FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
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submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
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Copyright 1989 by the International FidoNet Association. All
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please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067. IFNA may also be contacted
at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
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We don't necessarily agree with the contents of every article
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every responsible submission received.
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Stand up and be counted! ................................. 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
A NO vote is not a vote against Democracy ................ 2
HST (DS) Setup Notes - part 2 ............................ 4
Ifna - Why Apathy Will Win ............................... 11
3. FOR SALE ................................................. 13
4. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 14
Latest Software Versions ................................. 14
5. NOTICES .................................................. 17
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 17
FidoNews 6-48 Page 1 27 Nov 1989
This is the final week in balloting in the IFNA election.
This election is our best chance at Democracy. It's not
necessary for IFNA to "win" this election for Democracy to become
a reality. Just by voting, one way or the other, you are
endorsing a democratic process.
The outcome of the vote will determine if we want IFNA to be our
democratically chosen organization. But the actual process
itself will determine whether or not we want one in the first
place.
If you haven't voted yet, do so -- this week. December 1 is the
voting deadline. If you don't want IFNA, then by all means vote
NO. If you are in favor of IFNA, vote YES. But if you really
want a say in how things happen in FidoNet, then VOTE.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 2 27 Nov 1989
A NO vote is not a vote against Democracy
Glen Johnson
1:269/101
I read with great interest Phil Buonomo's appeal to the masses in
Fidonews 647, and I wanted to comment on a couple of things that
could be misconstrued by the network membership at large.
First of all Phil says that he doesn't believe that Fidonet will
ever have democracy if the IFNA referendum is defeated. Phil is
certainly entitled to his opinion, but sysops should be acutely
aware that a NO vote in this referendum is NOT a vote against
democracy. It is a vote against the continued existance of IFNA,
and that's ALL it is. If the referendum fails, it means that
IFNA has no control over Fidonet, for there will BE no IFNA. It
doesn't mean that Fidonet can't be democratic.
Secondly, he alluded to a case of vote tampering, and that the NC
of that net is no longer in Fidonet. Both of those statements
are somewhat true in the sense that there was an allegation of
vote "fixing" if you will, and that that NC is no longer in
Fidonet. The way Phil phrased his comment though, could lead one
to assume that the latter was a consequence of the former. Such
is not the case. I know the NC he refers to and I can assure you
that this NC resigned of his own free will for personal and
economical reasons. He was also somewhat disillusioned with
Fidonet "politics" and has joined another network. He was not
removed by the RC, nor asked to resign as a result of anything to
do with the referendum. It was 100% his own doing and his own
decision.
The IFNA referendum is important. Its passage or rejection will
have a profound effect on Fidonet. As an NC, I've tried to make
it crystal clear to the members of my net that they are voting on
the referendum as published previously in Fidonews, nothing more,
nothing less. A YES vote is a vote for the continued existance
of IFNA, a NO vote is a vote for the dissolution of IFNA. It is
NOT a vote for or against democracy, for or against a policy
document or set of bylaws, for or against a person, network, or
group of people. Plain and simple, if you vote NO, that means
you don't want IFNA around running the show. It is by no means a
gesture of anti- democratic sentiment.
I am distressed by the barrage of statements made by an enormous
number of people saying things that deviate from this. I don't
like to see statements like "A NO vote is a vote against
democracy" or "A YES vote is a vote to take over and control
Fidonet". Neither is true, and we need to keep the focus on WHAT
it is we're voting for or against.
FidoNews 6-48 Page 3 27 Nov 1989
If you have any question whatsoever about what it is you're
voting on, I urge you to re-read the proposal in Fidonews 644
beginning on Page 11. If you support this proposal, vote YES.
If you don't support it, or are suspect of it, you owe it to
yourself to vote NO, and if you DO vote that way, don't feel that
you've voted against democracy in Fidonet, because you haven't.
You have voted to dissolve IFNA. Period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 4 27 Nov 1989
Jim King & John Souvestre
FidoNet 1:396/1.3 & 396/1.0
Yes, use AutoBaud. The FOSSIL will take care of locking the
serial port.
The Init string starts off by resetting the modem. A good
practice, in general. The modem will not auto-answer, rather
Binkley will tell it when to answer. The modem is set to answer
either HST or V.32 calls (B0), whichever the caller chooses. It
also follows the compression wishes of the caller (&K1).
The dialing prefix attempts a HST connection first, then V.32
(B1). It also disables compression (&K0).
