Packet Radio BBSing

Info on the local W4RAL BBS system!

EWBBS is a Packet Radio based BBS (Bulletin Board System) where a person can send and receive messages to and from other hams all over the world. You can send messages by topic like: Items for sale or want, ARRL bulletins, homebrewing, cooking recipes, etc.

One of our members, Ronnie Reams WA4MJF, is the sysop/owner of the EWBBS packet radio BBS system. His system has many "ports" for multi-frequency access, "nodes" scattered about "TEARA country" to help users connect to the bbs from distant locations, high-speed "backbones" used for global networking, and even 9600 baud user ports. Ronnie spends many hours and $$$ maintaining and upgrading the system to provide the highest quality of BBS service to the area. This page will attempt to explain some of the functionality in the W4RAL BBS system.

EWBBS originally got it's start as the N1GMV BBS, or GMVBBS for short. John N1GMV ran the system for some time, and then had to take it off-line when he moved. It seemed as if the area would loose BBS coverage, until Ronnie decided to pick it up and "keep the ball rolling". Ronnie and John got together, fleshed out the new system, and away it went. I'm not sure who donated the original equipment, but as time goes on I'm sure I'll add more history here. One thing is for certain...their efforts, the efforts of others, and all donations are very much appreciated by the many packet BBS users in the area!

Ronnie's system is also known as W4RAL BBS with the callsign of W4RAL, and uses an alias of "EWBBS" to make it easier to remember and connect to. Along with providing BBS system access, the system passes a lot of "through traffic" and serves as an important link in the global packet network.

The BBS, or Bulletin Board System, is a central computer where messages are stored for a period of time to allow users to read and reply to them, or generate their own messages to be sent out to other locations. It is the hub of the system, that is to say that many radios on different frequencies and operating at different baud rates are interconnected through special TNC's (a radio modem of sorts). The BBS has the intelligence to sort the various messages and route them to the correct frequency(s), store them if they are sent to a user of W4RAL, forward them if they are for a user of a different system, post them for all to see if they are public messages, perform housekeeping when necessary, etc.

I mentioned that the bbs is part of a Global system. What this means is that it's connected to a network of similar systems that span the planet. When a public message is sent, it appears on all BBS's all over the world (if it's addressed to ALL@WWBBS [everyone worldwide]). A user can connect to any BBS, anywhere in the world and read the same messages! Another neat feature of this system is that one can send a message to another ham anywhere in the world through the BBS, no matter of the frequency of the BBS in the distant user's area. They simply connect to the BBS nearest to them and receive their message!

Let's connect and get your feet wet! We'll pretend, just for this initial demonstration, that you are in range of the BBS and can connect to it directly. However, most of you aren't that close...but don't worry, we'll cover the methods used to "relay" or "digipeat" in from a distance in a bit. The W4RAL BBS has 2 frequencies specifically for users, and can actually be accessed on all four of it's frequencies. The BBS frequencies are:

• 145.01 (1200 baud) used mostly for BBS-to-BBS traffic
  
• 147.54 (1200 baud) user frequency
  
• 223.70 (9600 baud) user frequency
  
• 441.00 (9600 baud) used mostly for BBS-to-BBS traffic
  

The BBS-to-BBS traffic frequencies can be used in a pinch, but it's discouraged to use the "backbones", if it's at all possible to connect to the BBS via the user frequencies. So, dial up a user frequency on your packet rig, type "ctrl-C" to set your TNC to the COMMAND mode, and type "C W4RAL" to connect. You can also connect by using the BBS's alias (EWBBS) by typing "C EWBBS". Some people find it easier to remember the alias rather than the callsign. Don't type my "" quotes, I'm just using them to make the required commands more obvious.

Once connected, you'll be asked a series of questions (as a new user) for the BBS's database about where you live, your name, zip code, etc. Complete the questions, and you'll be taken to the main prompt. By the way, once you've completed the questions, you won't be asked again in the future, unless the bbs looses your info during a software upgrade, etc.

The BBS menu works similar to DOS help files. First type "? h" for a full listing of menu items. If you want a better explanation of a specific menu item, type "? menu-item-letter". Example: If I wanted a better description of the "S" send menu command, I'd type "? S". You'll find that the BBS is very easy to use, and operates much like a standard telephone BBS.

I'll soon have the full list of BBS commands here, and their descriptions, but for now we'll just touch on a few of them to get you going.

