non-ESN modems could originally be used in P3 with a different code that was keyed to the user's callsign. These codes are NOT transferable, and no new callsign-codes are being issued by SCS. It *may* be possible to upgrade these modems first with the addition of a ESN chip, then by purchasing the P3 license code, cost for all that will be around $350– contact Gary at Farallon. If buying a non-ESN modem (PTC-II, early PTC-IIe) it is important to determine whether it has the ESN upgrade chip. For PTC-IIe, check for the bar-code label. Without the ESN the modem can only be used in P2 mode, works just slower. Upgrading to ESN (and P3) is expensive, check with Farallon and consider that in the price.
ESN modems may or may not have been upgraded to P3. If so, the license code *should* be stored in the modem: Connect to a computer, start Airmail and configure modem-type and com-port correctly, open terminal window and confirm that it initializes. The initialization message will show 13-digit ESN and Pactor-3 license status.
Airmail 4 Crack Key
Alternately open a terminal program (Hyperterm or Airmail's dumb-terminal window), hit ESC to get a 'cmd' prompt, type the 'LICENSE' command to see the license-code (if stored). The command 'SYS SERN' will show the serial#.
