F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 37 9 September 1996

F I D O N E W S -- Volume 13, Number 37 9 September 1996
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| The newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: |
| FidoNet community | "FidoNews" |
| _ | 1-407-383-1372 [1:1/23] |
| / \ | |
| /|oo \ | |
| (_| /_) | |
| _`@/_ \ _ | |
| | | \ \\ | Editor: |
| | (*) | \ )) | Christopher Baker 1:374/14 |
| |__U__| / \// | |
| _//|| _\ / | |
| (_/(_|(____/ | |
| (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Submission address: FidoNews Editor 1:1/23 |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| MORE addresses: |
| |
| submissions=> [email protected] |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| For information, copyrights, article submissions, |
| obtaining copies of FidoNews or the internet gateway FAQ |
| please refer to the end of this file. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

MY ELEVENTH ISSUE HITS THE CYBERSTREETS!

Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Don't forget to get ready for changes .................... 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
comp.org.fidonet - It's Full of Life! .................... 2
In Defense of Bink and Max ............................... 2
Re: EchoPol2, 'ep1eu' .................................... 4
A Californian point of view: Comment to Fredrik Bennis .. 4
The World-Wide-Web Fidonet Resource Updated .............. 5
EchoMail...Now What? ..................................... 6
3. COLUMNS .................................................. 8
Doc Logger Returns! ...................................... 8
4. FIDONET HISTORY .......................................... 10
Here are some FidoNet primer examples from the old days .. 10
5. REVIEWS .................................................. 17
Six Mail Processors Reviewed [IV] ........................ 17
6. COORDINATORS CORNER ...................................... 20
Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 250 ...... 20
7. NET HUMOR ................................................ 21
Can computers sing? ...................................... 21
8. COMIX IN ASCII ........................................... 22
A matter of perspective? ................................. 22
9. QUESTION OF THE WEEK ..................................... 23
Who has FidoNet primers they use locally for newbies? .... 23
10. NOTICES ................................................. 24
And more!
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 1 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
EDITORIAL
=================================================================

Beginning with FidoNews 1340, the distribution archive format will be
ZIP. Instead of FNEWSDnn.LZH, you will be receiving FNEWSDnn.ZIP via
the standard FIDONEWS file channels. BE SURE to update your batch
files and/or script routines to allow for this change of archiver.

Please note in the Masthead that I've already changed my U.S. mail
contact address. FidoNews ops will remain at 1:1/23 but the phone
number will be changing in NODELIST.271. My primary Node will also
change from 1:374/14 to 1:18/14 on 27 Sep 96. If you wish to put in
an override on the 27th pending your receipt of your new Nodelist you
can set 1:1/23 and 1:18/14 to: 1-904-409-7040 in Edgewater_FL. The
phone company assures me the new number will be functional by 1800 on
Friday, 27 Sep 96. The old number will have a forwarding info
recording on it for 3 months for those who aren't too sharp in keeping
their Nodelists up-to-date.

These changes should be fairly painless if everyone stays aware of the
timetable. I will continue to issue these gentle reminders through the
changeover. [grin]

Unlike the previous weeks, there was no answer at all from anyone
about Echolists in other Zones. Does this mean there aren't any?

I'm happy to report that this week's Humor and Comix are not from my
archives but from actual contributors! I'd like to see a lot more of
that in future Issues. Thanks.

C.B.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 2 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
ARTICLES
=================================================================

comp.org.fidonet - It's Full of Life!
by Lee Kindness, 2:259/7, [email protected]

I'm sure quite a few people have noticed the comp.org.fidonet
newsgroup on Usenet. This is a moderated group, that has never been
posted into in all the time i've been subscribed to it (about 2-3
years).

Wondering what its purpose was i set out asking a couple of questions.
From what i can gather it used to be used to distribute FidoNews
articles and the moderator of the group is one of the former editors.
Anyone else got more information?

Perhaps the group could be used again to distribute the Snooze, or
even throw it open for general Fidonet discussion (would be great for
arranging cross zone feeds and so on). Of course we'd have to find the
moderator, or does anyone know how the group could be 'unmoderated'?

Hmmmm...

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Response to "Two Choices: UPGRADE or DIE"
by Phil Roberts, 1:157/554

>We need to be progressive, up-to-the-minute with technology.