Both of these strings reset the modem to ARQ (&M4), variable
link (&N0) in case a specific phone number contains other
instructions.
You can also adjust size of the receive and transmit buffers,
which default to 1K, with these switches (shown at 4K each):
/R:4096
/T:4096
BNU also offers another switch:
/Z:x
where x is a number from 0 to 5. This switch controls the
configuration of the 16550a's FIFOs. The default (0) is to not
interrupt till the FIFO is nearly full. If you find that you
are losing characters increase x till the problem stops. This
will keep your interrupt overhead as low as possible, within the
bounds of the interrupt latency that your system can handle.
Setup for Opus, version 1.03b
-------------------------------
Opus does not allow 38400 bps, so 19200 bps must be used. Note
that if you are running a mailer program ahead of Opus, this
program is the one which will set the modem speed, so it doesn't
really matter what you put here for Opus.
FidoNews 6-48 Page 6 27 Nov 1989
Use the following settings in the Opus parameter file:
Baud 19200
Modem Init |~~~~ATZ| [continued on next line]
~~~~~~~~ATB0E0H0M0Q0V1S0=1S2=255&K1&M4&N0|~~~~
Modem Steady
Modem Dial Prefix |~~~~ATB1&K0&M4&N0DT
Modem Dial Suffix |~~~~
Modem Busy |~~~~v~~~~^~~~~ATH1M0|~~~~~~~~v~~~~
Mask HandShaking Xon
Mask HandShaking Cts
Please note that the "~" delay character in Opus is not a fixed
amount of time. It depends on the speed of the machine. Thus,
for a faster machine you will need more "~" characters. The
number shown above are for a 10 MHz, 0 wait, 80286.
The Init string starts off by resetting the modem. A good
practice, in general. The modem will not auto-answer, rather
Binkley will tell it when to answer. The modem is set to answer
either HST or V.32 calls (B0), whichever the caller chooses. It
also follows the compression wishes of the caller (&K1).
The dialing prefix attempts a HST connection first, then V.32
(B1). It also disables compression (&K0).
Both of these strings reset the modem to ARQ (&M4), variable
link (&N0) in case a specific phone number contains other
instructions.
Setup for ProComm Plus, version 1.1b
--------------------------------------
ProComm Plus does not allow 38400 bps in the dialing directory,
so 19200 bps must be used. Also, ProComm Plus does not support
the 16550a.
Line/Port Setup:
15 [19200,N,8,1]
Setup Facility - Modem Options - General Options:
Initialization command .. AT Z^M~~~AT E1 M3 Q0 V1 ^M
Dialing command ......... AT &M4 &N0 DT
Dialing command suffix .. ^M
Hangup command .......... ~~~+++~~~AT H0^M
Auto answer command ..... AT &M4 &N0 S0=1 S2=255^M
Wait for connection ..... 50 seconds
Pause between calls ..... 1 seconds
Auto baud detect ........ OFF
Drop DTR to hangup ...... YES
Setup Facility - Modem Options - Result Messages:
No connect message 1 .......... NO DIALTONE
No connect message 2 .......... NO ANSWER
No connect message 3 .......... BUSY
No connect message 4 .......... NO CARRIER
Setup Facility - Terminal Options:
Duplex ............................ FULL
Software flow control (XON/XOFF) .. OFF
Hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) ... ON
The default is to call at 14400 bps with ARQ enabled. The first
time you call a new number (ex: 555-1212) wait till you see the
CONNECT message then look at the ARQ light on the modem. If the
light is on then suffix the phone number with "-A" (ex:
555-1212-A). If the light is out then suffix the phone number
with "-B" (ex: 555-1212-B). Disabling ARQ will speed up the
connection by about 5 seconds. The "-A" suffix does nothing,
functionally, but lets you know that you have determined that
this phone number does have ARQ and makes your directory entries
line up. Note: To connect at 9600 bps ARQ must be enabled.
The "-C", "-D", and "-E" suffixes (use only 1 at a time) will
limit the modem to 300, 1200, or 2400 bps, respectively. This
is handy for testing and diagnosing problems. Ex: 555-1212-BD.
This would force a troublesome 2400 bps modem to connect at 1200
bps.
Note: When connecting with ARQ the connect message will include
"/ARQ" (ex: CONNECT 2400/ARQ). ProComm Plus ignores the "/ARQ"
but the software at the other end may not. The result may be
that you can connect to the other modem, but the other CPU will
not recognize its modem's connect message. By disabling ARQ
("-B") and calling back you should be able to get through. When
you do, tell the other person that he either needs to change his
software to recognize his ARQ connect message, or he needs to
disable the ARQ part of the connect message. If he has an HST,
the "&A0" command will do this.
