A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 1 Joe Kasser G3ZCZ/W3 POB 3419 Silver Spring MD 20918 A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation By Joe Kasser Introduction If you have packet radio equipment and haven't made the aquaintance of your local Packet Bulletin Board System (PBBS), you are missing out on most of what packet radio has to offer. Packet has brought amateur radio into the information age, and the PBBS is where that information is at. Your local PBBS has a wealth of features to offer. Not only does it allow you to leave messages for other people on your Local Area Network (LAN), but it also gives you access to bulletins, documents and programs. If you have never used a PBBS, you are in for a suprise. This article tells you all about the features within the PBBS. The vast majority of PBBS in common use around world today use software written by by WA7MBL or by W0RLI/VE3GYQ or are compatable with them. They are very similar in appearance and in their command structure when you connect to them. There are however some diferences in the features that they offer and in the commands that you use to control them. These will be discussed in further detail in the article. How to Connect to the PBBS. You connect to the PBBS in the same way as you connect to any other packet staion. If you are using a minimal software set up, that means that you have to type "C BBSCALL" where BBSCALL is the call of the PBBS. If you are using YAPP, or LAN-LINK you use the Alternate C character to tell the program that you want to initiate a connect and it will ask you to enter the call of the PBBS, and then go on to try to establish the connect. Note that if the PBBS is using an SSID, such as "-1", you must use the whole call including the SSID. For example, if the PBBS that you wish to access is N8BMA-1 then you must issue the connect request to N8BMA-1 not N8BMA. The TNC will then issue a connect request A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 2 to the PBBS station. Connected to the PBBS. When the connect goes through, you will see the normal TNC message *** CONNECTED to BBSCALL followed by the "sign on" or "welcome" message unique to that PBBS. This initial message tells you something about the PBBS itself. Some typical PBBS "sign on" messages are shown in figure 1. WA2PVV signed on identifyng the the version of the software that the PBBS is running, and then indicated that I have unread meail posted, told me who the mail was from and what it was about, and then prompted me for a command. VE3CKU gave me a little more information. It reminded me of the last time I has logged in to it, and gave me a little bit of information of how to data, before telling me about my messages. KE8X told me a little bit about itself as part of its "Sign On' message. It also told me something about the messages on the system. When I logged into the WD4ELJ PBBS for the first time, it didn't know my name hence it called me "?_Name". It also gave me some information about itself and prompted me to give it my name and "home BBS" (more about that later). NA2B's sign on message was somewhat different. It told me the frequencies that it was active on before giving me the pron_mpt message. WA8OOH has two "sign on" messages depending on which frequency I connected to it on. The local user port on 145.05 gives a friendly welcome message, the other port on 145.01 tells why it is there and requests that you use an alternate channel if you are not a BBS. Notice that the BBS identification was only shown on the 145.01 port. Each of the sign on messages have things in commom but arranged differently. The SYStem OPerator (SYSOP) has the ability to customize almost all the messages that the PBBS will send to you, as you will see during the remainder of this article. Connected But What Next ? At this point we are connected to a PBBS and it is waiting for us to give it a command to do something. Each command that it expects consists of one or two letters. Each command may or may not be followed by a qualifier. When you send a command followed A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 3 by a qualifier, there should be a single space character between the command and the qualifier. For the purposes of the article, commands will be shown enclosed in single quotes ('). You should not type the single quotes when working a PBBS. Each command should also be followed by a carriage return (Enter). Telling it your Name. You will have noticed from the sign on messages that the PBBS likes to address you by name. I suppose that it want to be friends with you, and in the american manner address you by your first name. The command you use to tell it your name in the letter "N" followed by your name. For example, I usually use 'N Joe' to tell it my name. When you tell it your name it will send you a reply message confirming that it has received your name and stored it away somewhere. Typical responses to the "N" command are shown in figure 2. WD4ELJ is using the