We're in agreement here. :)

>BinkleyTerm and Maximus just don't cut it in '96. Today's users
>(and sysops) want advanced graphics, and easy-to-setup software.

BinkleyTerm is difficult to set up the first time, but I provide
sample BINKLEY.CFG and BINK.BAT so new sysops can just copy my setup.
This method has worked well, and a number of people have used my
sample batch files for both BinkleyTerm and FrontDoor.

>And we need to make it easy for people to GET NODE NUMBERS!

Anyone wanting a node number in my area needs only to download a
short file called HOWAPPLY.TXT and follow the _simple_ directions.
While POLICY4 is a must read for new sysops, HOWAPPLY is a simple
cheat sheet. This could be implemented in any net in Fidonet.

>Using mail and news on the Internet is dirt simple with all the new
>graphical-based software available. In contrast, the average BBS
>package used by a FidoNet sysop is quite clumsy and hard to figure
>out by comparison. This is not necessary. Sysops want to hold onto
>the BBS package they were running back in '85. This is ridiculous -
>you don't still use the computer you used in '85, do you? Then why
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 3 9 Sep 1996

>use its software?

Nope. I sold my Apple //'s back in 1991. I'm running the current
revision of Maximus. I've been running a BBS since 1988, and changed
to Maximus in 1995 because of it's incredible versatility. This is
my 3rd BBS software, and I've tried many others without putting them
up for the users.

>Even up-to-the-microsecond graphical BBS packages
>like Excalibur for Windows now have Fidonet capability.

Very user friendly, but these BBS hosts require the user to download a
dedicated client to use them. How many BBS clients will a user
download before tiring of this?

>There's even a fully Windows-based mailer that's NOT simply an old
>MS-DOS mailer with a Windows shell wrapped around it. And how many
>such systems are in FidoNet? To my knowledge, ONE -- Myself.

Would this be Platinum Xpress? If Hector ever fixes Areafix, Filefix,
and gets Platinum to reliably connect with other mailers, I'll respect
this mailer.

>Even from a Sysop standpoint, joining FidoNet is difficult. You've
>got to first figure out how the whole thing works, and there's NOT
>ONE SINGLE CREDIBLE DOCUMENT ON IT ANYWHERE!

BIGDUMMY.ARJ is a good file, albeit a few years old.

>The average person has this "hard-to-use-straight-ugly-ASCII-based"
>view of what FidoNet is, even if they've never used a FidoNet system.
>This has to be changed.

In case you haven't noticed, the *.INI files in your Windows system
are also text files. The only thing lacking in the Bink/Max mentality
is a decent menu-driven setup program. I go FAR out of my way to
make my BBS very easy to use. I'm sure many other sysops do this too.

>There's plenty of DOS-based ANSI system which use
>lightbar menus and such, which is light years ahead of where 95% of
>Fidonet systems are right now.

My Maximus BBS has RIP emulation, lightbar file tagging in the file
transfer system, and 7 different user-selectable ANSI menus! One
of these ANSI menus uses lightbars. It can also be ported to
Windows or OS/2 when the needs of the BBS require it. Maximus isn't
married to DOS, and doesn't have to be plain looking.

>People won't put up with it for long. Eventually, the only thing
>the SPAMmers will be able to SPAM to are OTHER SPAMMERS! People will
>need somewhere else to talk. Will it be FidoNet? It could be.

Because of Fidonet's message control, the Fidonet message bases are
smaller and contain a better content than most Usenet newsgroups.
Users also don't run the risk of spam email every time they post.

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 4 9 Sep 1996

Fidonet does need some rethinking in a number of places, but Bink
and Max aren't the reasons for the decline in the size of the
nodelist. There are easier packages for sysops to install, and
many sysops take that route.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The problems with EP2 (ep1eu) in Zone 2
by Lee Kindness, 2:259/7, [email protected]

> ZEC2 has a lengthy article in this Issue about a new Zone 2 Echopol
> All those affected please take note. Other Zones might want to pay
> attention as well for future reference.

