Copyright 1991, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only.
For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software.
FidoNews is published weekly by and for the Members of the
FidoNet (r) International Amateur Electronic Mail System. It is
a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors
or authorized agents of the authors. The contribution of articles
to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors.
You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous
Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day.
Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of
Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are
used with permission.
Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors
and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software.
Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every
responsible submission received.
Table of Contents
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
And on This Anniversary .................................. 1
Editorial: Support Your Favorite Online Service? ......... 3
Compression method flag? ................................. 6
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 7
InterChange, Getting it there ............................ 7
3. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 9
Latest Software Versions ................................. 9
4. NOTICES .................................................. 14
Sincerest apology, FidoNet ............................... 14
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 14
FidoNews 8-07 Page 1 18 Feb 1991
After seeing my article in FidoNews 806 I decided to do it
again. Please forgive me but it's an ego thing. :-)
This week I'd like to talk about echomail. Yes, that's
right, the method by which we communicate about all sorts of
topics from cooking to politics to C++ to idle chatter.
If you're like most people you're reading this on Monday
evening after a day at work, and today is February 18, 1991.
The date is important in this one instance, for last
Saturday, as noted in the Interrupt Stack for quite a while,
was the fifth anniversary of the introduction of echomail by
a man named Jeff Rush.
I think it proper that we all take a moment to reflect on
what the past five years have brought us as a result of
Mr. Rush's scheme of mail transfer. The average user can
talk to people as far away as China and Sweden free of
charge by just reading and entering a message. The average
sysop can do likewise, and also discuss BBS and mailer
software, mail processors, doorware, and a host of other
things. Echomail is primarily a form of communication.
That is what it was intended for, I think - for people to be
able to talk to one another using a simple yet powerful
medium (those of you still trying to get your mail
processors to pack your mail correctly may differ on the
simple part, but I think you must admit it is a powerful
method of communication). The average message on an
international echo could travel around the globe in less
that two days, and a reply could be on its way in less than
three. Wow - netmail can't do that by its very nature.
So just stop and think a moment. Echomail is not a tool by
which you may control people ("Do it my way or your feed is
history!"), and it is not a vehicle for individual
betterment. It is a way to talk - to communicate - to
exchange ideas and information. And it seems to have become
the very basis of FidoNet.
FidoNews 8-07 Page 2 18 Feb 1991
Just stop and think a moment what echomail has done for you.
That's all I ask.
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FidoNews 8-07 Page 3 18 Feb 1991
Jack Decker
1:154/8
SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE SERVICE?
[My apologies in advance to those readers located outside of
the United States of America, because the following editorial
probably won't be of much interest to you, but there is no
"Zone 1" or "U.S.A. only" edition of Fidonews.]
The following item recently appeared in Communications Week, a
telecommunications trade publication:
"COALITION PETITIONS FCC - A broad coalition of users and
providers of enhanced services last week petitioned the FCC to
declare that regulating enhanced-service providers as if they
are public utilities is contrary to the public interest.
Noting that the District of Columbia Public Service Commission
has tentatively concluded that it has the authority to impose
tariff requirements and market-entry and -exit rules on
enhanced-service providers, the 16 petitioners urged the FCC to
pre-empt any such state regulatory action. The District
proceeding is prompting some enhanced-service providers to
consider restructuring their services 'and possibly restricting
offerings in the District,' the petitioners said. Among the
petitioners were BT Tymnet Inc., the California Bankers
Clearing House Association, CompuServe Inc., Digital Equipment
Corp., IBM, the Information Industry Association, MasterCard
International Inc., McGraw Hill Inc., Prodigy Services Co. and
Visa U.S.A. Inc." [End of quote.]
Now, many of us use, or have in the past used enhanced-service
providers (we sometimes call them "Packet Switching Networks"
or "Online Services"). And, our first inclination might be
that we don't really want each of the 50 states setting
different regulations and requirements for the various
providers.