W0RLI PBBS software, because that is the only one that asks for the "home BBS" and sometimes for your Zip code. The home PBBS is entered (as prompted) by means of the 'NH' command, as in 'NH N4QQ' if your home BBS is N4QQ. N8FIS PBBS on the other hand is running the WA7MBL software, and not only does it confirm my name when I entered it, as shown in figure 2, but continues to use it each time it prompts me for a command. More about the prompt line later. Getting Information about the PBBS Itself. If you want to know something about the PBBS, namely who the operator is, or what equipment is being used, you use the 'I' (Information) command. This command is a single letter on a line by itself. Typical responses received on-the-air from NM8X, WA2PVV, WA8ERQ, VE3CKU and WD4ELJ are shown in figure 3. The response from WA2PVV means that the SYSOP has not placed any information about the system in the file that is transmitted to you when you send the Information command. WD4ELJ has left the standard text (that the software came supplied with) in place and has not yet edited the file to include a description of his system. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 4 The Command Prompt Line. The PBBS will always signal or prompt you when it it ready for you to send it a command. These prompt messages can be customized by each SYSOP and may take many forms. Each PBBS has two kinds of prompt. The short (expert) prompt and the long (novice) prompt. You can toggle form one to the other using the "eXpert toggle" command. The command on a WA7MBL PBBS is 'X' and 'NE' on a W0RLI PBBS. Some examples of both types of prompt messages are shown in figure 4. Changing the Prompt Line Once you are somewhat familiar with PBBS operation it behoves you to switch to the "Expert" message. You use the 'X' command on a WA7MBL PBBS or the 'NE' command on a W0RLI/VE3GYQ PBBS to toggle from one message mode to another. In either case, the PBBS remembers what you commanded it and will give you the same form of message next time you log on. When you change to the Expert user status you may get a message something like "You have been changed to an Expert User" followed by the (new) short prompt message. Listing the Messages and Bulletins. Once logged into the PBBS, you use the "L" command to get a list oif the messges on the system. Use of the basic 'L' command will get you a list of all the "readable " messages posted on the system since you last logged in. If this is your first time, it may get you a list of every message on the system or it may get you a response telling you that there aren't any message posted. Figure 5 shows some typical message listings. You can only read public messages or private ones addressed to you. The first column shows you the message number. The second one tells you what the type and status of the message is. The third column tells you how big the message is. The remaining ones tell you who sent the message to whom, when and what it is about. The message number is the key to reading the message. You MUST refer to all messages by their number. The type of message is indicated by the two letters in the second column. The two PBBS software packages differ somewhat in their use of designator letters. The first column tells you what kind of message it is, these are referenced by letters as shown below. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 5 A Arrl bulletin. B other type of Bulletin. F special message type, is not killed after Forwarding. P Personal/Private message. T Traffic Message The second column tells you something about the status of the message, also referenced by letters as shown below. F The bulletin has been Forwarded. H a message that has been Held. N Messages has Not been read/forwared. O Old message. Y Yes, message has been read. $ Message has been forwarded. The Size column tells you how many characters are in the message. This will give you an idea of how long it will take to read it, or how much space you will need on a disk if you want to capture it and save it. The next three columns tell you who the message is to, who sent it, and if it is to someone on a different PBBS, which PBBS the destination station is expected to read the message on. The software in the W0RLI and WA7MBL PBBS put the source station and destination PBBS in different positions in the listing. It should however be easy to figure out which is which. There is a category of messages called bulletins. These are general interest messages and are sent to many PBBS's along a route or distribution chain. For example a bulletin may originate at the ARRL and be posted at W1AW. It may then go from PBBS to PBBS until it gets to Detroit, or to Florida. These bulletins usually show up as messages to "ALL" along distribution routes which show up on the BBS column in the form of NEOH (North East OHio), RT5N (RouTe 5 Northbound), SEMICH (South East MIchigan) and ON1W (Ontario, Westbound). The "L" command has some qualifiers to let you control which of the