Go back to the main configuration menu. Select (O)ption,
(T)oggles. Change (C)TS Signal to ON. You may also want to
change CTS When (W)riting to ON; consult the Qmodem
documentation for more details on this option. Change (R)edial
Sets Baud to OFF (so that the bps rate will be fixed at whatever
you have in the dialing directory [usually 19200]).
FidoNews 6-48 Page 9 27 Nov 1989
Be sure to save the new settings before exiting the
configuration menu.
Bring up the dialing directory (Alt-D).
Set up some dialing suffixes as shown in the ProComm Plus
section.
Change the dialing directory entries for all HST-equipped boards
to 19200 bps. You should also change the bps rate to 19200 for
all low-speed MNP connections (in case the other modem has MNP
level 5, then you can take advantage of the modems' data
compression feature). You may want to go ahead and change all
entries to 19200 bps, although this is not necessary. To force
a connection at a lower bps rate, set the dialing directory
appropriately (rather than using dialing suffixes). As needed,
add dialing suffixes to the phone numbers to set ARQ mode and
data compression mode. If you've changed all entries to 19200
bps add suffixes to force a lower connection rate as necessary.
APT Technology, Inc.
5539 Prospect Road, Suite 119
San Jose, CA 95129
408-370-9077
FidoNews 6-48 Page 10 27 Nov 1989
Arrow Electronics
800-932-7769
Fry's Electronics
Sunnyvale, CA
408- ???
Jameco Electronics
1355 Shoreway Road
Belmont, CA 94002
800-333-6588 and 415-592-8097
JDR Microdevices
2233 Branham Lane
San Jose, CA 95124
800-538-5000
Modular Semiconductor Inc.
138 Kifer Court
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408-733-5000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 11 27 Nov 1989
Ifna - Why Apathy Will Win
By Steve Townsley
2:256/117
About 2 years ago I wrote a short article in FidoNews criticising
the insular nature of Ifna. My main criticism was that North
American SysOps (Zone 1) had decided to set-up an international
association without even asking non-US SysOps whether one was
neccessary.
This was not a flame against Ifna. In fact having listened to Don
Daniels (the then Ifna President) at Eurocon in 1988 I am
convinced of the sincere wishes of all Ifna 'believers' to create
a useful organisation.
What I worry about in the current Ifna ballot is the same thing I
have always worried about:- the assumption by Zone 1 SysOps that
every SysOp in every Zone shares the same goals for FidoNet, and
the same ideas about how it should be organised. This conception
that everyone of FidoNet as a whole is a mistaken one and runs
through all Ifna documentation.
Bluntly a ballot will tell you less about Ifna now than it might
have done on day one. This is partly because the networks outside
the United States are more mature and partly because US SysOps
have always had the grand idea that a corporation in Missouri (or
wherever) can represent the divers needs of FidoNet.
Happily I know some US SysOps - particularly those involved with
international Echomail know how diverse FidoNet is.
So now that I have you in the mood to make a proposal... I am
going to refuse to do so!
It is not for me, or anyone else, to tell a Zone, a Region or a
network how to organise. The glue that binds FidoNet together is
FidoNews, the Nodelist, the National Mail Hour, and the
capability of netmail. Elusive concepts like representation,
democracy and other things do not unite every SysOp.
If Ifna is to be meaningful it must take on a role more suited to
an international organisation. Defining standards, distributing
the nodelist, FidoNews, resolving disputes. It's funding must
come from appropriate other organisations like, for example a
North American FidoNet Association or a European FidoNet
Association.
In a sentence, Ifna's best role is as a co-ordinator, an
organisation created by other organisations to maintain the
network as a whole.
FidoNews 6-48 Page 12 27 Nov 1989
The current ballot seeks to change Ifna from representing some US
SysOps (by virtue of paying the subscription) to representing all
SysOps by declaration. Neither of these solutions is satisfactory
and FidoNet will be hit by a wave of apathy. The resolution
itself speaks of a cry from SysOps for democracy. That may be
true but it must be democracy of a human scale. It is no good
giving a SysOp the right to vote for a corporation based in
Missouri if he needs the support of an organisation to help him
with mailing his Host in southern Italy.
WARNING: The same mistake is going to be made again.