But, there are those of us who remember not so long ago when
the enhanced-service providers were asking everyone to lobby
the FCC on their behalf, so that they wouldn't have to pay the
same types of access charges that voice long distance carriers
have to pay to local telephone companies. Telenet (now
SprintNet) in particular asked all their users, including users
of their PC Pursuit service, to write the FCC on their behalf.
The FCC was swamped with letters of protest (as were several
congressmen), and plans to levy the access charge were dropped.
And how did the enhanced-service providers reward those who had
written on their behalf? Well, in Telenet's case, they changed
the pricing structure on PC Pursuit so that instead of paying a
flat rate for monthly service, you paid a higher rate for a
service with a 30 hour cap... and very few of their promises to
upgrade equipment in various cities and add new access points
were kept (we were promised an indial in Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan over two years ago. We're still waiting). To say
that a lot of PC Pursuit users felt like they had been shafted
FidoNews 8-07 Page 4 18 Feb 1991
is probably more than just a bit of an understatement!
Well, there's a pretty good chance that the enhanced-service
providers may come around asking for your support again. May I
offer a suggestion? Go ahead and write the FCC and urge that
the enhanced-service providers be subject to Federal regulation
only in all states in which they offer universal access...
that is, full access to all their services at the price of a
local call, from any point within the state, so that those
living in suburban and rural areas are not disadvantaged. In
those states where access is not universal, however, the states
should have regulatory jurisdiction.
What's the rationale behind this? Well, apparently the FCC and
the Federal government aren't too interested in seeing that the
enhanced-service providers don't "cherry pick" - that is, offer
services only in the more lucrative major metropolitan areas
and medium-size cities, while ignoring the smaller cities and
rural areas. However, the state governments would presumably
be somewhat more responsive to the needs of all their
residents, including those that live in the outlying areas.
The concept of "universal service" has been applied to the
telephone industry for quite some time. In many areas, even if
you can't reach an alternate long distance carrier by using
"dial 1" access, you can get to their switch by using a
"950-xxxx" access number, which is generally a free call from
anywhere in a LATA (even if you have to dial a "1" or "0" first
to make the call go through an older switch). If the long
distance carriers can achieve "universal service" (or something
very close to it) through use of the "950-" numbers, I wonder
why the enhanced-service providers can't put some of their
access ports on "950-" numbers, so as to make them available in
areas outside of the major cities.
The city that I live in has a population of over fifteen
thousand, a state university, the headquarters of TWO electric
power utilities, the headquarters of two banks plus branch
offices of several other financial institutions, and several
state and federal offices, all within the local calling area.
We are also THE major shopping area for folks living within a
50-mile radius. If none of the enhanced-service providers are
interested in providing service here, I can just imagine how
long the wait will be for those small towns that have only a
couple of gas stations, a small supermarket, and a dry goods
store. If the telephone companies offered service the way the
packet networks do, I might have to drive 150 miles to make or
receive a long distance call!
Those of you who are concerned with the environment
(specifically, air pollution caused by thousands of automobiles
stuck in traffic jams), and who have advocated "telecommuting"
(working at home using a computer and modem) as one possible
solution should be especially concerned about this. No one is
going to pay several dollars an hour in long distance charges
to work from their home! So because access to the
FidoNews 8-07 Page 5 18 Feb 1991
packet-switching networks is not often available from the "far
suburbs" of a city, the workers that have to travel the
furthest (and use the most gasoline) are forced by economics to
drive to work even when that work could be done from home.
So, if you are asked to write to the FCC, please consider
making your support conditional upon the enhanced-service
providers showing some "corporate responsibility" and not
thumbing their collective noses at the smaller cities. It is
high time that the enhanced-service providers realized that
there is life outside the big cities, and that those folks
deserve access, too. As it is, folks in some foreign countries
can access U.S. online services and packet networks for less
than what it costs folks in some of our own rural areas (in
many countries you can access the packet network as a local
call from any telephone exchange in the country!).