messages are listed on your screen. If you follow the "L" command by a number it means that you want a list of messages with message numbers equal to or greater than the number you sent. For example if you send 'L 200', you will get a list of all readable messages with numbers greater than 200 as well as message number 200. This means that the listing of messages shown for GB3HQ in figure 5 could have been obtained by the command 'L 1028'. (Just to confuse you, it could also have been obtained if the message posted when you last connected to GB3HQ had been message number 1027). On a WA7MBL PBBS you can also get a listing of messages between a range of numbers. For example the command 'L 1028 1032' will get you a list of anything readable with message numbers between 1028 and 1032. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 6 'LM' (List Mine) will get you a list of messages associated with your callsign. On a W0RLI PBBS you will get a list of all messages that you have sent and are still posted, and all incoming messages to your callsign posted on the PBBS that you have not yet read. On a WA7MBL PBBS you will get a list of all INCOMING messages even if you have read them. This is a good feature because it will remind you that old messages are still posted and to delete them. The 'LN' (List New) command on a WA7MBL PBBS will give you a list of the New or unread messages. 'LT' (List Traffic) will get you a list of the NTS traffic messages posted. 'LL' (List Last) followed by a number. For example to read the last 100 messages posted you'd send 'LL 100'. You can get a listing of messages posted to a different PBBS or to a routing list by using the "L @" command. For example 'L @ ON1W' would get you a listing of all bulletins posted along the ON1W routing route. You can also get a listing of messages posted to or from a particlar callsign by using the "L>" and "L<" commands. Note the way the arrow is pointing. 'L> CALL' will get you a listing of messages to a callsign, and 'L< CALL' will get you a listing of messages from the callsign. Reading Messages. Having listed the messages you probably want to read a few of them. To read a message you send the "R" command followed by the message number. The command 'R 1040' will get you the contents of message number 1040. The WA7MBL PBBS software allows you to ask for up to six messages at a time. So for example you could send the command 'R 1027 1234 1345 1029' to read four different messages. If you have a number of messages posted, you can ask for them all using the 'RM' (Read Mine) command. On a W0RLI PBBS then 'RM' command will get you the contents of any unread messages. To do the same job on a WA7MBL PBBS you'd have to use the 'RN' (Read New) command. On a WA7MBL PBBS the 'RM' command will get you the contents of all messages posted to you on the PBBS. A typical message is shown in figure 6. The first line of the message is the same as you'd see if you asked for a listing of messages. Its message number 9 on the NM8X PBBS. Its a bulletin A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 7 that has been forwarded along the ON1W distribution route. It was first posted as a message on a PBBS by NF6K, and was received at NM8X on the 30th of January at 0535. The subject of the message is same as the item shown in the last column of a list. The path that the message took to reach NM8X is then shown in reverse order. Thus NM8X got it from VE3GYQ who got it from VE3EUI and so on. Finally you get to see the text of the message. The "R" command shows the message headers in their condensed or short form version. The W0RLI PBBS lets you see the full headers if you use the 'RH' command. The WA7MBL PBBS also allows you to get a display of the full headers in the message path routing, using the 'V' (Verbose) Command. You may also use 'VM' and 'VN'. Figure 6b shows the expanded path routing which not only shows you which PBBS's the message came through but also gives you date/time data for each section of the link as well as usually telling you the message number each PBBS assigned to the message as well as something about the PBBS itself. Sending Messages. To send or post a message you use the 'S' command. The PBBS allows you to post different types of messages. You may send personal/private or public messages. Personal messages can only normally be read by the person they have been sent to. Public messages may be read by anyone. You can send NTS traffic, you can post bulletins, and best of all you can even send messages to someone on an other LAN, even if that person is out of state or even across the country. To send a message you just use the command 'S CALL' where "CALL" is the callsign of the station you are sending the message to. If you are sending the message to someone on another PBBS you'd use the command 'S CALL @ PBBS'. If it was a private message you'd use 'SP CALL'. For example if you wanted to send me a comment on this article you'd use the command 'S G3ZCZ @ N4QQ'. This command tells the PBBS