• "LM" lists only messages to you
  
• "L" lists the titles and message number of all messages on the BBS since you last connected
  
• "R #" allows you to read any message base on it's message number
  
• "S callsign" allows you to send a message to someone else on the packet network
  
• "SR" allows you to send a reply to the last message you just read
  
• "K #" allows you to erase (kill) a message you wrote by it's message number
  
• "I" shows you who is currently connected to the system, and who has mail waiting
  
• "? H" shows you the full list of menu selections available
  
• "? menu_letter" shows you more details for that specific menu item
  
• "B" logs you off of the BBS, and remembers where you were in the message base
  

• Let's imagine, that when you "L"isted the messages on the BBS (and there will be a BUNCH of them the first time you log in!), that you saw a message numbered 3456 that you wanted to read. From the prompt, you'd type "R 3456" and hit enter. The BBS will recall that message for you and you'll be able to read it.

• OK, Let's say you wanted to reply to that message, you'd type "SR" and hit enter. Sometimes the BBS might ask "What message number", to which you'd reply "3456" and hit enter. The BBS will automatically take care of the return address for you, so you can type away to your new friend. When finished typing any letter, always hit enter to get to a blank line, then type "/EX". That closes the email and sends it to the BBS for forwarding through the packet system.

• The next exercise will be to send an email to someone from scratch. You need to know their callsign, and their "home bbs" address. To get you started, I've compiled a list of TEARA members who are one packet BBSing, complete with their home bbs address. Here's what the address for Ed KD4VPQ looks like on packet radio: KD4VPQ@W4RAL.#RTP.NC.USA.NOAM . If you're sending to someone on the local systems (N4WFU, WR4AGC, W4RAL, KD4GAA, etc.), you only need to know the BBS call, and the system can route it for you. If you're logged onto the BBS that is that person's homebbs, you only need to send the note to them (without the bbs info) and the system will assume it's for that very BBS. So, to send a note to Ed, you'd connect to a BS somewhere, and type "S KD4VPQ@W4RAL.#RTP.NC.USA.NOAM". The BBS will then ask you for a topic, and I'll just put in "HI!", and strike enter. Then I'm ready to type. After I'm finished typing the message, I'll go hit enter a couple times to get me to a blank line, and type "/EX" and hit enter once more. That'll close the email and send it on it's way.

• All messages, as you'll see the first time you list them all, aren't just to and from individuals. Many are posted public with titles like "SALE" or "WANTED" or "DX" or "HELP", etc. In that case a person would send a message to everyone by typing (this will be an example of a wanted message): S WANTED@ALLUS . There are a few things you can put after the @symbol that sorta determine how far it'll go. @ALLNC goes just in NC. @ALLUS goes U.S. wide. @WW goes world wide...etc. You'll pick those up when you start looking at others' messages that are on the system.

• Don't forget to "K"ill personal messages to you when you finish reading them. You do this by typing "K message_number" and hit enter. You can only kill stuff you send and personal stuff sent to directly. you This saves space on the hard drives, and makes maintenance a lot easier for the sysop, hi!

• Ok, now that you're armed with enough information to get you in trouble, here's a copy of the FBB BBS users guide. It was originally prepared for the W6PW BBS in California, but the command structure is the same (same software!). So....click HERE and read it!

Now, if you're like most everyone else, you'll find that you're too far from the actual BBS to dependably connect to it on a routine basis. Most BBS's are run from an amateur's station and are connected to relatively low altitude antennas. The BBS does all of the data storage and routing, and the remote nodes bring the distant users to the BBS. Here's where the digipeaters (nodes) come into play! You can think of a node as a repeater of sorts, but occupies a single frequency as opposed to a conventional voice repeater requiring two frequencies. It receives packets, stores them temporarily, and then retransmits them as soon as they are finished (if the frequency is clear).

Currently, W4RAL has the following nodes:

• W4RAL-4 on 145.01 (1200 baud) in Clayton at 200'
  
• W4RAL-7 on 147.54 (1200 baud) in Zebulon at 170'
  
• WB4IUY-7 on 223.70 (9600 baud) N.E. of Rolesville at 130'
  
• W4RAL-5 port 1 on 147.54 (1200 baud) South of Rolesville at 50'
  
• W4RAL-5 port 2 on 441.00 (9600 baud) South of Rolesville at 50'
  
• W4RAL-5 port 3 on 145.01 (1200 baud) South of Rolesville at 50'
  
• W4RAL-5 port 4 on 223.70 (9600 baud) South of Rolesville at 50'
  

• CLAYTON: UHF 9600 baud node on 441.0 mhz for a southeast UHF backbone, a VHF 1200 baud node on 51.160 and VHF 9600 baud node on 223.7 mhz as user frequencies.
  

• SPIVEY'S CORNER: VHF 1200 baud node on 147.54 as a user frequency.
  

