Page Title

Oh, did I mention that Airmail includes a spell-checker function? Any words in the message text that are not recognized are underlined in red. A right-click of the mouse over the suspect word presents several replacement choices. For some of us, that feature alone is enough to warrant trying it!

Recently Bill, W1GTT and I used Airmail (peer-to-peer) to very efficiently update the lineup order for a major parade with more than 80 entrants. Bill was at the Registration Table and I was as the Judges Stand. For a several hour period before the parade began, he sent me numerous small text files as attachments to Airmail with all of the additions, deletions, and changes in the order of participants. I was able to simply "copy and paste" the text into the master spreadsheet. Just before the parade actually stepped off, this file was used to quickly print complete score sheets for the judges with entrants listed in their proper order. For this particular set of circumstances, Airmail worked great!

During this event we also had a non-Airmail packet station operating at the Reviewing Stand (another half mile beyond the Judges Stand) that also needed the same info regarding additions/deletions/changes. But since that station was running POP (plain old packet), I had to re-type all of the info again in order to send it to him - what a pain! Next year that station will also be running Airmail and able to simultaneously receive the text file attachments!

One minor drawback to using Airmail is that most of the action happens behind the scenes. While that's OK for most of us, some operators like to see more of the "inner workings and hidden mechanisms" of the process. Software that monitors the serial port can be used by those who need to see what's going on "under the hood."

In a world where almost everyone has come to rely on email or text messaging in some form, our capability as emergency communicators to effectively support digital modes is becoming increasingly important. The CT ARES digital committee (aka CLIDE -- Connecticut Leaders In Digital Emcomm) has recommended that Airmail be setup on all computers used for packet communications at the five CT DEMHS Regional Offices, local Emergency Operation Centers, Red Cross support locations, etc. This effort to standardize software means that packet operators who are familiar with Airmail will be able to operate the installed equipment in any of these important locations in case of emergency.

If you haven't experimented with Airmail yet, I recommend you check it out. Airmail allows for either manual or automatic connection to other Airmail stations, Winlink Telpacs, packet bulletin boards, as well as keyboard-to-keyboard "live" connections. You might find that Airmail meets your needs for a versatile VHF (or UHF) packet application. You can get more info about Airmail at www.airmail2000.com - including a link to the download site.

By the way, the advantages of handling digital message traffic using the worldwide Winlink 2000 system -- which includes HF Pactor I/II/III, Internet routing, and local VHF Telpac access -- is worthy of an entire newsletter article of its own. Look for an overview of Winlink in a future issue of CONNECTED!

73, Wayne, N1CLV