Biomedtalk-L FAQ's

Biomedtalk-L

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's Sponsored by Clinical Dynamics

Biomedtalk-L is a Listserv that is used to discuss topics related to the Biomedical Technician and Clinical Engineer. Equipment problems, Job opportunities, JCAHO discussions are only a few of the topics which have been discussed. The membership is worldwide and includes over 2750 members in 13 countries. We have representation from the FDA, ECRI, AAMI, JCAHO, many manufacturers, ISO's, In-House Departments and students. A $15 minimum donation is required to become a member. Anyone who has an interest in the Biomedical industry is welcome to join. If for any reason the service does not meet your needs, simply sign off at your command.

NOTE: Messages sent to BIOMEDTALK-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM become PUBLIC DOMAIN. They may be reprinted WITHOUT your permission or recognition. They will also be archived for a minimum of 1 year. If you do not want your comments to possibly wind up in a magazine or someone else’s forwarded email, DO NOT POST!

1. Can I make an additional donation to the Biomedtalk-L list operator?

Yes! Please! See above Pay Pal link. Donations to Mike Kauffman @ 32 Vista Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610 - USA will be put to good use. Want your employer to donate? Email me  and I can send a membership form or CLICK HERE for a template to print. Fill in any amount you like.

Better yet – Use Paypal!

2. How do I join Biomedtalk-L?

Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type  SUBSCRIBE BIOMEDTALK-L Your Full Name.  Of course, substitute your real name as requested. You will get a follow up message, do what it asks.

3. How do I get a password to visit the web archives?

Click here to view a procedure that should help you. I can not create this password for you. It must be created by the member.

4. How do I GET OFF Biomedtalk-L?

Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type  UNSUBSCRIBE BIOMEDTALK-L and send the mail. No need for your name in this command.

5. How do I get the one mail a day with all the Biomedtalk-L messages?

That is called the DIGEST mode. Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type SET BIOMEDTALK-L DIGEST and send the mail. If you don't like the digest, Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type SET BIOMEDTALK-L NODIGEST and send the mail.

6. I am going on vacation, do I have to unsubscribe or what do I do?

Several options here. You can stop mail for a period as follows: Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type SET BIOMEDTALK-L NOMAIL and send the mail.

You can set yourself in the DIGEST mode for a week or two. That way you will only get 1 message a day with all the posts. You won't miss a thing and will know everything that went on while you were away.

You can use one of those free email services to read the mail while you are away. Just sign up with Hotmail, Juno or something like that. Every few hours leave the beach and check your mail at the hotel.

WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T.. Set your email program to do autoreplies without first setting the NOMAIL option. That can really be a mess as it will send the automatic response back to the list for any message you receive.

7. I am back from vacation, now I want mail to resume. what do I do?

Send Email to  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type SET BIOMEDTALK-L MAIL if you set NOMAIL or type SET BIOMEDTALK-L NODIGEST if you set the DIGEST mode.

8. My email address will change or has already changed, what should I do?

If possible send email from the old address to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  in the body of the message type UNSUBSCRIBE BIOMEDTALK-L  and send the mail, then do step #1 to resubscribe with your new address.

9. I can't send mail from my old address and now I have a new address, what should I do?

Send email to Mkauff2556@aol.com indicate your situation, list your old address, your new address, and your full name. I will fix you up as soon as possible.

10. How do I search BIOMEDTALK-L about a subject?

The easiest way is to use the Web Archives. See http://listserv.aol.com/archives/biomedtalk-l.html  and select "Search" The other way to search is to send an email to the listserv address. NOT THE BIOMEDTALK ADDRESS. This is somewhat complicated but not too complicated for an experienced BMET, so click here!

PS. AOL only keeps a year of these archives. David Hurlock has taken the time and money to organize all old archives from 1997 in a searchable format and placed them on his web page. Please visit his site at http://www.medicalparts.net login and navigate to the Biomedtalk section. Dave has removed the email address from the poster and has promised to allow only Biomedtalk subscribers to access the information. THANKS DAVE!

