FidoNet message packet

FidoNet message packets are used to transfer messages in the FidoNet BBS network. The FidoNet nodelist is used by systems on FidoNet to find out how to contact other systems to send messages (originally by dialup, but now often by IP or other networking). Originally, all transfers were done during a designated "net hour" in the middle of the night when BBSs were closed to human callers and only called one another, but eventually most software became capable of making network transmissions at any hour (though it was usually done when long-distance rates were cheaper in the days before unlimited calling plans).

The formats used in packet transmission are defined in FidoNet standards documents maintained by the FidoNet Technical Standards Committee (FTSC).