High folks

In 2004, we use a PTC-IIex with Pactor-III upgrade for SailMail. Last year, our boat was hit by lightning and I haven't been able to get SailMail working since.

I bought a new SSB (Icom M700Pro) and a second-hand aerial tuning unit (AT-120) and the radio now works fine.

The modem handshakes with the SailMail software OK and I have updated the Pactor firmware and restarted the modem. Reception of radio fax is fine. But I can't get the system to transmit, although the diodes on the Pactor light up as if it is doing so.

We are currently in Guatemala and depend on SailMail when at sea. Posting the Pactor back to SCS would be very hard as post tends to get "lost" here.

Are there any diagnostic tests that I can run from my PC to check the Pactor myself?

Kind regards

Geoffrey

I was jsut trying to setup this modem with my computer and Icim 710 this evening.  We were communicating with the modem via Hyperterminal, and the guy driving found some test command.  (I think he pressed "?" or "help"). 

The modem went off in a test mode, and now I can't talk to it with sailmail.

I want to know how to cancel the test mode....

Previously Geoffrey Morton-Haworth wrote:

High folks

In 2004, we use a PTC-IIex with Pactor-III upgrade for SailMail. Last year, our boat was hit by lightning and I haven't been able to get SailMail working since.

I bought a new SSB (Icom M700Pro) and a second-hand aerial tuning unit (AT-120) and the radio now works fine.

The modem handshakes with the SailMail software OK and I have updated the Pactor firmware and restarted the modem. Reception of radio fax is fine. But I can't get the system to transmit, although the diodes on the Pactor light up as if it is doing so.

We are currently in Guatemala and depend on SailMail when at sea. Posting the Pactor back to SCS would be very hard as post tends to get "lost" here.

Are there any diagnostic tests that I can run from my PC to check the Pactor myself?

Kind regards

Geoffrey

Hi Geoffrey,

what do you exactly mean which "I can't get the system to transmit"? Does the transceiver doesn't toggle the transmitter or do you feel you do not transmit any HF power.

If the first case: double check the connection between the PTC and the TRX. Was you old TRX the same model? If not, the new one may expect the TRX signal on a different pin of the connecter. Looking into the M700Pro manual, it seems that it expects the PTT on PIN 2 of the ACC plug and on PIN 5 of the microphone plug respectively.

You could check the PTT line of your cable with a simple voltmeter (without the transceiver!). First measure if is broken, so measure the resistance on both ends of the cable on the PTT line, which should be very close to 0 Ohms, then (while having the cable plugged into the PTC) measure voltage between this PIN 2 resp. 5 on the TRX side of the cable and ground while toggle the PTC to transmit. The voltage should drop to nearly zero. You can use Airmail's level tuning feature (under "control" in the HF terminal window) to have the PTT line triggered to GND for a couple of seconds.

If the later case: you may have to re-tune (rise) the FSK and PSK levels (same feature as mentioned above in Airmail) and/or - if you use the microphone plug - you may need to rise the microphone gain on the transceiver. This is especially true if you have used another transceiver before, the new one may except different levels.

If you find some local radio amateur around (just look for antennas ;-) ), usually they are more than willing to help. The can easily check the cable (maybe they even check the PTC's NF output) and they can check if you transmit radio frequency of not.

Hope this helps. If you're still lost, please try to provide as much information as possible about your setup.

Best regards and good luck,

   Torsten

Previously wrote:

I was jsut trying to setup this modem with my computer and Icim 710 this evening.  We were communicating with the modem via Hyperterminal, and the guy driving found some test command.  (I think he pressed "?" or "help"). 

 

The modem went off in a test mode, and now I can't talk to it with sailmail.

Do you have still connection to the PTC when in Hyperterminal? If yes, try to post the messages which are appering when you switch the PTC-IIex on.

If you mananged to enter the systest mode ("sys: " prompt), just type "quit".

Have you checked that you use the same baudrate ("SERB" command in PTC-IIex) on the PTC and in Airmail?

Hope this helps,

   Torsten