World of Ham Radio 1997/WOHR97_AmSoft_(1997-02-01).iso/packet/docs/packet06.doc

Text File | 1997-02-01 | 10KB | 186 lines

 INTRODUCTION TO PACKET RADIO - PART 6 - by Larry Kenney, WB9LOZ

In the previous section we discussed the basics of using a packet bulletin
board system.  Now let's look at the BBS commands in more detail.  This
information is based on the W0RLI software so some of the commands might
vary slightly on systems using different software, such as REBBS, MSYS,
WA7MBL, etc.  Use H (HELP) on your BBS if you find that a command doesn't
work as described here.

LIST COMMAND: The first thing you should do when logging on to a BBS is to
use the LIST command.  There are many variations available, but L, by
itself, is the one used most often.
     L (List) - Lists all new messages, except other users' personal
         messages, that have been entered since you last logged in.
If you want to list specific messages, you may use one of the following
variations of the L command:
     LM  - (List Mine) - Lists all messages addressed to you.
     Lx  - Lists all messages of the type designated by 'x'. Example:
           LB will list all bulletins.
     L # - Lists messages back to and including number #. Example:
           L 4050 will list all messages, except personal messages to
           others, from the latest one back to #4050.
     LL #- Lists the last # messages.  Example: LL 20 lists the last 20
           messages received at the BBS, excluding other's personal
           messages.
     L 1 - Lists ALL non-personal messages.
     L> callsign - Lists all messages TO callsign indicated. Example:
           L> N6XYZ
     L< callsign - Lists all messages FROM callsign indicated. Example:
           L< N6XYZ
     L@ designator - Lists all messages that have that "designator" in
           the @ BBS column of the message header.  Example: L@ ALLCAN
           will list all messages with ALLCAN in the @ BBS column.

READ COMMAND:  To read a message, you enter R followed by a space then the
message number.  Example: To read message 5723, you'd enter: R 5723. You
also have the option of using the RH command, which will give you all of
the forwarding headers in detail, rather than just giving you the path.
Example: To read message 5723 with the full headers, you'd enter RH 5723.
There is one other version of the READ command, and that's RM.  Entering RM
by itself will give you all of the messages addressed to you that have not
yet been read.

ERASING MESSAGES:  Once you have read a personal message, please erase it.
The sysop will appreciate your help in clearing up "dead" messages. You use
the K - KILL command to do this.  You can enter K #, such as K 5723, which
will erase that particular message, or you can enter KM, which will erase
all of the personal messages you have read.  If you use the KM command, the
BBS will list the message numbers for you as they're killed.

THE "S" COMMAND:  S (Send) and (Status):  The letter S by itself will give
you a reading of the BBS status on W0RLI systems, showing the callsigns of
stations using the system, the time they connected, the ports and tasks
they're using, etc.  It also shows information on the messages waiting for
users and those waiting to be forwarded to other bulletin board systems.
S, by itself, on other systems will either prompt you for further
information on sending a message, or it will give you an "illegal command"
error prompt.

To use the "S" command for sending a message it must be further defined.
There are three types of messages found on a packet bulletin board system:
Personal, Bulletin, and Traffic.
    "SP" is used for sending a personal message to one other station,
    "SB" for sending a bulletin, and
    "ST" for sending a message that's going to be handled by the
         National Traffic System.
You're able to send a message to one particular person, to everyone on the
local BBS, to everyone at every BBS in Northern California, in Southern
California, in the entire state, or all across the entire country.  It all
depends on your addressing.

At the BBS prompt you enter the appropriate command (SP, SB, or ST)
followed by a space and then the addressee.  The addressee can be a
callsign or it can be something of a general nature, such as ALL, QST,
ARES, etc.  Examples:  SP WB9LOZ    SB ALL    SB SALE
All commands, of course, must be followed by a <CR>.

If you wish to send the message to someone at another BBS, you have to
indicate the call of the other BBS and the two letter abbreviation of the
state it's located in following the call of the addressee.  For example, to
send a message to N5PQ, who uses the W5XYZ BBS in Texas, you would enter:
   SP N5PQ @ W5XYZ.TX
The BBS call and the state abbreviation are separated by a period. This is
the bare minimum required for delivery of messages going out of state.  A
more complete system of addressing is available.  It's helpful in directing
your messages to stations in the U.S more quickly and is required for
messages going to stations outside of the U.S.  It's called hierarchical
addressing, and its covered in detail in the next part of this series.

