Sailmail access via Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro
The Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro offers a low-seed internet access which works well for connecting to Sailmail. There is one important caveat: The Inmarsat gateway allows full internet access, which means that other programs (including a variety of auto-update software) can hijack the connection and slow it dramatically, or even bring it to a virtual halt. It is important to disable other software, and for Windows-7 the Windows Firewall can be configured for this purpose-- send a blank email to: firewall@saildocs.com or see the web page at www.saildocs.com/firewall for more info.
The IsatPhone is about half as fast as the Iridium phone, with long "ping" times (approx 4300 ms). The tradeoff is that the connection is very stable particularly in the warmer latitudes (satellites are closer). The connection is line-of-sight to one of three geostationary satellites located above the equator at approx 098W, 143E, and 025E, and from there to an Inmarsat earth station. Connecting to Sailmail to check mail takes about a minute and a half (mostly connection setup time), with approx 1:20 of that billed.
(For comparison, an Iridium phone also transmits data at 2400 baud, but has a typical ping time of 900-1800 ms. Iridium satellites are in low-orbit and multiple hops are needed to reach the earth station, resulting in unpredictable service interruptions especially in lower latitudes where satellite orbits are farther apart. Connecting to Sailmail to check mail is about a 40-second connection).
In order to make a data connection, the IsatPhone Pro firmware must be version 4.0.0 or later (check the phone's Settings menu, "About"). The updater software is found on the CD that came with the phone, and firmware files can be downloaded from Inmarsat (www.isatphonelive.com/support).
Also, you must have a data-enabled SIM card, check with your Inmarsat service provider. This is critical. You will also need the USB Device Drivers for the iSatPhone Pro, to connect it to the computer, those are also included on the IsatPhone CD, or can be downloaded from the "IsatPhoneLive" website above.
Run the USB-driver installation program before connecting the phone. Once you've got the USB drivers installed and the phone connected to the computer with no device-driver error messages from Windows, then you need to tweak the modem settings, and create a Windows "dial-up connection" to make use of the data connection.
Part One: Modem settings:
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1. Open Windows Control Panel and open "Phone and Modem" options (for Win-7 choose small or large icon view).
2. Click on the "Modem" tab, and find the "iSatPhone Pro 1.0 Modem".
3. Click "Properties", select the Modem tab, and set the "Maximum Port Speed" to 2400.
4. Now select the "Advanced" tab, and enter "&FE0&D2" in the "Extra Initialization" box (the number zero, and without the quotes)
5. Click OK, and OK again to close the "Phone and Modem settings box.
(Note: For Win-7 it may be necessary to turn UAC off in order to enter the Extra initialization commands: From Windows Control Panel select "User Accounts", click on "Change User Account Control Settings", and set the slider to "Never Notify". UAC can be re-enabled after the modem is set up, if desired).
Part Two: Configure a Dial-Up Networking connection
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For Windows-7 (Vista is similar):
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1. Open the "Network and Sharing Center" window (Start-button, Control Panel, Network and Sharing).
2. Click "Set up a new connection or network" and then click Next.
3. Select "Connect to the Internet" and click Next.
4. If you see "You are already connected to the internet", click on "Set up a new connection anyway".
5. Then select "No, Create a new connection" (unless you are checking settings of an existing connection).
6. Click on "Dial-up", and (if prompted) select the "IsatPhone Pro 1.0 Modem".
7. In the "Dial-up phone number" enter 28
For User name and Password enter INMARSAT (for both, all cap's),
Check the "remember password" box.
For "Connection Name" enter "IsatPhone Pro"
8. Then click "Connect", Windows will try to connect-- click "Skip" to continue.
9. Click Close and return to Network Center.
10. Click Change Adaptor Settings" on the left, find "IsatPhone Pro" and right-click and select "Properties". (Or, open the connection and then click the "Properties" button).
11. On the first tab make sure "Use dialing rules" is not checked, and click "Configure"
12. Then click "Configure", set "Maximum speed" to 2400, and select all three hardware features, then click OK.
13. On the "Networking" tab, un-check all items except "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)".
(If any items won't un-check, that is OK). Click OK to close.
