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5.7.3 The PTC mailbox for Packet-Radio
Up to four PR (Packet-Radio) users may be simultaneously connected in PR to the PTC-
mailbox. There they may read files, write files and delete files. In addition, the PTC-
IIIusb allows a further user simultaneous access to the internal mailbox via PACTOR or
AMTOR. Virtually unlimited access is thus allowed to the same data pool via
PACTOR/AMTOR and PR. This result in an increased data transparency at the HF/VHF
interface, allowing an easier direct transfer of data between HF and VHF users. This
property of the PTC-IIIusb allows it’s use as a powerful and flexible personal (private)
maildrop. It is also possible to use it in smaller general mailbox systems as a stand-alone
solution.
The PR mailbox in the PTC-IIIusb can be viewed as a self contained TNC in the PTC.
This virtual mailbox TNC contains its own callsign, the BBS-MYCALL. The user can
reach the PR mailbox in the PTC-IIIusb by connecting to the BBS-MYCALL of the PTC-
IIIusb. The BBS callsign is set automatically to MYCALL-8, either at the first start (when
the Flash-Call in the BIOS has been defined, or when one’s own PACTOR-MYCALL
has been set.
If, for example, DL1ZAM is given as the first PACTOR-MYCALL then the PR-mailbox
can be connected to under the callsign DL1ZAM-8. The BBS-MYCALL callsign of the
PTC can be changed or checked thereafter at any time with the MYMail command in the
pac:-menu.
To change the setting of the PR-box characteristics, there are three commands in the
pac:-menu: PRBox, MYMail and MText.
5.7.4 Practical operation using the PR mailbox
On a Help command, the PR mailbox of the PTC-IIIusb displays a list of available
commands. They behave, with few exceptions, exactly as those for PACTOR. A few
commands also allow an alternative input, and so the command interpreter understands
Write instead of Send, Bye instead of Quit and DELete instead of Erase.
There is a special small help text available for each command, which the user can call up
with Help followed by the appropriate command. E.g. Help Send <Return>.
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