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- PACKET INFORMATION BULLETIN #2
- BID: INFOBBS.002
- CHOOSING YOUR BBS
-
- As the network of nodes and packet switches continues to expand, it is
- becoming easier and easier to connect to stations all over Northern
- California and beyond. As a result of this easy access, we're finding
- stations using Bulletin Board Systems that are 50, 100, even 200 miles
- or more away from them. In just the past few days, I've noticed a
- station in Reno using the BBS in San Francisco, a station in Sausalito
- using the BBS in Yuba City, a station in Chico using the BBS in Fremont,
- and a station in San Francisco using a BBS in Santa Barbara.
-
- This practice of BBS DXing is NOT a good one for several reasons:
- 1-You're unnecessarily adding to the congestion on the network.
- 2-You're wasting your own time due to the long wait between packets.
- 3-You're blocking the use of the BBS for local users.
- 4-You'll timeout and be disconnected before you have finished more
- often than not.
-
- There are now 41 BBSes in Northern California, so you should be able
- to find one close to your QTH. All 41 of the BBSes carry the same
- bulletins, and a message left on any of these systems will be forwarded
- within a short time to any of the others. There is no need to use a
- BBS that's miles away from you.
-
- Fred, K6RAU, the NCPA BBS Coordinator, publishes a monthly list of NCPA
- Bulletin Boards showing their callsigns, operating frequecies and
- location. Read this message and find the systems that are the CLOSEST
- to you, then try connecting to them to determine the one with the best
- path. You should attempt to find one where you can connect directly
- without using a node, switch or digipeater, if possible.
-
- Once you've found a local BBS with a good path, you should make it your
- "Home BBS". Use it whenever you can. If it's busy, you can try one of
- the other LOCAL systems, but please refrain from connecting to a BBS
- that's in another part of the state.
-
- In INFO Bulletin #3 I'll explain why you should choose ONE and only ONE
- HOME BBS.
-
-