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. The soloution for those who do not 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).

On to Part 18 -  Using the Kantronics K-Node

Back to Part 16  - Using the MSYS BBS as a Node

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