Dear friends,

As we are all so very excited to have ISS APRS back on, we also have seen that the BBS works fine as well. That good-old-Kenwood D700 rocks !

However, we need to be carefull using it !

Do not use C RS0ISS-4, it will block APRS. But do use C RS0ISS-11 instead.

Kenneth N5VHO has written as summary some time ago: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/sarex/200504/msg00002.html I have inserted that message in the bottom of this posting.

Yesterday I used the BBS, it works fine. Please note the commands are case sensitive (use W instead of w)

I have a log of my results at http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (click on ISS APRS)

Have fun, be smart, don't hog the downlink, enjoy ! Henk, PA3GUO

ps: do not forget to disconnect on time (so way before LOS)

+++++ COPY OF THE MESSAGE OF N5VHO +++++++

**If a station connects to the ISS mailbox, the following will be received:

Welcome to RS0ISS's message board System Ver 1.50 112864 Bytes free CMD(F/K/M/R/W/B/H/?)>

****Please do not send an H or ?.***** The following help menu will be sent and it takes a lot of time. Considering the delay issues over some parts of the world, this could effectively eliminate any one else from using the system during that pass.

W(rite) = Type W (callsign)<cr> to begin message entering. Subject: = Header (max 30 characters) are entered after the prompt: "Subject". Ending the header with a carriage return <cr>. Message: = Message are entered after the prompt: "Message". Ending each line with <cr>. You terminate with either a <cr>/EX<cr> or <cr><ctrl-Z><cr> to the indicate end of your message. B(ye) = Type B<cr> to DISCONNECT. F(ile) = Type F<cr> to show the latest 20 messages. L(ist) = Type L<cr> to show the all messages. M(ine) = Type M<cr> to show latest 20 messages (to or from you). Subsequent F or M command will show next 20 active messages. R(ead) = Type R n<cr> to show the number n message. A(bort) = Type A<cr> to Abort. J = Type J<cr> to show connect stations. K(ill) = Type K n<cr> to delete the number n message (only to or from you). H(elp) or ? = Type H<cr> or ?<cr> to display this.

**When a B is sent to disconnect, the following is received.

Thank you CU AGN 73 ---------------------------------------------- Please be courteous to other operators who are just relaying info using the ARISS digi when utilizing the mailbox. Try uploading messages during low usage times and avoid using the mailbox if you have a minimal station or can't maintain a solid link to the system. Only 1 user can connect to the mailbox at a time. If a station establishes a connection but cannot maintain it, the system will be not be accessible by anyone else until the mailbox times out the user and transmits several disconnect frames.