Likewise....trying to connect to the ISS BBS during PRIMETIME HOURS.

Perhaps it's a bit of assuming spacecraft packet operations run like the 1990's terrestrial PBBS network. Those did generally require a "hard connect" and served a single user at a time.

There is no real traffic on the ISS PBBS. All of the action is the UI digipeater on 145.825 MHz. There are a few parameter settings for your TNC that differ from terrestrial operation. I tried to summarize this at: http://home.comcast.net/~k9jkm/ARISS_Packet_How_To/

Right now my page contains only the external TNC-2 configuration. I'd be happy to add links to pages explaining 'UI digi' via the ISS for the D700 radios and soundcards if ya'll could mention those.

The log at http://www.ariss.net/ shows 100's of stations enjoying UI operation but those few attempts at a hard connection can be a showstopper for the rest of a pass.

-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm@amsat.org