You can request the contents of a directory, request a file, and on some BBS's, request a callbook look-up. The reply comes back to you at your local BBS as a mail message. The REQDIR is a function that will return the contents of a remote BBS's directory. This means that you do not have to connect long-distance to a BBS and go through a long process of manually looking at the directory. It can be done with a simple mail message. All you have to know is the call-sign and heirarchial address of the remote BBS (as well as your own, naturally). Let's say that you want to know what is in the directory of our KA9JAC's BBS in Neenah. Start the message with:
******** Main File Directory ********
ALIGN.MFJ 1603
ARES
BART
2751 CTYHUNT
DX-NOTES
DXDATA.A-E
DXDATA.F-L
DXDATA.M-R
DXDATA.S-Z
FAIL.386
942 FCC
FIELDDAY
FILE1
846 FREQ-STS.74
2225 FREQCORD.FRM 3832 FREQS
GEOGRAPH
HUMOR
ICOM1.MOD
COMSERV
INTERNET.GAT 1351
KDK
KENWOOD1.MOD KENWOOD2.MOD
KENWOOD3.MOD
KEPS
KNWDSERV
MFJ
MODS
MSYS
NASA.BBS 627
NEWDXA
1148
NODES
PACKET
PACKET.10 408
PACKET.WIS
REQFIL.HLP
602 REQSAT.DOC
1994 SATELITE
USDATA
VIRUS
4235 WALL.DOC
1792 WAPR
WAPRFREQ.APP 3730
WARNING
881 XMAS
1301
Along with the list of files, you have a list of subdirectories that
also contain files. File names follwed by a number (in the above example,
ALIGN.MFJ, BART and FAIL.386 and others like them) are indeed files. Names
appearing without numbers are indeed subdirectories.
Yes, you can also send another message and find the contents of those
directories, too. The procedure is almost exactly the same as in the first
example, except for the title. Let's say that you want to find the contents
of the WAPR directory. Use the same format to send a message to
REQDIR.
When the BBS prompts you for a title, send:
Okay, now you have a list of files in front of you. This is nice if you collect lists of directories, but not much good unless you can get one of these files. Of course, you can. That is what the REQFIL function does. Let's say that you found a file called WAPR-BL.DOC that interests you. This would be a copy of the WAPR By-Laws, and this file can be mailed to you just as your request for the directory listing was. Using our above example at KA9JAC, you would use this format to send a message:
Directory listings will show the size of the file that is listed. Keep this in mind when you are retrieving the file. A very large file downloaded during peak hours will almost certainly wreak havoc on your fellow packet operators. If you get a large file returned, take note of the traffic on the frequency and try to avoid congestion. Download it during off-peak hours to keep your LAN a happy place.
The last nifty feature can help you out with your QSL'ing chores. Some BBS's are equipped with a call-book server, and you can remotely take advantage of this. A message to REQQTH will do the job quite nicely. Just send:
On to Part 20 - Radio and TNC information for 9600 bps operation
Back to Part 18 - Using the Kantronics KA-Node
Back to the Using the Wisconsin Network Index - Choose a different part to view
Back to the WAPR home page - Look at something else