11. I get all the messages but I get errors when I try to reply to a message.

Well, I hope you saved your initial email. The listserv will only let you post a message IF you are a known member. Some email programs strip some of the address from the sending portion of the email address. For example, you may send mail from KauffmanM@CCMAIL.Readinghospital.org but receive mail from KauffmanM@Readinghospital.org.    Notice the CCMAIL is missing in the one address. If you have this problem, email me at Mkauff2556@aol.com. Explain your problem and I will try to help. I MAY need to add both addresses and set one to NOMAIL as explained in question #4. This way the listserver will know you if you are sending OR receiving and will allow you to do both,

12. I want to post a question (or answer someones question) to the whole group of members. (Currently 2125 members world wide)

Send email to BIOMEDTALK-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM  it will go to everyone to read and comment on. (Be nice)

13. I want to send a command to change my settings, I know the command but am unsure of the address.

Send email with the command to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

14. I am unable to post from  my email address. I am receiving the emails correctly. AOL is either blocking my domain or my employer is blocking AOL. (Or something else is preventing you from posting a message to Biomedtalk-L@Listserv.aol.com) A LOT OF THINGS MAY CAUSE THIS. PROBABLY MORE THAN I EVEN KNOW. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED OTHERS……..

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a.  You can try to post from the web interface. Go to http://listserv.aol.com/archives/biomedtalk-l.html

       Click on Post to the list. Enter a subject, your name and the body of the text in the section provided. The email will go through.

 

   b.  Or, if replying to a message, find the message your interested in. At the top, there is a "reply" link.

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     a. Recently AOL requires Reverse DNS Lookup enabled on your out-going email server.

           You maust have your IT department enable this function or emails will not go through Biomedtalk. Errors such as the following may show up: > MAIL From:<_mrk@mrk.org.ar_ (mailto:mrk@mrk.org.ar) > > 450 4.7.1 Access  temporarily denied. IP name lookup failed  [200.82.28.112]

If so, Your mail server does not have reverse DNS enabled. This is suspicious and the LISTSERV is refusing the mail.

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   a. A member using Hotmail had this to say…….

  If you've got a Hotmail account, you must shut off "rich text editor" mode to post to listserv.  This is an add on with different fonts and "emoticons".   Listserv sees these as an attachment even if you don't use them and will reject your post.

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    a. Another member had this to say about SPAM filters……

We had the same problem at our facility. Our IS initiated new Spam filters which caused us to be bumped off the list. We had to let our IS know BIOMEDTALK-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM was not Spam so they could unblock it. After resubscribing to the list we could not post directly. We had to post through the archives for several months until our IS came up with a fix. I Just spoke to our IS person who told me the fix was for them to add Reverse DNS to the last mail router. This had to do something with the way AOL receives and sends Data. This was also affecting other E-mails from AOL to our facilities. He told me that he contacted AOL who pointed him in this direction.

15. Every time I send a message to BIOMEDTALK-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM it seems to take a day or so for the post to get through.

Many new members are set to a REVIEW mode. This lets me check their messages before they are sent to all members. After a period of time I will no longer review your messages and will allow them to go right through. OR Maybe you violated a Terms of Agreement, such as sending personal emails or thank you notes to everyone, sending a command to the entire list, sending an entire message back to the list with out cutting and pasting just a portion of the original message, or just being rude. I WILL put you in the review mode to check your messages before they are sent out. If you want to know why you may be in review, sort your posts in the Web Archives. Look for any personal messages or other things that do not comply with the Terms of Agreement or information on this FAQ page. If you find the bad post, let me know what you found and also that you understand the mistake. If you understand what was done in error, I will remove the "Review" mode. The biggest violations are personal replies back to the list, trying to promote your business/product or returning an entire message back to the list rather than just a portion of the original message.  If you don't know why you are in review, it may be for other technical reasons too numerous to explain on this page.

16. I disagree with the way I am being treated by the list owner or disagree with being in the review mode. This is a free speech country/world!

NO, sorry, if you do not like my terms of this listserv, you can discuss it with me and make a recommended suggestion. This is not a complete free speech, say what you want listserv. You must follow the rules.

17. How can I find out my settings that the listserv has for me?

Send email to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM in the body of the message type QUERY BIOMEDTALK-L and send the mail.

18. I send mail for everyone to read but I never see it. Is it really getting out there?

When you first sign up for BIOMEDTALK-L the computer does not send you copies of your own mail. Personally I like to see my postings so I know they went out. To see your postings, send email to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM in the body of the message type SET BIOMEDTALK-L REPRO and send the mail.