that the message is going to G3ZCZ who usually checks into the N4QQ PBBS for his messages. When the PBBS receives the command it will send you a reply asking you for the subject of the message. This is the part that describes the contents (a summary) and also shows up in the header and in the listing of messages (the "L" command). The request for the subject may take different forms. Typical off-the-air examples are "Enter title for message:", "Enter Subject for Msg # 15382:", A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 8 "Message Subject (City, State or Country if not local):", and "Sj:". Enter the subject of the message but keep it short (It has got to fit in that column in the listing). When the computer has accepted the subject, it will ask you to enter the message. The request may take the form of "Enter message, ^Z (CTL-Z) or /EX to end, it will be message 781" or "Send message. Use CTRL-Z or /EX to end:" or even just plain "Msg:". At this point you enter the text of the message. When you have completed the message, enter a "control Z" character (depress the control key and the 'Z' key at the same time) and then depress the 'Enter' key. After a few moments the computer will confirm reception and storage of the message by giving you the regular prompt message. If you are sending a message to someone at another PBBS and you think that the PBBS SYSOP won't know how to route the message, put the routing information in the subject of the message. For example, if you were sending a message to G3ZCZ @ N8BMA the subject would be "short description [Dteroit MI]" which would tell the SYSOP and any others along the way, that the message is going to Detroit in Michigan. In the examples shown above you may have noticed that the PBBS gives you the message number for you to refer back to it later. To send NTS traffic type 'ST NTSxx' where "xx" is the two letter state abbreviation. Thus NTS traffic to Michigan would be "NTSMI" and traffic to Alaska would be sent to "NTSAK". You can also use the first three digits of the ZIP code of the destination area, such as "NTS209". To send a bulletin to everybody on a routing list or to everyone at your local PBBS you have to use the 'SB' command. Thus 'SB ALL' would post a bulletin to everyone on the PBBS. If you want to post the bulletin so that it is distributed along a routing list, you'd put the routing list as the destination PBBS such as 'SB ALL @ ON1W'. Routing lists take the form of RT2S, ON1W, SEMICH and ALLOH. If A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 9 you want to know more about routing lists, post a message to your local SYSOP asking what ones the PBBS is linked to. Killing Messages. Now that you can see what messages are posted, read and send them, you also have to learn how to kill or delete some. Once you have read your messages, delete them from the PBBS. The 'K' (Kill) command is used to kill messages. If you want to kill all incoming messages at once, use the 'KM' command. If you do so, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHICH MESSAGES ARE THERE. Depending on the PBBS software ITS VERY EASY TO DELETE messages BEFORE READING them !!! It is far better, but longer to selectively delete each message. You delete a single message using the command 'K number' where number is the number of the message to be deleted. For example to delete message 234 you'd type the command 'K 234'. Files Obtaining a file directory The PBBS allows you to upload and download text or ASCII files. Files are usually stored in sub-directories. The 'W' command is used to see what sub-directories are available on the PBBS. This command performs the same function but the information presented to you by the PBBS is different on an RLI to an MBL. Files on a W0RLI PBBS. When conected to NM8X-3, (W0RLI PBSS) it returned the screen shown in figure 7a after receiving a 'W' command. It told me what directories were available. I wanted to look at the "Equipment Mods" subdirectory, so I sent it the 'WL' command to get a listing of the "L" sub-directory. I then received the reply shown in figure 7b. This listing told me not only what the files are, but how long they are, and also gave me some information about NM8X's hard disk, before giving me back the prompt message. As I wanted to look at the PK-232.MOD file, I sent the comand 'DL PK-232.MOD'. 'D' is the command to download a file. It is always followed by the letter code for the sub-directory and the name of the file. