blixel@gmail.com wrote:

>>> I've added a handful of binary packages to the system using pkg_add.
>>> Updating those packages with "pkg_add -u" seems like it doesn't work.
>>> As if the update system is partially/completely broken.
>>>
>>> All I ever get is this:
>>>
>>> # pkg_add -iu
>>> Error from ftp://openbsd.mirrors.pair.com/3.9/packages/i386/:
>>> 502 Unimplemented command.
>> Try a different mirror, or examine your PKG_PATH variable carefully.
>> There's no trailing ":" at the end of it, is there?
>
> No tailing :
>
> My PKG_PATH is as follows:
>
> PKG_PATH=ftp://openbsd.mirrors.pair.com/3.9/packages/i386/
>
> I seem to recall the trailing forward slash being necessary.
>

Yes it is. Try a different mirror, as I recommended, and see if you get
different results.