To send a general message or bulletin to more than just the local BBS, you
need to use a designator in place of the BBS call.  The designator
indicates the area where you want the message distributed.  In northern
California,
    ALLCAN indicates that you want the message sent to all Northern
           California BBSs, which includes all of them from Santa Cruz,
           Gilroy, and Fresno northward.
    ALLCAS is used to send a message to all BBSs in the southern part
           of the state.
    ALLCA  is used for sending a message to EVERY BBS in the state.
    ALLUSW is used for distribution to CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA and ID.
    USA    is the designator to use for sending a message to EVERY BBS
           IN THE USA.  Extreme care should be used when using the USA
           designator.  Please make sure that the subject matter is of
           interest to packet users everywhere and please keep the
           message as short as possible.  "For Sale" messages should
           NOT be sent with the @ USA designator.  The National HF
           Packet Network is somewhat fragile, due to varying band
           conditions, so unnecessary traffic can keep more important
           traffic from getting through.
Here are a few examples of how you would correctly address a bulletin-type
message for general distribution:
   SB ALL @ ALLCAN   SB SALE @ ALLCA   SB QST @ ALLCAS   SB AMSAT @ USA

If you have traffic for the National Traffic System, you must use a special
format.  NTS messages are entered as ST ZIPCODE @ NTSXX, where the XX is
the two-letter state abbreviation.  Examples:
               ST 03452 @ NTSNH    ST 60626 @ NTSIL

When you have the address line of your message complete, you enter a
carriage return (<CR>).  You'll then receive a prompt asking for the
SUBJECT or TITLE of the message.  Enter a brief description of what the
message will be about, followed by a <CR>.  Next, you'll be asked to enter
the TEXT of the message.  When entering the text, you should insert
carriage returns at the end of each line, as if you were typing a letter.
A normal line has a maximum of 80 characters, so when you have 70 to 75
characters typed, enter a carriage return and continue on the next line.
This will prevent words from wrapping around to the next line and the
program inserting an unnecessary blank line in the text.  After you have
completed the text, you end the message with a CONTROL Z. (You send a
CONTROL Z by holding down both the CONTROL key and the Z key simultan-
eously.)  You must follow the CONTROL Z with a carriage return.  (Some
systems will also allow you to use /ex to end a message.)  When you receive
the BBS prompt, you'll know that the message has been accepted by the
system.

FILE DIRECTORY COMMANDS:
    W (What) - Entering W, by itself, gives you a list of the directories
available on the BBS along with an associated letter for each directory,
called the directory ID.
    Wd  - Gives a list of the files in the directory indicated by d. The
"d" is the directory ID you obtain with the W command.

   D (Download) - Used for reading files from a directory.  Must be used
with a directory ID and filename using the following form:  Dd filename
The "d", again, is the directory ID and the filename must be entered
exactly as listed in the directory.   Example:    DG FCCEXAM.INF

    U (Upload) - Used for uploading (sending) a file to the BBS.  The
command must be used with a directory ID, followed by the filename you're
assigning to the file, using the form: Ud filename.  The d indicates the ID
of the directory where you want to enter the file.  Filenames can have up
to 8 characters preceding the dot and 3 characters following the dot.
Example: UM FLEAMKT.INF would upload a file named FLEAMKT.INF into the
directory with the M ID.  The BBS program will not allow you to upload a
file with a filename that already exists, and some directories are set by
your local sysop for downloading only.

GENERAL MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS:
     I (Info) - Gives you details on the hardware, software and RF
facilities of the BBS you're using, or on some systems, a page of upcoming
events, helpful hints, or other useful information.

     J - Displays a listing of stations that were heard by the BBS or that
connected to the BBS.  Must be used with a port identifier, such as JA, JB,
etc.  J by itself will list the port IDs for you.

     M (Monitor) - Used for monitoring the activity on another port of the
BBS. Must be used with a port identifier, such as MA, MB, etc. M by itself
will list the port IDs.  (Not available on all systems.)

     B (Bye) - When you're finished using the BBS, you enter a B to
disconnect.

HELP DOCUMENT: Every BBS has help available for the user.  Simply enter an
H and follow the directions given.  In most cases, an H followed by a space
and then the letter of the command you want help on will give you the
specific information you need.  For example, if you wanted to know more
about the Download command, you would enter H D at the prompt.

There are other commands available that are specific to the particular
software being used.  Check your local BBS for a complete list of the
commands available to you.

- - - -