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 10 Uploading files to a W0RLI PBBS To upload files you use the 'U' command with the directory and file name qualifier. In the example shown in figure 7, you are only allowed to upload files into the "A" subdirectory. To upload a file such as "G3ZCZ.LAN" to the PBBS you'd have to send the command 'UA G3ZCZ.LAN' and follow the instructions on how to begin and end the file transfer. Files on a WA7MBL PBBS. The WA7MBL PBBS uses the same file directory structure as does DOS (the Disk Operating System). Thus when you send it a 'W' command you will get back a directory/file listing that looks like a DOS listing. N4QQ uses the WA7MBL software on his PBBS. When I sent it a 'W' command I received the reply shown in figure 8a. you can see that it contans a mixture of subdirectories and files. Subdirectories are indicated by the " ". I then sent it the 'W Packet' command and received the directory listing shown in figure 8b. I further sent the 'W NTS' command and received the directory listing shown in figure 8c. To download a file you'd use the 'D directory\filename' command. Thus the command to download the file "TUNING.HF" which is located in the "PACKET" subdirectory is 'D \PACKET\TUNING.HF'. Don't try to download a subdirectory. You use the 'U' command to upload a file. Send the full file name including the directory you want to put it on and follow the instructions that the PBBS will give you regarding how to do it. Talk to the SYSOP If you want to talk to the PBBS SYStem Operator, you use the 'T' (Talk) command. When it is received you will probably get a reply telling you that the computer is paging the SYSOP. If the SYSOP is home, and wants to talk with you, a message to that effect will appear on your screen, if not, a "Not at home" message will appear. On many versions of the PBBS software, if you send a command while the SYSOP is being paged, it will AUTOMATICALLY cancel the page. Software Version Sometimes at connect or 'log on' time you will be told which A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 11 version of the software the PBBS is running as part of the Welcome message. The version is enclosed in square brackets []. For example, the following version codes were extracted off-the- air. [MBL313] WA7MBL Version 3.13 as received from GB3HQ. [MBL-$] WA7MBL Version 5.0 (?) received from NA2B. [W0RLI 4.22] W0RLI Version 4.22 as received from WA2PVV. [GYQ-CBBS4.5-$] W0RLI/VE3GYQ 4.5 as received from N8BMA-1. If the PBBS does not give you the version when you first connect, and you still want to know, you can use the 'V' command to ask it what version it is running. Typical off-the-air responses to the 'V' command various PBBS's were, W0RLI/VE3GYQ V3.22, 2 July 1987 W0RLI/VE3GYQ V4.3, 3 December 1987 W0RLI/VE3GYQ V4.5, 14 February, 1988 Connecting Elsewhere via the PBBS. The PBBS also has a built in facility to let you connect to other stations on other frequencies, using the PBBS as a gateway. There are a number of commands associated with this mode of operation. The 'J' command allows you to get a "Journal" list of stations that have been heard by the PBBS on any of its ports. Most PBBS's have more than one port active. This means that they operate on more than one frequency. The second or other ports provide trunking of messages from your local PBBS to other PBBS's as well as HF or VHF access from different LAN frequencies. When you send the PBBS a 'J' command it will usually reply asking you which port you want the listing of, in somewhat the following manner. From one PBBS you may get back a list such as this one. Use J and port ID: JD 145.01 Mhz. JE 145.05 Mhz. JL Connected A second BBS on the other hand may give you this one. Use J and port ID: JC 145.09 Mhz. JD 145.03 Mhz. JL Connected Both PBBS's are configured differently. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 12 When you've seen what frequencies show up on which ports you can ask it for the journal of that port by adding the port identification letter to the "J", as in 'JC' for example. You will then get back a listing something like this. Port C, 145.09 Mhz. WD8LIZ 0453 VE3CKU 0447 VE3WZL 0058 K8DD 0040 NM8X-9 1715 VE3RCA 1506 VE3RCA-3 2335 VE3EUK 1539 VE3KGB 1535 N8FTY 1324 To actually connnect to someone, you use the 'C' command. You must also define the port letter in the command. So in the above example if you had wanted to connect to VE3RCA who had shown up in the journal on port C, you'd send the PBBS the command 'CC VE3RCA'. The PBBS will let you know that its trying by sending you a reply which could take the following format. "Attempting the connection on 145.09 Mhz. ^W will abort". If for some reason the connect request fails, it will tell you with message that. A typical message is shown below. "Connection not established". Note that the "journal" does not distinguish between calls heard directly or via a digipeater. Also, just because a call is in the journal, don't expect the station to still be on-the-air, especially if the journal entry is old. Thus unless you know that the call is local and active on the LAN most of the time, don't be suprised if the connection is not established. If you just want to see what is happening on the other port you use the 'M' (Monitor) command. This will cause the PBBS to relay any packets it hears on the specified port. Note you have to tell the PBBS which port to monitor using something like 'MA' if you want to monitor packets on "Port A". In the early days of packet radio, the PBBS was the only