If you want to change Ifna in the United States create an
American FidoNet Association based on your principles, your
policies, your ideas. Then explore ways of co-operation with
other associations, zones or regions. Out of this will emerge an
international association responding to mutual needs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 13 27 Nov 1989
=================================================================
FOR SALE
=================================================================
Sysop Tee's - The Topless Alternative
Don Kulha * Sonoma Online * 125/7
Do you remember the sysop oriented cartoons that I had
printed up to pass out at FidoCon in Virgina and on buttons
in San Jose? A lot of folks at FidoCon this year asked me if
we would be offering these on shirts and I'm pleased to say
that we now can. We are now offering the best of Ev Cheney's
"Sysop Art" screen printed on high quality, 100% cotton tee
shirts. We use only the best plastisol inks, infra-red cured
for durability, and offer a money back guarantee if you are
not completely satisfied.
To recieve more info and brochure showing our designs
send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (4X9 legal size pre-
ferred) to: Sonoma Online, P.O. Box 7518, Santa Rosa, Calif.
95407. You can also Freq SHIRTS from 1:125/7 for a descript-
ion of our designs and ordering info.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 14 27 Nov 1989
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 17 27 Nov 1989
1 Dec 1989
Close of local balloting in IFNA plebiscite
3 Dec 1989
The Hague, Holland changes to a seven-digit telephone number.
You have to put a THREE (3) before the old number.
e.g. (0)70-111111 changes to (0)70-3111111
4 Dec 1989
Local coordinators post final IFNA vote details
11 Dec 1989
Deadline for local IFNA vote tally challenges
15 Dec 1989
Network Coordinators report votes in IFNA plebiscite to
Regional Coordinators
18 Dec 1989
Regional Coordinators report votes in IFNA plebiscite
to Zone Coordinators
22 Dec 1989
IFNA plebiscite results posted in NODELIST.356
30 Dec 1989
Telephone area codes (5, 3 and 0) are abolished in Hong Kong
1 Feb 1990
Deadline for IFNA Policy and Bylaws election
5 Jun 1990
David Dodell's 33rd Birthday
5 Oct 1990
21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
Thom Henderson 1:107/528 Chairman of the Board
Les Kooyman 1:204/501 President
Fabian Gordon 1:107/323 Vice President
Bill Bolton 3:3/0 Vice President-Technical Coordinator
Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Secretary
Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Treasurer
IFNA COMMITTEE AND BOARD CHAIRS
Administration and Finance *
By-laws and Rules John Roberts 1:385/49
Executive Committee (Pres) Les Kooyman 1:204/501
International Affairs *
Membership Services Jim Vaughan 1:226/300
Nominations and Elections Steve Bonine 1:1/0
Public Affairs David Drexler 1:147/30.20
Publications Irene Henderson 1:107/9
Technical Standards Rick Moore 1:115/333
Ethics *
Security and Privacy *
Grievances *
* Position in abeyance pending reorganization
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIVISION AT-LARGE
10 Courtney Harris 1:102/732 Don Daniels 1:107/210
11 John Rafuse 1:12/900 Phil Buonomo 1:107/583
12 Bill Bolton 3:711/403 Mark Hawthorne 1:107/238
13 Fabian Gordon 1:107/323 Tom Jennings 1:125/111
14 Ken Kaplan 1:100/22 Irene Henderson 1:107/509
15 Kevin McNeil 1:128/45 Steve Jordan 1:206/2871
16 Ivan Schaffel 1:141/390 Robert Rudolph 1:261/628
17 Kathi Crockett 1:134/30 Dave Melnik 1:107/233
18 Andrew Adler 1:135/47 Jim Hruby 1:107/536
19 Kris Veitch 1:147/30 Burt Juda 1:107/528
2 Henk Wevers 2:500/1 Karl Schinke 1:107/516
3 Matt Whelan 3:54/99 John Roberts 1:147/14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 6-48 Page 19 27 Nov 1989
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
increase worldwide communications.
Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________
Address _________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________________
State ________________________________ Zip _____________________
Country _________________________________________________________
Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________
Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________
BBS Name ________________________________________________________
BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________
Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________
Board Restrictions ______________________________________________
Your Special Interests __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in
US Funds to:
International FidoNet Association
PO Box 41143
St Louis, Missouri 63141
USA
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
insure the future of FidoNet.
Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
membership in January 1987. The second elected Board of Directors
was filled in August 1988. The IFNA Echomail Conference has been
established on FidoNet to assist the Board. We welcome your
input to this Conference.