19. Someone just explained a point that I agree with totally. I want all members to know I agree with him/her.

Please do not hit reply and say, "I agree with you" or "Well said man". It will only fill up the list archives with useless data. Ask yourself before sending the mail; Will my response educate anyone? If it is just to agree please do not respond.

20. Can I sell stuff via Biomedtalk-L?

Good question. Generally speaking, no. But, if you are just getting rid of some old test equipment or an occasional bunch of monitors you may post. Sales people are not permitted to use the forum to sell or promote their products. If selling is your primary business or even a business of yours at all, do not post to Biomedtalk-L. (Sorry)

21. I want to reply to a message I read. My reply will be either educational or will further discuss the subject.

All email programs are different. Most have a reply button. However some will not only send your reply but a complete duplication of the message you are replying to. In some cases (such as a member who gets the digest) this other message can be very very long. It is important to know your email program BEFORE replying to a post on Biomedtalk-L. Make sure you only return a small thread of the original message if you return any of the original message at all. Members do not need to re-read messages to get to your response. That is both unprofessional and annoying. When you understand that please feel free to reply to the post.

If you are replying to a post please do not send the entire message back to the listserv. It is not necessary to re-read the original post. I can not explain how to send just a portion of your response back to the list. It depends on your own email program. For example, America On Line makes it easy. Before hitting "Reply" highlight a portion of the message you want to reply about. The email program will paste only this portion of the original email in your reply. Then type your comments.

All email programs are different. Hotmail will send the entire message back when you hit reply. With Hotmail, it is important to cut the majority of the original message off of the bottom of your reply.

Microsoft Outlook will also send the entire message back when you hit reply. Again remove the majority of the original message. It is very important that you understand your email program before responding to messages. It is very unprofessional to resend entire messages back to the list. It is also the biggest problem we have at this time.

22. I am one of those really smart computer guys, can't I just see all the commands I have available? I know I have to send them to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM and not to the Biomedtalk-L address:

OK, Just click here. You'll get all the commands you want!

23. Where are the Web Archives and what hours are they available?

They are at  http://listserv.aol.com/archives/biomedtalk-l.html  and available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

24. Can I manage my subscription via the Web rather than all these commands listed above?

Now you can though hours may be limited. Visit  http://listserv.aol.com/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=Biomedtalk-L. Many features can be accessed about your account from this area. Settings can be reviewed and changed.

25. I am using Microsoft Outlook, how do I get all my Biomedtalk-L Mail in one mailbox?

Click here. An email from Mark Woodruff will explain it.   Or, another option to sort is….  The text of  <^^biomedtalk^^> is embedded into every message. Simply create a rule to look for that text and if found, deliver those emails to a special mailbox that you have dedicated to Biomedtalk.

26. Can I post job openings on Biomedtalk?

Yes, (Unless you are a recruiter, remember, Biomedtalk can not be used to promote your business) be as specific as possible. Location, responsibilities, pay if possible, hours, etc. Replies to any job posts should not be sent back to Biomedtalk-L, but rather back to the individual posting the job.

27. Can I get a computer virus from the Biomedtalk posts?

It is highly unlikely that you will get a virus from a Biomedtalk email. The service strips all attachments from posts virtually eliminating the possibility of a virus. Also, I have limited the line length to 150 lines to prevent a virus from being embedded into a message. While anything is possible, if you have a virus, it probably did not come from Biomedtalk. I strongly suggest getting anti-virus software and using it routinely. (Update it often as well.)

28. A post seems to have been intercepted and sent to only one individual or it never made it to the list at all.

Your post may have been personal or an attempt to advertise your product/services or sell parts via Biomedtalk. I do not allow uncontrolled posts of this nature to go through. Many times I delete them without even sending them to the intended recipient, other times when I am feeling nice I take the time to forward them to the single recipient that should have received the email. Biomedtalk is for education of all, not for a member to use it for their unauthorized self-promotion or to sell parts. I can’t catch all of the personal messages or those that are self-promoting but I try!

29. Just some things not to do:

DO not send FILE ATTACHMENTS to the list. THEY WON'T WORK! Don't reply to messages and just say something like; "Yea, I agree with you!"  or "Thanks a lot"  Don't reply to the whole list to ask someone a personal question or for info about a job post. Send email back to that person only. Don't use foul language or intentionally try to offend someone. Try to keep just a small portion of the message which you are responding to, this will help keep reading of messages a bit easier.