Weekly Packet Practice

Weekly packet practice helps to ensure that our operators and equipment are always ready for a real activation. It promotes familiarity with common messages used in real activations, and the correct ways to fill them out, address them, and handle them. It also gives practice in handling BBS outages. Participation in weekly packet practice is a requirement for packet operator credentials.

There are two weekly packet practice nets, one for SPECS and one for SVECS. You can participate in either or both. To participate, visit the weekly packet practice website to get the instructions for the week.

Everyone should be familiar with sending practice messages from their assigned primary and secondary BBS over the traditional BBS network, using standard Outpost and PackItForms software. You may also experiment with alternative software (e.g., manual operations or packet shell), alternative networks (AMPRnet, Winlink, email), and alternative sources. You can send as many practice messages as you want.

When you send a packet practice message to a valid destination, you will receive a standard packet delivery receipt for it. If you haven’t received a delivery receipt within 15 minutes of sending your message, double-check that you sent it to the correct destination. The delivery receipt will contain a summary of any problems with your practice message. They will also be visible on the weekly packet practice website. If you wish, you can re-send a problematic message, correcting the problems.

After each net, a report of practice messages is sent to all participants and to the pbeniyFzkl7l~r"<#rux(C}*(/+/J'. email discussion group. Any questions about the weekly packet practice should be sent to that group.