How many messages are sent via Packet Radio? How many messages are lost via Packet Radio? No one knows for sure. One thing is for sure, if you don't address your messages properly, there's a good chance they will be lost or never be seen.
When posting messages on Packet BBS', it's important to post them as "TRAFFIC" messages and not as "PERSONAL" messages. As a "PERSONAL" message, the only person who will see the message on a system, is you (The Sender), the Addressee (Name or Call sent to), and the System Operators (SYSOP's) along the way.
Example: if you send a "PERSONAL" message to WA8LLM, but accidentally type WA8LLN, then WA8LLM will never see this message unless he would happen to be the SYSOP of the PBBS it came to. Or, if you send a "PERSONAL" message to ALL, no one but you and the SYSOP will see the message. You might say, but I didn't send it personal, I just typed S (space) ALL. On most BBS and PBBS systems, if you type S (space) ALL, this automatically becomes a personal message to "ALL". You should always type ST before the call or name you wish to send to, and then your message has a greater chance of being seen and received, even if it contains a Type-O in the addressee. Messages sent as "TRAFFIC" can be seen by all operators, who may see a mistake and see that the message gets thru anyway.
The Bottom Line, if the message you want to send is so personal that you don't want another amateur radio operator to see it, send it via the Postal Service or use the telephone.
The use of ST is only good when post messages that are going to stay on Packet Radio. If a message is going to be posted on a Winlink 2000 (WL2K) Telpac NODE the rules change. You HAVE to use the SP instead of ST. Posting of messages on Telpac NODEs will be explained next week. (Reprinted, with modification, of Wood County RACES Bulletin NR 95.21)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV;
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV DISTRICT 3