While my support is 100% behind Steve in the creation of a new
echomail policy for zone 2 this document simply is not in force. I'll
point out a couple of flaws:

o Steve publicly announced in a number of echoes that EP1 was
in force in zone 2, and he would abide by its guidelines in the
creation of a new policy.

o 1 week later (or thereabout) he announces his rehash of EP1
is now the echomail policy. Hang on, what happened to the
vote of the regions REC's to support a policy change?

o The changes in 'EP2' are minor. Do a diff on the two and you'll
find that most of the changes are "national"->"Regional",
"policy3"->"policy4", "insure"->"ensure" and a lot of ZEC
references to REC. Why bother with such a minor change?

o The policy covers the zone 2 echomail backbone and any echo
the moderator wishes it to cover. Zone 2 does not have a
echomail backbone (we have regional backbones due to language
differences). In the wildest imagination less than 10 echoes
could be considered to be on a 'zone 2 backbone" at the moment
(ENET.SYSOP...). Don't get me wrong, a zone 2 backbone is a
good idea (for technical, sysop and other echoes) but you can't
enforce policy on an entity that does not currently exist.
Steve has to setup a zone 2 backbone first!

I didn't wish to take these concerns and observations in Fidonews.
However my (and others) questions to Steve in ECHOPOL2 were left
unanswered.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

A Californian point of view: Comment to Fredrik Bennison
Fredric Rice ([email protected]) 1:218/890.0
The Skeptic Tank (818) 335-9601

Fredrik (2:205/300.0) brought up a couple of good points in
the 2/Sep/1996 issue of FidoNews which I would like to briefly
comment upon.
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 5 9 Sep 1996

The first is about NetMail routing success here in Zone 1 at
times being haphazard. I'm not so sure there is very much
of a problem sending and receiving NetMail. Though I can't
know if something didn't reach my system without implementing
checks to find out, my inbound Net Mail folder is always full
of routed mail awaiting my attention.

Fredrik, I would suggest that if there are Net coordinators who
do not accept both inbound and outbound NetMail, it _might_ be
better to _vote_ them out of the position rather than impose a
rule that they do so. (Always assuming there is someone who is
willing to accept the job, of course.) I don't have P4 here
with me (I'm at work sluffing off) yet I'm surprised that there
isn't already such a rule. If there isn't, I find it mildly
distasteful having rules added to this hobby of ours. Call up
a vote and "throw the bumbs out" as we say here in the States.

As for Policy 4 needing revamping, I couldn't agree more. Our
shiney new FidoNews editor had been coordinating a serious effort
to develop Policy 5 for some time now and it looks like inertia
is keeping the somewhat outdated Policy 4 in force. And isn't
there an ECHO forum specifically set up to discuss the eventual
Policy 5? If there isn't, that would be a good place to start.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

New Look for the World-Wide-Web Fidonet Resource
by Lee Kindness, 2:259/7, [email protected]

The World-Wide-Web Fidonet Resource (w3fr) has recently been given a
major overhaul. It has been split up into easier to navigate sub
sections, been given a major cosmetic job (in response to several
suggestions regarding the former background pattern) and, as always,
a couple more links added. So aim your browsers at:

http://www.scms.rgu.ac.uk/students/cs_yr94/lk/fido.html

The old, all in one page, version of the w3fr is still available as a
link off the new page.

I'm always open to suggestions (and constructive criticism) for new
links. To get a link added simply send me:

o Region, Net or Node homepage - Fidonet address, URL, nodelist
name and common name (ie the country for regions...)

o Fidonet software support page - Package name, URL, OS(s) supported,
function (ie editor, tosser, packer, mailer...)

o Any other link - URL, a short description and any other details.

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 6 9 Sep 1996

It would be great if you could add a link to the w3fr from your own
personal pages on the web (esp. if i add a link to yours ;) There
are probably quite a lot of 'nasties' on the pages at the moment,
spelling mistakes, mistyped URLs, out-of-date URLs and such like.
These will be ironed out ASAP, if you notice any drop me an email.

The World-Wide-Web Fidonet Resource - THE starting point for Fidonet
information on the Internet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

EchoMail...Now What?
by Zorch Frezberg, 1:205/1701

These are the words that are the key to most controversy.

- 9.9 Echomail
-
-Echomail is an important and powerful force in FidoNet. For the
-purposes of Policy Disputes, echomail is simply a different flavor
-of netmail, and is therefore covered by Policy. By its nature,
-echomail places unique technical and social demands on the net over
-and above those covered by this version of Policy. In recognition
-of this, an echomail policy which extends (and does not contradict)
-general Policy, maintained by the Echomail Coordinators, and ratified
-by a process similar to that of this document, is recognized by the
-FidoNet Coordinators as a valid structure for dispute resolution on
-matters pertaining to echomail. At some future date the echomail
-policy document may be merged with this one.

