
          Using the Wisconsin Network - Part 17
                  by Andy Nemec, KB9ALN

     For the last 3 parts, we have been investigating the use
of the MSYS BBS as both a node and a BBS. This time, we will
use a Question-and-Answer format to tie up some "loose ends",
using the most common questions and the most common-seen
errors made by operators using MSYS.

Q - Why, when I end a message with a /EX, does it sometimes
    take 2 tries before I get a "Message Stored" response?

A - This is an easy one. The /EX (or control-Z) has to be sent
    to the BBS on a fresh line. You may think that every line
    you type is a "fresh line". Not so. Just because your
    program looks like it starts a new line after you have
    typed 80 characters does not mean it adds a carriage
    return (which is how a computer knows to start a new line
    of text).  Most of the common packet programs (Hostmaster,
    PackRatt, etc) do not. If your packet program has "word
    wrap" for your transmitted text, this is no problem. Note 
    that Hostmaster has a "word wrap", but it only affects 
    received text. Why it does not have a transmit word wrap 
    is anyone's guess. The soloution for those who do not have
    word wrap on transmit is to hit the "return" or "enter"
    key just before you send the /EX or Control-Z.

Q - I log onto our local BBS every day. If I connect up today
    and List the messages, I will see a certain amount. When I
    connect up tomorrow, the BBS will not show me the messages 
    I saw listed today. Why?

A - The BBS keeps track of every user. Not only does it
    remember your home BBS and when you last checked in, but it
    remembers the number of the last message you have seen
    listed when you last connected and said Bye. The messages
    are still there, you just have to look for them. If there
    was a particular message you were interested in and don't
    remember it's message number, there are a couple of ways to
    locate it. If you know what catagory the message was under,
    like "SALE", then you can list the all of the SALE
    messages. If you remember that the message concerned a
    TS-450S for sale, then you can have the BBS do a search for
    you. Just type:

    L"TS-450"

    and the BBS will list every message that contains the
    phrase "TS-450". You may also see unrelated messages that
    contain this string of letters, so you may have more than
    one message to choose from.

Q - I try to mail a FOR-SALE bulletin out, but the BBS keeps
    telling me that the message is undeliverable or something
    like that.

A - Chances are that you tried to enter the message as
    "FOR-SALE", which is too many letters for the "@BBS" field.
    Try typing it as SALE, it should go through then.

Q - When I enter a bulletin into the BBS, the BBS tells me that
    my message is being held and made invisible for Sysop
    review. Why?

A - FCC rules state that the originator and the first
    forwarding station are held responsible for the content of
    any messages. Just about all Sysops hold any outgoing
    bulletins so that they can check them for content. Even
    though your message may be innocent enough, there are some
    that are not. So, all outgoing bulletins (and sometimes
    personal mail) are held so that the Sysop can check them.
    It is nothing personal, it is simply the Sysop protecting
    his or her license.

Q - I am trying to mail a friend in Texas, but the BBS keeps
    telling me that that the message cannot be delivered
    because of a missing or incorrect heirarchial address. I am
    sure I typed it in right. What gives?

A - Chances are, your friend is at a new BBS, or one that is
    unknown to your BBS. Send a message to your Sysop and
    explain the situation to him or her. All that is usually
    required is to add your friend's BBS into the list of BBS's
    that yours knows about.

Q - I am not getting mail from my friend in New Mexico. He gets
    my mail, but I get nothing from him.

A - Contact your Sysop. Sysops are always interested when
    something like this happens. Chances are, there is a BBS
    somewhere down the line that does not know how to route
    some of the mail it receives, yours among them. Sysops can 
    trace where something is getting lost and generally fix it
    without too many problems. But, they have to know about it
    first, and are probably not aware of the situation.

Q - When using an MSYS node, I can never connect to a friend of
    mine. I know his station is up. What is happening here?

A - Chances are, you are not telling the node what port to look
    for your friend on. The MSYS node defaults to port 0 when it
    is trying to make a connection for you. The best way to find
    out what port your friend is on is to check the JustHeard 
    list. If he is on port 2, (let's say that his call-sign is
    W9XBY) then you use the command:

    C2 W9XBY (or whatever your friend's call is).

     And that is all we have time and space for this time. If
you have any packet related questions you think other folks
might be interested in, we can pick it for inclusion in "Using
the Wisconsin Network", along with the answer. Just write me by
using the option on the home page, or send packet mail to:

KB9ALN@KB9ALN.#GRB.WI.USA.NA

and you'll get an answer and your question may see publication.

  ***End of Part 17***
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