One final note - those of you who only call BBS's and who don't
subscribe to any of the online services may wonder why you
should even care about this. Well, just keep in mind that some
of those great programs that you've downloaded from your
favorite BBS (or that your users have uploaded to you, if
you're a SysOp) may have originally reached your area through a
packet-switching network or online service. The more folks
that can economically access such services, the faster new
software travels around the world. Besides, someday YOU may
have a need to access an online service from somewhere out in
the boonies!
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FidoNews 8-07 Page 6 18 Feb 1991
Kristian (Kris) Stark
1:260/400 1:260/420
As Bruce Gingery noted in his article in FidoNews 806 (Feb 11,
1991), there is still a general problem with file compression.
As it is now, there are several different formats being used for
compressed files within the net that cannot use the standard
compressed file extensions. (ie. ZIP, PAK, ARC etc) This holds
true for nodelists/diffs as well as our beloved friends, the
mail packets that come. Bruce mentioned the usage in an
alternate network of a single character change to make life
easier for sysops and others looking for files and how to
decompress it. Well, that is all well and good, but something
is still lacking.
Today, most nodes support compressed mail packets. This is
easily determined by looking at the latest nodelist, which will
give an indication of what nodes do support ArcMail, and which
do not. However, time has passed, and ARC is definately not the
best archiving metheod available for use anymore. Many sysops
with considerable echo traffic have realized this and have
switched to other compression methods for echomail. All well
and good for sending mail between known systems, but what about
others? Even netmail is starting to move in compressed files,
with the all too vague extensions. What decompressor should I
use for mail from node x? How about y? What should I use to
compress mail for node z?
Suggestion? Well, it would seem like the most logical way to
take care of this situation would be to add a flag to the
nodelist. Yes, it means adding to the size of that already huge
file, but I think it would be worth it. Instead of the MN flag
(no compression supported), a separate flag could be implemented
that would define the preferred compression format for that
node. This flag could then be automatically used by programs
such as echomail tossers, mailers, and by human users as well.
So, my question is -- what to do? This is one suggestion, more
are welcome...
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FidoNews 8-07 Page 7 18 Feb 1991
Our computer telecommunications has been growing by leaps and
bounds. FidoNet is officially part of InterNet, with regular
gates to everywhere. I believe I even saw an Origin line from
Antarctica, as a point from a Zone-3 node not too long ago.
The growth is not merely geographical, however. In addition,
there are STILL greater varieties of the types and forms of com-
munication. While true action video mail remains a twinkle in
the eye of some, the NeXT pastes a "lips" icon to a message for
far more than the old "sealed with a kiss". Click the lips, and
you LISTEN to the digitized accompanying voice mail recording,
music or whatever digitized sound has been mailed, in CD quality.
Fax machines, and fax boards get faster and finer. More and
more detail is included in high resolution graphics images and
digitized video, in resolution, in depth of color or graytone,
desired transparency, as well as overall height and width. And
more and more, the computer is THE hub of it all.
With each new development, from the original swapping of a
message base, to today's 4-d addressing of all continents,
FidoNet is the "compatibility" standard because the people
whose heart is in it, do it best. And FidoNet has established
a fairness tradition of accepting the new without dropping those
who are not yet mechanically able to embrace the new.
Because of this also, however, we have MANY proposed standards,
and probably should. Though we can extend our hands together
to Tom Jennings, no single person could have brought even the
readership of this FidoNews together, let alone the uncounted
users who actually participate in the Networks to which we
are connected by these keyboards and screens.
The fast growth has started, and many of the kludges will have
to fall behind, just as patches on an outfit are lost when that
portion of the clothing is replaced. Yet, in the tradition of
FTS-0001, we can not justly abandon anyone who can now partici-
pate.
In the next several weeks, I will attempt to illustrate how
packets, messages, tick-files, compressed mail and these other
advances can be smoothly integrated, while leaving the connect-
ion OPEN for those who cannot quickly move into these advances.
Already, the sheer bulk of the full NodeList makes it nearly
impossible for some to "FULLY" participate, but the tree hier-
archy makes allowances for that, allowing the use of partial
nodelists by those who cannot support the entire list, and even
FidoNews 8-07 Page 8 18 Feb 1991
more, POINTing as the rest of the network can reasonably presume
Boss routing for unlisted point systems.
