Packet Radio How To Work It (Not How It Works) Conclusion
Packet radio is touted as the fastest-growing mode in amateur radio today. And it may well be. But even so, it has drawn only a relative few hams into its ranks. Some who have tried it embrace the mode as the greatest thing since transistors. Others have thrown up their hands in frustration and sold their packet controllers. Each group will argue endlessly that it’s wonderful—or terrible. And as usual, the truth lies somewhere in between.
Fact: If you don’t like “talking” on a keyboard, you won’t like packet radio. If a microphone or CW key is your thing, stick with it. If contesting or DXing is your primary amateur radio interest, forget it. Packet’s not for you.
Fact: If making computers talk to each other excites you, and if you’d like the opportunity to help in the continuing development of a new technology, you’re missing the boat if you miss out on packet. If you like radioteletype and yearn for a garble-free means of exchanging information, you’ve found it.
Last month we introduced the basics of packet operating: what it’s all about, what it’s like on the air, and proper operating practices. This month we’ll concentrate on one of packet radio’s major drawing cards—packet bulletin-board systems. Plus, we’ll discuss the future of the mode and how you can be part of it.
Bulletin Boards
Packet radio is great for sending messages, especially if the person you want to reach isn’t around when you want to reach him or is too far away to contact directly. The growing network of packet “digipeaters” will let you link up with distant stations, but if you just want to send a message, or read the latest bulletins from ARRL headquarters, you’ll want to get familiar with your local PBBS, or Packet Bulletin Board System. (And if you don’t have one in your area, you might want to consider starting one.)
PBBSs serve two basic functions: (1) Storing and forwarding of personal messages, and (2) providing a database of information and programs of amateur and general interest.
The database and message-storage functions are quite similar to those on telephone-based computer bulletin boards, except that you incur no telephone costs and have to share the frequency with others. And there’s very little privacy. While you may designate a message as personal, and the PBBS will list it and show it only to the addressee, the contents are readily visible to anyone who’s monitoring while you’re uploading the message or while the recipient is downloading it (the price you pay for not having a price to pay).
The forwarding feature of PBBSs