gateway facility that existed to allow cross band connects. These days with NET/ROM and KA-NODEs readily available, it is advisable not to use this feature, as there is no need to tie up the PBBS as a gateway. Obtaining On-Line Help. A Beginner's guide to Packet BBS Operation Page 13 Each PBBS contains on-line help information. You can get a list of the commands and features with the 'H' (Help) command. It will instruct you on how to get detailed help on specific commands. Try it. Summary command listing for both types of PBBS are shown in figure 9. Logging Off the PBBS To log off the PBBS send the 'B' (Bye bye) command. The PBBS will then disconnect from you and close its files in an orderly manner and set itself up for the next person. You can disconnect and achieve the same effect, but do the it the polite way. Summary Lurking on that PBBS disk are electronic mail capabilities, and the electronic newspaper in the form of ARRL, CRRL, AMSAT and many other bulletins. The amount and type of information literaly at your fingertips increases daily.This article has been a beginner's guide to using the Packet Radio BBS. It has covered the most commonly used features of the BBS. If you can follow the material presented in the article you will be able to expand your horizons with packet radio and connect to the exciting new world of information and bulletins. Figure 1. Typical PBBS "Sign On" Messages [W0RLI 4.22] You have new mail: Msg# TR Size To From @ BBS Date Title 374 PN 205 G3ZCZ W1IDH 0215/2028 QSL WA2PVV BBS> Hello joe, Welcome to the VE3CKU MailBox from Ron in SARNIA Last logged at 0428 on 880215. Type H for help, L to list new messages. You have new mail: Msg# TR Size To From @ BBS Date/Time Title 997 N 5 G3ZCZ W9TNN 0218/0232 test 996 PN 595 G3ZCZ AF4K NM8X 0218/0224 HF PACKET HOW? G3ZCZ de VE3CKU: at 0255z on 880218 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > [GYQ-CBBS4.4-$] Hello joe, Welcome to the KE8X MailBox in Trenton, MI --** Dedicated to Traffic and ARRL Bulletins **-- Last logged at 0423 UTC on 880218, 115 active msgs, 3468 to 3480 are NEW. Type H for help, L to list new messages, W for additional files. G3ZCZ de KE8X: at 1946z on 880218 ?,B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W > Hello ?_Name, Welcome to the WD4ELJ Gateway in Lynchburg, Va. Type T to talk to Nick, If no answer, Please leave message. Type H for help. *** N (name) to enter your name. *** NH (call) to enter your home BBS. G3ZCZ de WD4ELJ: at 1534 local on 880218 B,C,D,H,J,K,M,N,R,S,T,U,W,> [MBL-$] NA2B PBBS - Massena, N.Y. Multiport System: 145.01, 14.107, 7.093 Mhz H = help for more details. NNY-Net: NA2B BBS (B,H,KM,RM,S,T) > LOCAL USER PORT 145.05 - WA8OOH- WELCOME TO THE PTG PBBS Hello Joe, Welcome to the Packet Technical Group PBBS. From Ron in Livonia MI. Last logged at 0046 on 871004. Type H for help, L to list new messages, NE for expert prompt. Locals please use WA8OOH on 145.05 Mhz or N8BMA-1 on 220.52 Mhz. You have new mail!: Msg# TR Size To From @ BBS Date Title 553 N 184 G3ZCZ WB8WKA 1003/1445 address 547 N 883 G3ZCZ WB8COX 1002/2337 reply ... pk232com G3ZCZ de WA8OOH: at 0142z on 871004 ?,B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W > 145.01 BBS forwarding only. Please use WA8OOH on 145.05 or N8BMA-1 on 220.52 [GYQ-CBBS4.4-$] > Figure 2 Typical Responses to the "N" Command. *** Done. *** NH (call) to enter your home BBS. G3ZCZ de WD4ELJ: at 1535 local on 880218 B,C,D,H,J,K,M,N,R,S,T,U,W,> *** Done. G3ZCZ de WD4ELJ: at 1536 local on 880218 B,C,D,H,J,K,M,N,R,S,T,U,W,> 64 Msgs. - Next, New User -> *** Your NAME is entered as: Joe 64 Msgs. - Next, Joe -> Oh, Hello Joe WA3PXX BBS (B,D,H,I,J,K,L,N,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,?) > *** Ok Joe it's done, what next ? *** Please use the NH command to enter the call of your local BBS. G3ZCZ de AK3P: at 2019z on 880306 B,D,G,H,I,J,K,L,N,P,R,S,T,U,W > Welcome to the ARINC Radio Club BBS, Joe W3ZH BBS (B,D,H,I,J,K,L,N,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,?) > Figure 3 Typical Responses to the I (Information) Command. NM8X is operating W0RLI/VE3GYQ PBB version 4.3 on a WYSE 80386 computer with 2048k Ram and a 44 Mbyte hard drive. This system is a general purpose packet radio server node. It supports message store and forward, file upload/download, and also information about stations heard or connected. This mail and file server is part of the ON1E/ON1W, ON1S/ON1N and ALLMI/SEMICH networking system. Normal PBBS operating time is 24 hours a day. The PBBS is accessible by manual-keyboard users via a maximum four-digipeater link on 145.03 and 145.09. Mail-only ports are not used but forwarding is done on 145.09 and local users are also urged to use 145.09 whenever possible to ease the load on 03 and allow that frequency to be used for point to point communications. TNC's in service on all ports are kantronics KPC-2's and Radio's on both 2 meter ports are Kenwood TM-2570's. Antenna's are an AEA Isopol at 95 ft on 03 and an AEA Isopol at 60 ft on 09. For