Let’s say your PL8SCAN username is BLUEBUG and you see a car with the Arizona license PL8 “SMK 227” that you want to text message…

Here are the Steps:

Compose a text message as follows:

1. Send the message to 75863 (PL8ME)
2. Start the message with the keyword POST then a space
3. Enter the State-PL8 combination then a space
4. After the space put your message – for example “U have a light out”
5. Your text message should look like this: POST AZSMK227 U have a light out
6. Send the message

What Happens Next

Any member who has the PL8 AZ SMK 227 in their Profile or BuddyList and has chosen to get text message Post notices for it will get the following text message:

            Re PL8SCAN Post
            PL8: AZSMK227
            USR: BLUEBUG
            U have a light out

            reply w/”TAG <USR> <MSG>”

The message will also be Posted in our database and can be found by Scanning the PL8 online. If anyone has requested email Post notices for that PL8 they will be sent too.

Let’s say your PL8SCAN username is MITYMIKE and you drive the car with the PL8 mentioned in the above example (AZ SMK 227). You have that PL8 in your Profile and have requested text message Post notices for it. You will get the text message from BLUEBUG noted in that example. To reply:

Here are the Steps:

1. Open the text message you received and select Reply
2. Address it to 75863 (PL8ME)
3. Compose the message as follows:
   a. Start the message with the keyword TAG followed by a space
   b.Enter the username from the message you received followed by a space
   c. Enter your message – for example “Thanks!”
4. Your text message should look like this:
   a.  TAG BLUEBUG Thanks!
5. Send the message

What Happens Next

PL8SCAN user BLUEBUG (and only BLUEBUG) will get the following text message:

            Re PL8SCAN TAG Reply
            USR: MITYMIKE
            Thanks!

You’ve now established a private communication with each other. TAG messages do not generate Posts. You can continue the conversation as long as you’d like and remain anonymous. In fact – you can TAG a PL8SCAN user anytime – not just as a Post reply.

Let’s say you’re BLUEBUG again but you’ve decided to Post your message from example 1 above online rather than by text message.

Here are the Steps:

1. Go to PL8SCAN.com and login
2. At the home page find the section titled “Post Messages”
3. Select the state (Arizona)
4. Enter the PL8 text (SMK227)
5. Select “free form” message (or you can Post a menu message)
6. Enter your message in the space provided (You have a light out)
7. If you want to be anonymous (no reply) select “Make anonymous”
8. Click “Submit”

What Happens Next

The page will refresh and will indicate that your message is Posted. If anyone Scans that PL8 they will find your message. Because you are a member, the message will show your username (unless you selected anonymous) and others can reply with a message to your PL8Box. If anyone has requested email notices for that PL8 they will be sent to them. No text message notices are sent for online Posts.

OK – you’re PL8SCAN user MITYMIKE from example 2 above. You want to see if anyone has posted to your PL8 because you have Post notices turned off.

Here are the Steps:

1. Go to PL8SCAN.com and login
2. At the home page find the section titled “Scan Messages”
3. Select the state (Arizona)
4. Enter your license PL8 (SMK227)
5. Select “Exact Match Only” if you don’t want close results
6. Click Submit

What Happens Next

You will be sent to a page that has the results of your search. You’ll see any messages that have been Posted to your PL8. Since you’re logged in you can reply with a PL8Box message to any of the Posts that have a username. Follow the instructions at the Scan results for sending a reply.

Not a member yet but want to Post a message to a PL8?

Here are the Steps:

1. Go to PL8SCAN.com
2. At the home page find the section titled “Post Messages”
3. Select the state
4. Enter the PL8 text (example format - SMK227)
5. You must Post a menu message
6. Select a message category
7. Select a message
8. Click Submit

What Happens Next

The page will refresh and will indicate that your message is Posted. If anyone Scans that PL8 they will find your message. Because you are not a member, the message will show that the Poster was anonymous so they will not be able to reply. If anyone has requested email notices for that PL8 they will be sent to them. No text message notices are sent for online Posts.

What to know if someone is Posting messages to your PL8?

Here are the Steps:

1. Go to PL8SCAN.com
2. At the home page find the section titled “Scan Messages”
3. Select the state
4. Enter your license PL8 (example format - SMK227)
5. Select “Exact Match Only” if you don’t want close results
6. Click Submit

What Happens Next

You will be sent to a page that has the results of your search. You’ll see any messages that have been Posted to your PL8. As a non-member you will not be able to reply to any messages.