In deference to Fredrik Bennison, I would ask where in Policy 4 it
is that content of a message is grounds for excommunication or other
actions that have been performed by many a *C or *EC under the guise
of a Policy Complaint.

If his interpretation of Policy is upheld, then we could all be
subject to excommunication for "Excessively Annoying Behavior" by
*any* complaint we make, should we rub the *C or *EC the wrong way.

I will submit that any violation or failure to comply with the FTSC
operational standards would fit in for a Policy Complaint, but the
matter of _content_ of echomail, as well as netmail, is reserved to
only a very few and very specific details.

No software piracy, no criminal activity, and no posting publicly
something different in echomail than you're willing to post in
netmail. And, as to criminal activity, there is always the standard
of whether or not it is provable as a crime...something so far out of
the jurisdiction of Fido, I strongly doubt that there will ever be
a properly adjudicated Policy Complaint that will deal with this.

But the content of echomail, so long as it meets these criteria, is
immune from any form of Policy Complaint. Without breaking these,
neither netmail *NOR* echomail is subject to Policy Complaint, and
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 7 9 Sep 1996

no node can be _legitimately_ excommunicated for such.

Too many people are willing to restrict your rights and mine, to keep
us from saying things that might discredit, harm or sully their own
particular beliefs, and are more than willing to prevent you or I
from even being able to start competitive echoes or conferences in
which we can continue without their harrasment.

It is so simple and easy to eliminate anyone who disagrees with us,
if we adopt Bennison's concept of echomail...all one needs do is
declare that it 'offends' and is therefore 'excessively annoying',
and by Policy Complaint, we remove such an 'annoyance' by means of
excommunication, unable to start a competing echo without the most
fortunate luck and massive inconvenience.

In reality, this hopefully would not happen, and anyone in the *C
chain who has half a mind for independent thinking would realize this
was a 'put-up' job and declare the Policy Complaint null and void.

Unfortunately, there have already been cases where the 'witch-hunt'
mentality takes over and the entire chain of authority decides it much
simpler to excommunicate someone than deal with the issues that are
being brought up, regardless of how relevant and important these may
be.

We are a system of communication...good and bad, we do not filter out
nor censor materials until after they have violated specifically
defined parameters, all contained within Policy and existing BackBone
operations procedures...or rather, we should not.

To try and extend that power to limiting echo access by threat or act
of excommunication under the pretense of upholding Policy is a
ghastly and terrible mistake...one in which the ability to speak and
discuss matters freely is taken from us and put in the hands of a very
small-minded minority.

# 30 #

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 8 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
COLUMNS
=================================================================

Deranged And Demented

Dear Fidonews Editorbeing,

This article is submitted by Charles Herriot (1:163/110) who
dragged Doc Logger from a life of depravity in what was
either a house of Belgian Nuns, or else Bill Clinton's
campaign headquarters. When his horrible screaming for more
DDT to spray the GIANT bats which coursed through his vision
had died down, he was lashed to a keyboard. Unfortunately,
the following was all that he produced before he lapsed into
a chant which sounded like "John Denver for President."

Dear Reverend Visage,

I think we may be in deeper trouble than I'd imagined. I
have just emerged from cryogenic storage to discover that
the deranged and demented policymongers in Zone 2 are
proposing another version of 'Das Echopol.' What is it with
these poor sods, don't they have small animals to abuse like
the rest of us? Quite frankly, these silly gits should be
inflated with nitrous oxide and have Debbie Boone's "You
Light Up My Life" played until either their ears bleed, or
they give up on the notion that you should legislate a
cooperative effort. They just don't get it. The more rules
they promulgate, the more time some poor soul has to spend
adjudicating the inevitable flood of complaints "under
policy."

I also noticed that diehards are still flogging the Peefour
policy horse. I guess it needs to be said at least once a
year, but PeeFour has as much jurisprudent weight in Fidonet
as Dan Quayle has brains. Sheesh. PeeFour was promulgated
without vote, without ratification, and without reason, by
cloacally impaired dwarves who couldn't grasp the concepts
which made Fidonet worthwhile.