further information, leave a message to NM8X,N8HTG,NT8V or VE3CKU. (Sysops) on this PBBS. Have Fun DE: NM8X Jim 519-542-8529 N8HTG Lee 313-987-6821 NT8V Roy 313-987-6821 VE3CKU Ron 519-336-1112 G3ZCZ de NM8X: at 1335z on 880217 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > *** File not found: \mb\bbs\info.mb WA2PVV BBS> This PBBS is a three port system that provides store and forward message handling, forward and reverse automatic mail forwarding, as well as ASCII and binary file storage, retrieval and transfer. Normal PBBS operating hours are 24 hrs daily. The PBBS is accessible by local manual-keyboard users via a maximum five-digipeater link on 145.010 MHz and a maximum of eight-digipeaters on 145.05. TNC's in use are MFJ's 1274 on HF and 1270 and PK 80 on VHF rigs on VHF are both Azden 3000 running 10 watts to a Mirage b 1016 amp , ant is a Ringo Ranger at 65 ft. RIG on HF is a Kewood 530 S running 200 watts pep to a Wilson Trap Vertical at 40 ft This system is open to all. ENJOY THE SYSTEM 73 DICK Mid-Net BBS> Figure 3 Typical Responses to the I (Information) Command. This system is a general purpose packet radio server node. It supports message store and forward, file upload/download, GateWay linking between the radios, and information about stations heard or connected. *** Put a nice description of your station here *** G3ZCZ de WD4ELJ: at 1539 local on 880218 B,C,D,H,J,K,M,N,R,S,T,U,W,> VE3CKU is operating W0RLI's version 4.30 BBS, on an XT Clone with a 20MB harddrive, and two COM ports. VE3CKU is part of the ON1W/ON1E/ON1N/ALLMI/SEMICH Networks. VE3CKU-BBS has two ports, the 2-meter port on 145.090 consists of a Kenwood TR-7200A, putting 10 watts into a mobile whip at 95ft. The 220.520 MHz port consists of a Kenwood TM-3530, a 75ft feedline up to the VE3SUR repeater cabinet in the rooftop radio room, then a Mirage C3012 amplifier/preamplifier puts out 100 watts to a 7 element beam at 140ft. The beam is fixed/aimed at Detroit. Both TNC's are Kantronics KPC-2's, and the radios are equipped with time-out timers. Both ports are operated 24 hours a day, and up to 4 digipeaters may be used for access. Primarily VE3CKU-BBS is for automatic mail forwarding and distribution of bullitens, ect, on the network. Users are incouraged to check into NM8X-9/NM8X-3/or NM8X-2, to receive full BBS services, download files, and read mail. Remote Sysop's: HAVE FUN ! de Ron VE3CKU Jim - NM8X Lee - N8HTG Roy - NT8V G3ZCZ de VE3CKU: at 0255z on 880218 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > Figure 4 Typical examples of the Prompt Line. G3ZCZ de NM8X: at 0459z on 880216 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > G3ZCZ de VE3CKU: at 0438z on 880218 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > N4QQ BBS (B,H,KM,RM,S,T) > NNY-Net: NA2B BBS (B,H,KM,RM,S,T) > Mid-Net WA8ERQ BBS> WA2PVV BBS> N4QQ BBS> 1138, 24 msgs> Mid-Net BBS> 64 Msgs. - Next, Joe -> WA8YWH BBS> Select option B,H,J,K,L,N,R,S,X > > Figure 5 Typical PBBS Message Listings. Msg# TR Size To From @ BBS Date Title 362 F 1123 N2CEH KM2H N2EZG 0215/1207 220 WRAP 358 FH 905 ALL N1API RT5N 0215/0629 Need 2 Meter Amp Help 354 N 682 ALL W1ETH 0214/1655 Corrected Apple HELP!! 348 FN 2176 ALL WB2HBZ WA8YWH 0214/1453 Boulder Co., CO, War on Amateurs 327 FN 1290 ALL N2GBT RT5N 0214/0638 BLIND AUCTION COMING UP .. 326 FN 1281 ALL WA2MOE RT5N 0214/0637 ARRL #16 Western Sahara 325 FN 8578 ALL WB2HBZ RT5N 0214/0633 Sweden Calling DX 1977 2-09-88 324 FN 3772 ALL WB2HBZ RT5N 0214/0630 Another PC Virus-Part 2 323 FN 8016 ALL WB2HBZ RT5N 0214/0627 Another PC Virus-Part 1 315 FN 2377 ALL WB2HBZ RT5N 0213/1942 Boulder Co., CO, War on Amateurs WA2PVV BBS> Msg# TS Size TO @ BBS From Date Subject 1084 N 41 G3OUF G4MTPM 17-Aug hi 1082 N 204 ALL G1UWS 17-Aug SWOP ATARI ST 1073 N 187 G8KXW G3PAQ 16-Aug Welcome 1072 N 43 G4LZK G4FFC 16-Aug HELLO TED 1068 N 466 ALL G1BFV 16-Aug Radio Database 1067 N 138 ALL G1SLS 16-Aug REF.PK232 DRIVER FOR BBC/MASTER 1054 $ 770 ALL G1HUL 16-Aug **** SCOUTING USERS GROUP ***** 1051 N 304 G3UEG G3AAJ 15-Aug S 1042 A$ 4201 ALL G3RWL 15-Aug New FO-12 Mailbox commands 1041 A$ 1282 ALL G3RWL 15-Aug DON'T use Oscar-10 1028 B$ 138 SYSOPS GB3RA 15-Aug G1AWD BBS IS NOW GB3RA!! GB3HQ BBS> Msg# TS Size TO @ BBS From Date Subject 480 BN 5819 ALL @NEOH K3RC 18-Feb Exam sites in Ohio 479 FN 6013 ALL @NEOH KA4BCD 18-Feb W5YI Report 2-15-88 3 of 3 476 AF 2344 ALL @NEOH W8PH 18-Feb OHIO SECTION BULLETIN NR 7 475 FF 5428 ALL @NEOH KA4BCD 18-Feb W5YI Report 2-15-88 1 of 3 474 FF 6580 ALL @NEOH KA4BCD 18-Feb W5YI Report 2-15-88 2 of 3 473 FF 6083 ALL @NEOH KA4BCD 18-Feb W5YI Report 2-15-88 3 of 3 470 BN 878 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb MIDI interface for IBM/Commodore 469 BN 1231 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb WinterFest!!!!!! 