		  
	       Using the Wisconsin Network - Part 11
		       by Andy Nemec, KB9ALN

      Last month we turned in a slightly different direction in our
 exploration of the Wisconsin Network. We started to explore the
 somewhat mysterious world of the TCP/IP station. We learned just
 what "TCP/IP" is, and what makes them different from the
 garden-variety "AX.25" station. We also learned that they are
 capable of the "standard" AX.25 protocol so that they can
 communicate with "standard" stations. And we learned that these
 stations can also talk to Network Nodes, and are part of the
 network. And this is why we are learning about them; you may
 encounter a TCP/IP station that functions as part of the network
 and we should learn how to use it as such.

      Most IP stations you will come into contact with use the
 network in a different way, to support the TCP/IP functions of the
 system. Because of their inhernet versatility, they are gaining
 wide usage as "Packet Switches". They can handle various different
 protocols, and therefore, can do many different jobs. Most likely,
 when you connect up to one, you will be connecting to what looks
 like a BBS. But a TCP/IP station can and is often used as a node.
 When you connect, you may get a greeting screen that looks
 something like this:

 [WNOS-4B0-HMI$]
 Currently 1 user.

	Welcome to KB9ALN's Mailbox and Node in Green Bay.
		     To chat with me, Type C .

 Mail area (WX9APR): 0 Messages
 Enter Command:(a,b,c,co,conv,d,du,e,f,h,i,k,l,m,n,n c,p,q,r,s,
	       t,u,v,w,?)>

      The first line you see identifies the program in use by this
 station, which is called "WNOS". WNOS is an abbreviation meaning
 "WAMPES Network Operating System". WAMPES is a group of Amateurs
 from Germany who modified a program written by Phil Karn, KA9Q
 called NOS. Virtually every flavor of TCP/IP has NOS in it's name.
 The "HMI$" part of the first line lets other BBS's know that this
 station will accept forwarded messages, among other things. The
 second line is self-explanatory, the users currently connected.

      The third and fourth lines of text are just a greeting and an
 instruction as to how to do a keyboard chat with the operator of
 the station. Notice that the fifth line mentions a "Mail Area".
 Every one who connects up to the station has a personal mail area
 where their messages are stored. You log onto your own personal
 area. The user connected here is WX9APR (a call I pulled out of
 thin air for example), and has no messages. If you were to connect
 up to this station, you would see your call sign in place of this
 one.

      Now, to the command line. It does look similar to a BBS,
 doesn't it? There are a fair number of BBS function in there, and
 they function much like any other BBS. We'll cover each command
 specifically below:

 A - area      This is used to find out about the various mail
	       areas available, and allows you to change to a
	       different one. When you log onto a TCP/IP station,
	       you are in your personal mail are. Those of you who
	       have used the MSYS BBS systems may be familiar with
	       the concept of message catagories. The mail area is
	       very similar.
 
 B - bye       This will disconnect you from the station.
 
 C - chat      Allows you to talk to the Sysop, if available. Some
	       TCP/IP stations use the "O" command ("Operator").
 
 CO - connect  Makes a connection as a node to another station.
	       Sometimes, this will make a network node connection
	       for you. Most of the time it will connect you to
	       another station much like a "KA-Node" does.
 
 CONV -        This allows you to join in a "round table". More
	       than one person can join in a conversation with you
	       and all stations can see what each participant is
	       sending. Their call-signs are inserted in front of
	       each sentence they send.
 
 D - download  Allows you to download a text file. The format is
	       d <filename> .
 
 DU- download  This allows you to download binary files that are
	       "UU" encoded (similar to "YAPP" Downloading).
 
 E - escape    Allows you to set an "escape carachter" This is a
	       key combination (like control-x) that is used if you
	       want to abort a process (like a network connection),
	       but wish to remain connected to this station.
 
 F - finger    This retrieves a short info file about a user of
	       this system. This user might be the operator of the
	       station, or a frequent user.
 
 H - help      Just what you would expect. In addition, you can
	       use this in conjunction with a particular command.
	       Help Finger  will give you specific information
	       about the finger command.
 
 I - info      Gives you a short info file about this station.
 
 K - kill      Deletes a message, just like any other mailbox
	       or BBS.
 
 L - list      Lists messages. Again, just like any other BBS.
 
 M - mheard    Returns this station's heard list.
 
 N - nodes     Just like any other node, this is a list of network
	       nodes that this mailbox and node can connect to.
 
 N C -         Means "Netrom" or "Network" Connect. Some TCP/IP
	       stations need to know that you wish to connect to
	       a network node. If you wish to connect to, say
	       WIGRB, you would send   n c wigrb .
 
 P - path      Gives a list of nodes that this node can directly
	       connect to, without going through the Network.
	       Similar to "routes".
 
 P - quit      Same as "bye".
 
 R - read      Read a message, just like a conventional BBS.
 
 S - send      Send a message. Again, this is the same as a regular
	       BBS or Mailbox, and the same process is used.
 
 T - telnet    This is TCP/IP lingo telling this computer to
	       connect up with a specified computer running TCP/IP.
 
 U - users     Shows who is currently connected to this station. 
 
 W - what      Sends you a list of What files are available for
	       downloading.

      Now you may have a better idea of how to use a TCP/IP
 mailbox/node. There is much more that you can learn about these
 stations. Space permits us to only go so far. But operation as a
 network node is remarkably similar to any other node you may have
 used.

      If you have questions about a TCP/IP station, the best way to
 find out more is to contact someone who operates this mode. Most
 folks who operate these stations are more than happy to help you
 use their station.

      In the next part of this series, we will explore more of the 
 world of using the Wisconsin Network.
 
 *End of Part 11* 