Enough piffle about policywankers, on to world news. Visage,
developments of the last day have me worried. I feel certain
that the next time I invade my teenmonster's room for
purposes of restoring order, that Wet Willy Clinton will lob
cruise missiles at my house. Let me state at the outset that
Saddam Hussein is despotic, insane, brutal and in need of
serious attitude judgment (very similar to the Los Angeles
police department.) But I am having trouble understanding
why Wet Willy is sending in the Tomahawks over a Kurdish
dispute which has been raging for a mere 2,000 years. In
fact, world peace would be helped immeasurably by letting
Saddam's divisions get mired in a battle with the Kurds
who'd whup the Republican Guard by breakfast. The Excited
States certainly have some strange notions about their place
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 9 9 Sep 1996

as the gatekeepers for democracy. Say, have you noticed
whether Kuwaittis have had a democratic election recently?

To turn to Fidonet navel-gazing. I notice that more and more
of the Snooz is devoted to those who get a stiffie about
gating Internet AntFarmMail(tm) into Fidoland. What, they
don't think we have enough drooling idiocy in our own
messages and have to import global illiteracy from Internet?
The simple truth is, Internet newsgroups consist largely of
cretinous trolls whose flippers flail at the quote key and
then append monosyllabic grunts to the end. (Imagine reading
a Ross Perot speech and you get the picture.) Since Fidonet
was whored to the planetary beings, I don't suppose it
matters much; but it would be nice if all of the effort
expended on cross-linking Internet to Fidonet could be
applied to sending John Denver to Mars - a noble and
practical solution to at least half of the world's problems.

I must go Visage, your secretary is wailing like a marmoset
in heat and this has really nothing at all to do with the
fact I've been rapid-firing the flare gun at the fridge. She
just doesn't understand that I am being an International
statesman and am "putting down a rebellion of cheese curds."
Kurds, curds - what the hell is the difference? In any
event, I do not think that your secretary is a well-balanced
person, Visage, and at the earliest opportunity we should
send her to Chadron, Nebraska.

Regards,
Doc Logger,
Giant Clam Psychologist,
Furlang Island, South Pacific

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 10 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
FIDONET HISTORY
=================================================================

[These examples are part of the continuing series on FidoNet History]

This was the first Netmail message sent to a potential new Node when I
was NC135:

--------------
[NEWNODE.35Q]

Attached is an excerpt of the current Policy document governing the
operation of FidoNet.

In this file you will find some questions that require response prior
to your receipt of an official FidoNet Node number.

Please return the answers to these questions in a message to me as
soon as possible. Answers received by 1200 on Tuesdays can be
processed for inclusion in that Friday's Nodelist. Answers received
after that time will not appear until the following Friday week.

You are authorized to use the Node number of 135/___ on a temporary
basis until you have been officially processed into the Nodelist.

Even though you are assigned a temporary number, you may not request
Echomail from the NEC (135/142) until your Node number actually
appears in the weekly Nodelist. Which Friday your Node number appears
depends entirely on the timeliness of your response to this message.
Any requests not received by 1200 on Saturday may not appear in the
following Friday's list but will appear the week after that. The
Tuesday noon deadline mentioned above is not a guarantee for inclusion
for that week's Nodelist.

If you have any questions, you may reach me anytime via Netmail.

Thank you for your interest in FidoNet.

TTFN.
Chris
Net 135 Coordinator

=====

This would be the next Netmail sent after the new Node successfully
passed the direct Netmail test from system to system:

--------------
[NEWNODE.135]

You are assigned Node number 135/__. This will be your identification
for all FidoNet activities.

Please send a Session Password to be used between our systems via
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 11 9 Sep 1996

Netmail with your acknowledgment of receipt of this message. If your
mailer software does not support the WaZoo Session password, please
note that in your reply.

You will receive two files every week. The Nodelist and the FidoNews.
The Nodelist will be sent as NODEDIFF.Ann and FidoNews will be sent as
FNEWSnnn.ARC. These files are currently being distributed from 135/10,
135/60 and 135/69. Please contact Peter Adenauer, John Sawyer or Tim
Eagan on those systems for Polling schedule.

