Airmail Downloads

Updated Dec 23 2010 (beta 3.4.062a)

This is the download page for the ham version of the Airmail radio-email client program. This page is devoted to the ham-radio client applications. Airmail is compatible with Windows 95 thru Vista. Development is continuing, please report any problems and stop back often for updates. See the included "release notes" in the Airmail inbox for details.

Installation instructions (please read carefully):

New Airmail users: You will want to download two or three programs: The Airmail "complete install" below, the Propagation program, and sailors may want Airmail's "Getfax" weather-fax companion.

Got Vista or Win7? See the beta below, or read this page for more info

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

Download Airmail 3.3 Ham Client complete install (ver 3.3.081, around 4.4 MB) and save it in a "downloads" folder. Make a note of the filename and the folder that it was stored into. When finished, open that folder and open (i.e. double-click) the downloaded file, this will start the Airmail install program. This file includes everything you need except the propagation and maybe weatherfax programs (see below). Note: For Win-Vista or Win-7 see the "beta" below.

If you need to download to floppy disks, see "floppies" below.

Sailmail members:  See the Airmail for SailMail page for info on using Airmail with both ham and SailMail systems.

Airmail Beta version: Airmail version 3.4.062 is available here - this is a complete download (about 10MB) which includes Airmail, Airmail's "Viewfax" fax/grib viewer, "icepac" propagation program files, and SCS firmware updates and drivers for the PTC-IIusb modem. The focus of this release is Win-7/Vista compatibility and new weather features. This is a beta release, please report any problems or anomalies. (This "a" version fixes an out-of-date propagation file).

NOTE: When updating a Vista install from ver 3.3, and you have a lot of stored messages, the installer may take a long time moving files- DO NOT terminate the installation.

Previous Airmail beta ver 3.4.034 is available here, around 8MB. If you install this on a x64 Vista or Win-7 computer then you will need to install the updated "Icepac" propagation above, and if you have a PTC-IIusb then you will need to download the PTC-IIusb drivers from the SCS website (www.scs-ptc.com). These x64-compatible drivers are NOT signed and Airmail cannot pre-install them, so they cannot be included with the Airmail download.

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 own default directory. ICEPAC can be downloaded from here (March 26 2009 version, compatible with Vista x64) or from Greg Hand's ITS support website. This download is around 3.2MB. If you need to download this to floppies then see "floppies" below, the technique described for Airmail will also work for the propagation program. 

Gribs, Weather fax: Airmail’s weather fax companion has been updated, including an updated viewer which can display grib weather-data files as well as most image formats for wefax. Available from the “weather fax” page (click here).

Spelling Dictionaries: Additional language dictionaries for the spell-checker are available here. These are “zip” files, after downloading then open the file with Winzip and extract the “.adm” file to Airmail’s Dictionaries folder. Restart Airmail, then use Airmail’s Tools/Options/Spelling window to enable the new dictionary. (If you don’t have an unzip program then go to www.winzip.com and download the free demo version of Winzip).

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 see the SCS downloads page at http://www.scs-ptc.com/software.html. Download the "zip" file for your modem and extract the firmware-file to the Airmail folder under "Program Files" (or under "ProgramData" for Vista). Then use Airmail's "update firmware" window (under the "Tools" menu) to update teh modem.

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 (for 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) (all WIndows version from Win-98se onward). 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.

 Floppy Disks: If you think you need to copy Airmail onto floppies, then first try to find another solution- like running to the store for a USB memory-stick. The reason is that floppies are notoriously unreliable, especially after being stored in the bilges for a few years. If there is no other option then here is one way to do it: First, download the complete 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 three or four 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.