468 N 1135 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb Luking 4 Azden PCS2800 467 N 1198 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb GE 4EG21A11 466 BN 1455 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb Ka Node Owners 465 FN 1944 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb Portable C-64 464 FN 3670 ALL @WA8YWH WB2VPH 18-Feb Contester's Diet WA8YWH BBS> Figure 6 A Typical Message. Figure 6a Condensed Path display Msg # 9 Type:F Stat:F To: ALL @ON1W From: NF6K Date: 30-Jan/0535 Subject: AEA PK-232 Modifications Path: VE3GYQ!VE3EUK!VE3KOI!W2ICZ!KA2VTY!N2EPO!KC3BQ!N2EZG!N1BCK!N2AYY!WB2HBZ-1 !WB2QJA AEA HAS ANNOUNCED MODIFICATIONS TO THE PK232 TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. THESE MODIFICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS INSTALL A .047 MICROFARAD CAPACITOR IN SERIES WITH R79. THIS WILL IMPROVE PERFORMANCE ON VHF PACKET WITH SOME ICOM AND KENWOOD TRANSCEIVERS. CHANGE THE VALUE OF R35 TO 39K OHM. THIS MOD WILL IMPROVE PERFORMANCE BY 6DB ON CW MAKING THE SENSITIVITY TWICE AS SENSITIVE. THESE MODIFICATIONS WILL TURN AN ALREADY OUTSTANDING TNC INTO THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. 73 AND GL DE STEVE, KF7K G3ZCZ de NM8X: at 0514z on 880216 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > Figure 6b Expansion of path The original path in the condensed mode was shown above. Path: VE3GYQ!VE3EUK!VE3KOI!W2ICZ!KA2VTY!N2EPO!KC3BQ!N2EZG!N1BCK!N2AYY!WB2HBZ-1 !WB2QJA The expanded or verbose path is shown below. R:870127/0407z @:VE3GYQ London, ON #:4920 O:NF6K R:870128/2232z @:VE3EUK Kitchener ON #:218 O:NF6K F:145.01/145.09 R:870128/0421z @:VE3KOI Milton, ON #:469 O:NF6K F:145.01/145.03 R:870127/1015z @:W2ICZ Buffalo NY #:172 O:NF6K F:HF/145.01 R:870127/0827z @:KA2VTY Elba, NY #:198 O:NF6K G:FN03 F:145.01/59 P:716 R-870127/0124e @:N2EPO Churchville, NY #: 538 O:NF6K G:FN13 F:145.01 P:716 R:870127/0531z @:KC3BQ Skaneateles,NY #:5265 O:NF6K P:315 F:145.01/03 R:870127/0312z @:N2EZG Alpine,NY #:1032 O:NF6K G:FN12 P:607 F:145.01/.07 At N1BCK : 66 From NF6K Rcvd 870126/2013, Sent 870127/0317 R:870126/0717z @:N2AYY Glens Falls NY #:3163 O:NF6K R:870124/1619z S:870126/0715z WB2HBZ-1, Kinnelon, NJ 184 < NF6K (!201) At WB2QJA: 758 From NF6K Rcvd 870124/0937, Sent 870124/1120 Figure 7 Files on a W0RLI PBBS. Figure 7a An Example of the Root Directory Listing. Use W and directory ID: WA All files must be uploaded to this area EXAMPLE UA Filename WB Address's Download only area. WC ARRL Bulletins Download only area. WD Basic Ascii Programs Download only area. WE BBS Information Download only area. WF Misc. Bulletins Download only area. WG CRRL Bulletins Download only area. WH Humor Download only area. WI Other Information Download only area. WJ Misc. Whatever Download only area. WK Maps Download only area. WL Equipment Mods Download only area. WM Pictures Download only area. WN Model 100 Programs Download only area. G3ZCZ de NM8X: at 0509z on 880216 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > Figure 7b The Equipment Mods. Subdirectory Listing. AEA-RF.MOD 1k | KPC2CLK.MOD 3k | TNCFILTE.MOD 1k ICOM02.MOD 6k | MFJ.MOD 2k | YAISU726.MOD 2k KPC-2.MOD 1k | PK-232.MOD 2k 18k of 41396k used, 20552k free. G3ZCZ de NM8X: at 0511z on 880216 B,C,D,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,S,T,U,V,W,? > Figure 8 Files on a WA7MBL PBBS. Figure 8a An example of the Root Directory Listing. USER.DOC 3325 DOWNLOAD.HOW 1110 MAILFWD.HOW 3320 AMSAT QUERY.TCP 5360 313USER.DOC 27K DOWNLOAD.D19 1658 COSI12.87 9391 ARRLDX ARRLPROP NTS PACKET DX PK232 VKHUMOR AUTOPATC.T80 3300 AUTOPATC.T40 3366 NETROM 12118016 bytes free. N4QQ BBS> Figure 8b The Packet Subdirectory Listing AX25L2.LTR 5565 AX25L2.DOC 16K LLBBS.NGC 3441 TUNING.HF 1400 12118016 bytes free. N4QQ BBS> Figure 8c The NTS Subdirectory Listing KB2HM.NTS 5949 HISTORY.NTS 3559 WA7MBL 2497 LOCAL.ZIP 950 ZIP.3RN 1553 AREACODE.LTR 4005 ARRLGRAM.NUM 6537 12118016 bytes free. N4QQ BBS> Figure 9 Summary of the most often used W0RLI PBBS Commands. Mail commands: L - LIST mail headers S - SEND a message R - READ a message K - KILL a message File commands: W - WHAT's available (File Directory) D - DOWNLOAD a file FROM the PBBS U - UPLOAD a file TO the PBBS Other commands: B - BYE (Logoff) I - Get INFORMATION about this PBBS J - Show STATIONS heard or connected T - TALK to SYSOP NE - CHANGE your "Expert" status V - Show VERSION of PBBS software in use ? - Get detailed HELP with individual system commands H - Get general HELP with all system commands Cp - Connect to CALL, using port p. M - Show what ports are available on this PBBS. Mp - Watch the packets on port p. Most often used WA7MBL Commands. Mail commands: L - LIST mail headers S - SEND a message R - READ a message K - KILL a message File commands: W - WHAT's available (File Directory) D - DOWNLOAD a file FROM the PBBS U - UPLOAD a file TO the PBBS Y - BINARY file transfer Other commands: B - BYE (Logoff) I - Get INFORMATION about this PBBS J - Show STATIONS heard or connected T - TALK to SYSOP X - CHANGE your "Expert" status V - Show VERSION of PBBS in use & mail statistics ? - Get detailed HELP with individual system commands H - Get general HELP with all system commands