This proposal IS for two new packet headers, but with a powerful
difference. These are equally applicable to packets and the
single message, and to the free flow of files of all types
without choking the network on unprocessable problems. It also
allows for streamlining of processing, at origin, in transit
and at the ultimate leaf destination.
There has been a tremendous growth of POINT activity, in all
zones, but, as I have been told, especially in zone two. In
recognition of this, these type-4 and type-5 headers allow for
full 4-d addressing. With 4-d addressing, the POINT is, of
course, the ultimate "leaf" in the FidoNet tree structure.
Full implementation of 4-d addressing allows para-FidoNet
direct point-to-point communications, as well as Boss Node
pass-through in Leaf-to-Leaf communications.
The type-5 header addresses the needed bulk of seen-by and path
information, so important in shared ECHO and Group mail. The two
headers are as compatible as possible, both with the type-2 FTS-
0001 header, as well as with the FTS-0001 .MSG format, and with
nod to the FSC-0007 type-3 proposal.
The kludges have grown to fill in what would not fit in the
header and may amount in quite a few cases, to more kludge than
message. Yet, hobbiest dollars have a far greater affinity to
improvements and new items than the moving of information which
actually IS useless -- which in the final analysis does NOT
contribute either to direct information, nor smooth flow.
Many places now, a text word or entire line takes the place of a
bit or two, or perhaps 8 bytes.
Next week, I'll introduce the proposed flagset, and after that,
the headers which it helps to identify.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FidoNews 8-07 Page 9 18 Feb 1991
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 8-07 Page 14 18 Feb 1991
Well, prior to my article of FidoNews 806 concerning my
perceived degradation of the quality of FidoNews, I had several
conversations with JonesNose at 321/202 and he suggested that I
shouldn't air my concerns in such a negative manor; that they
would be counter productive and would serve to foment hate; in
deed that I should take my homophobic attitude with me to hell
and rot for awhile.
He told me that my attitude was hateful. He convinced me he was
right. He did, in fact, let me know in no uncertain terms what
kind of person he though I was. He was right again.
I had asked that the submission be removed because he convinced
me that I should be more tolerant of gays and not promote hate.
It wasn't removed, it got printed, I get to live with it --
that's not a big problem for me to live with, I'll just send an
apology to everyone who sends me a return on my hate mail
because they'll be right too.
Listen up, FidoNet: I am sorry. I'll never happen again. Vince,
your comments were eye-opening too. Rest assured I'll not
clutter your news letter with hate again.
If anyone wants a personal voice apology, call me from 6 p.m.
to 11 p.m. and I'll apologize.
30 Mar 1991
Jim Grubs (W8GRT) was issued his first ham radio license forty
years ago today. His first station was made from an ARC-5
"Command Set" removed from a B-17 bomber.
12 May 1991
FidoNews 8-07 Page 15 18 Feb 1991
Fourth anniversary of FidoNet operations in Latin America and
second anniversary of the creation of Zone-4.
15 Aug 1991
5th annual Z1 Fido Convention - FidoCon '91 "A New Beginning"
Sheraton Denver West August 15 through August 18 1991.
8 Sep 1991
25th anniversary of first airing of Star Trek on NBC!
7 Oct 1991
Area code 415 fragments. Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
will begin using area code 510. This includes Oakland,
Concord, Berkeley and Hayward. San Francisco, San Mateo,
Marin, parts of Santa Clara County, and the San Francisco Bay
Islands will retain area code 415.
1 Feb 1992
Area code 213 fragments. Western, coastal, southern and
eastern portions of Los Angeles County will begin using area
code 310. This includes Los Angeles International Airport,
West Los Angeles, San Pedro and Whittier. Downtown Los
Angeles and surrounding communities (such as Hollywood and
Montebello) will retain area code 213.
1 Dec 1993
Tenth anniversary of Fido Version 1 release.
5 Jun 1997
David Dodell's 40th Birthday
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