For Windows-XP:
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1. Open "Network Connections" window (Start-button, Settings, Network Connections).
2. Click "Create a new connection", click Next.
3. Select "Connect to the Internet" and click Next.
4. Select "Set up my connection manually" and click Next.
5. Select "Connect using a dial-up modem" and click Next.
6. If a "Select a Device" window appears, check the box next to "IsatPhone Pro 1.0 Modem", and uncheck all other devices. Click Next.
7. Enter a connection name (e.g., "IsatPhone Pro") and click Next.
8. In the Phone Number box, enter 28 and click Next.
9. Enter INMARSAT (upper case) for both username and password.
10. Click Next, then Finish.
11. Click Properties for the new dialup connection, make sure "use dialing rules" is NOT checked.
12. Then click "Configure", set "Maximum modem speed" to 2400, and check all three hardware features, then click OK.
13. On the "Networking" tab, make sure "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" is checked. Uncheck all other components (if they won't un-check, that is OK). Click OK and close the connection box.
To connect manually, click on the Networks icon in the system-tray (lower-right corner of the screen), select "IsatPhone Pro" and select "Connect". Repeat to disconnect. You can also get to the connections properties from this window.
The following details are important:
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* Don't forget the "Extra initialization string" in the Part One, this is critical.
* Be sure that maximum speed is set to 2400, in two places.
* Under Network Connections (second step), only "TCP/IP (ver-4)" should be checked (others are OK if they can't be un-checked).
* Your SIM card must be enabled for data
* You must be logged into Windows with Administrator privileges.
Once all that is done, open Airmail's "telnet" window (click the "Internet" button on the toolbar or open the Modules menu then Telnet-client). Check the "dial first" box in the Telnet window, and select the "IsatPhone Pro" connection, and make sure that the "hang up" box is also checked. In recent versions of Airmail the telnet-window is already set up, just select station WRD719 and then connect.
To check mail, click Airmail's "Internet" button (or go to Modules menu, Telnet-client), make sure WRD719 is selected in the callsign box, make sure the phone has a good signal (should be 4-5 bars) and click the green "connect" button. Airmail will dial the phone, contact the server, and exchange mail. Watch the connection and make sure it disconnects when finished.
It takes about a minute to get connected to the internet (airtime charges start after about 20 seconds), 20 seconds to connect to Sailmail and check mail, and 15-20 seconds to disconnect.
Troubleshooting:
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Remember that the IsatPhone antenna must be outdoors, with a clear view towards the satellite. The best antenna is a proper fixed-mount IsatPhone marine antenna, not cheap but strongly recommended if you are serious about it working reliably. The phone's antenna also works, IF it is above-decks with a clear view towards the satellite-- orient the antenna generally towards the satellite.
If you do not have an internet/telnet window at all then go to Airmail's Tools menu, Options window, Modules tab, and check the box to the left of "Telnet Client". Click OK.
To check your telnet settings first open the Telnet window (click the "Internet" button or go to Airmail's Modules menu and select Internet or Telnet Client). Make sure "Sailmail" is selected if you have also configured Airmail for ham use. Select "WRD719" and click "Settings", or if not found then click "New".
Check the following settings:
remote callsign: WRD719
remote host: 72.3.227.249 (see ** note)
Port: 50
TImeout: (blank)
Local callsign: (your Sailmail/marine callsign)
Password: (your Sailmail internet password, Case-Sensitive!).
Click OK to save settings.
** Note: For quickest access select "WRD719" as the server, make sure the port is "50", and enter the numeric IP-address "72.3.227.249" instead of "pop3.sailmail.com"-- this saves a few seconds. But remember that this address may change if we need to shift servers-- so if you cannot connect then enter the "pop3.sailmail.com" (without the quotes) and note the address which is shown when you connect. The backup server is WHV382, remote-host: r7fh.no-ip.com and port: 50.
If you want to initiate a Data connection manually, open the Dial-Up Networking window and open the "IsatPhone Pro" dial-up connection and click "dial". And don't forget to disconnect when you are finished!
Cheers, Jim
sysop@sailmail.com
(revised 2011-11-01)