• KERR LAKE: VHF node on 145.01 as a backbone.
  
• NORTH RALEIGH: BPQ node on 145.01, 147.54, 223.700, and 441.0.
  
• HF node on 10 meters to tie into the BBS
  

When you connect to a node, you can list the many functions available at a node site by typing "?" and hitting enter. It will return a menu to your station. One of the features found on most nodes is the ability to "see" the stations that the node is hearing from it's substantial altitude. The command on most nodes is "MH" for "Me Heard". Other nodes use the command "J", but it will be explained in the node menu. On most single port (single frequency) nodes, one can simply connect to the node, and type "MH" at the prompt. The node will then send back a list of callsigns and the times that it heard those other stations. Typically, a node is used as a "jump point", where one will then connect to the next node or BBS in the area. Example, if you're a little ways out, and can't connect to the W4RAL BBS directly from your QTH, you can do it like this: Pick a user node...I'll use 147.54 W4RAL-7 for this example. Dial up that frequency and type "C W4RAL-7", enter. Once connected, type "C W4RAL" (or it's alias "C EWBBS"). You'll be connected to the BBS. The nodes are fairly high up, or placed at strategic site so as to benefit as many amateurs as possible.

Some of the EWBBS nodes have multiple ports, meaning that they are operating on more than one frequency. An example is W4RAL-5, where it is simultaneously connectable on:

• 145.01 (1200 baud)
  
• 147.54 (1200 baud)
  
• 223.70 (9600 baud)
  
• 441.00 (9600 baud)
  

A user can see the available ports by connecting to 145.01, and then typing the "PORTS" command at the prompt. The node will respond with:

1 147.54
2 441.00
3 145.01
4 223.70
W4RAL-5>

A user can then connect to another station on a different frequency by typing:

C portnumber callsign

Example:

• C 4 WB4IUY-1
  

A user can also "peek in" on the other frequencies and see what the node is hearing by connecting to W4RAL-5 on any of the above frequencies, and typing "MH portnum" and enter. You'll notice that each of the 4 frequencies above is given a port number or channel, so to listen in on the 440 port, you'd type "MH 2" and enter. No matter that the 220 and 440 ports are at 9600 baud (if you're at 1200 baud), the node will automatically make the baudrate conversion for you. Should you see another station on one of the ports that you wish to connect to, simply (stay connected to W4RAL-5) type "C portnumber the_call_you_wish" and the system will take you through the gateway and on out on the other frequency. Example: to connect to KN4AQ-1 on port 2 (441.0) type "C 2 KN4AQ-1" Pretty neat!

There is now a new gateway running that will allow a 1200 baud 2 meter user on 145.03mhz to jump to 9600 baud on 223.70 mhz. The local LAN and Backbone frequencies do occasionally get congested, and some of the users in the Wilson area occasionally have a hard time staying connected to the BBS during these busy times. I've installed a gateway system on my tower at about 100'. The VHF yagi is pointed towards Wilson, to give them priority and easier access to the W4RAL BBS via the gateway. To see if you can connect, first try to connect to my mailbox on 145.03 directly. Type: "C WB4IUY-1". If you get in, you're a candidate to use the gateway. Next, disconnect (you can't use the gateway if you're already connected to me). To connect to the W4RAL bbs via my gateway, type: "C W4RAL VIA WB4IUY-3" and enter. You should find that access fast, especially since the 220 port on the BBS is pretty quiet.

You can also connect to the W4RAL-5 multi-port node via the gateway by (disconnect from me!) typing "C W4RAL-5 VIA WB4IUY-3" enter. Once you're connected, you can do the same stuff I talked about above with the W4RAL-5 multi-port node.

For those of you who live farther east, and can't connect to my mailbox direct in the first test above, try digipeating through K2IMO's BBS in Wilson. K2IMO always has a strong signal into my station, and he is set up to digipeat as well. If you can connect to K2IMO-1 BBS in Wilson OK, try this (be sure not to be connected to anyone)...type: "C WB4IUY-1 VIA K2IMO" for my mailbox, or "C W4RAL VIA K2IMO,WB4IUY-3" for the BBS, or "C W4RAL-5 VIA K2IMO,WB4IUY-3" for the W4RAL-5 multi-port node.

OK?? That'll give you something to play with for a while, hi! For more information about the EWBBS system, you can contact Ronnie at his packet address of WA4MJF@W4RAL.#RTP.NC.USA.NOAM or his internet address at wa4mjf@arrl.net.

There are lots of things one can do with nodes, and I'll be adding more stuff a little later (gotta get busy on the DXcluster stuff for a bit!).