In order for you to properly send and receive mail within this Net, it
will be necessary for you to adopt and install the following schedule.
Net 135 operates three windows for Netmail. 0430-0500 is for Local to
Host traffic. 0500-0600 is for Zone Mail Hour (ZMH). 0600-0630 is
for Host to Local traffic. You may operate any other schedules you
wish as long as they do not interfere with Net 135 ops. These times
are Eastern Daylight Savings Time. When we return to Eastern Standard
Time, each window will be exactly one hour earlier (0330-0400; 0400-
0500; 0500-0530). ZMH is for NetMail processing ONLY. No other
activity is permitted during ZMH. Operating ZMH for anything except
NetMail is grounds for immediate excommunication. Ignorance of this
Policy is no excuse.

Attached is a file containing FidoNet Policy documents, New Sysop
information and the schedule of events that take place on this system.
The Crash events are times to avoid calling as a connect is extremely
unlikely during an outbound Crash event. As a FidoNet Node, you are
completely responsible for reading and abiding by the Policy documents
with regard to your operations within FidoNet. The New Sysop info is
provided to assist you in your operations at the BBS level.

As a Sysop in Net 135, you are eligible to participate in several
local and Regional Echo conferences. NETSYSOP is a local Net 135 Sysop
ONLY Echo. It is available from the Echo Host (135/142) or other Net
135 Nodes. REGION18 is a Region 18 Echo for users and Sysops. SYSOP18
is a Sysop ONLY Echo for Region 18 Sysops information. REGION18 and
SYSOP18 are available from the Echo Host (363/3), the Net 135 Echo
Coordinator (135/142) or this system. Normally, you will not access
the REC from a Net 135 address. The NEC at 135/142 will supply you
with your Echomail feeds from the Backbone system or other local
feeds. You may not request or receive Echomail from the NEC UNTIL your
Node number appears in the Nodelist.

As a member of Net 135, you accept responsibility for the activities
on your Node as they relate to the integrity of the SFLorida Net and
the FidoNet, at large. Member Nodes of Net 135 are expected to
maintain a legal operation and to disallow any activity that might
reflect poorly on the rest of the Net. After six months of established
operation, you may wish to apply for membership in the South Florida
System Operators Association and adopt their formal code of BBS
conduct.

If the terms of this message are clear and acceptable, you may reply
via Netmail and I will place you in the update file for addition to
the next applicable Nodelist. (Note: any applications not processed
prior to 1200 on Tuesday will probably not make it into that week's
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 12 9 Sep 1996

Nodelist and will appear the following week.)

If these terms are unacceptable, you may apply for an independent Node
number as a member of Region 18 (S.E.). The Region Coordinator for
Region 18 is Ben Mann at 1:151/2 in North Carolina. The process is
basically the same, although you are only required to observe the ZMH
for Netmail.

If neither alternative is acceptable, you may operate as a private BBS
or you may appeal your case to the Zone 1 Coordinator, George Peace,
1/0, in Harrisburg_PA.

Thank you for your interest in SFLorida Net, 135.

TTFN.
Chris

=====

This would be a message in response to a new Sysop or user about the
vagaries of Echomail ops:

--------------
[ECHOMAIL.EXP]

> I am new to this "echo" or "network". How does one
> send a message to another BBS? Can someone show me an
> example?

you are entering your message in an Echo conference. to the user,
entering a message in an Echo is just like entering a message in a
regular message area. the difference, however, is the scope of
coverage. a local message is confined to that one system on which it
was entered. a message in an Echo is scanned (eventually) by the
software running the BBS or by a utility and packaged into a form that
will be sent to another system in a chain of systems participating in
that particular Echo. the coverage of that message expands
geometrically as it is retransmitted from system to system to system.
an Echo may be local (a few systems), national (more systems) or, as
this one is, international (hundreds of systems all over the world).
in this Echo, your question has gone from the local system you entered
it on to many other systems in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific. this
answer is now following the same route. you will probably receive many
others.

since Echos go everywhere and people are paying to get them
transported, it is very important to keep messages entered into Echos
on the subject for which they were formed. this International Users
Echo is relatively wide open subject-wise but many Echos have limited
or narrow scope. this Echo is for communicating with the rest of the
world on many subjects and most posts would be allowed without
comment. it would be inappropriate, for example, to post a message
about saving the whales in the Hard Drive conference or a 'Hi, are you
going to that party at Bob's?' message in a national conference where
Bob is unknown.

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 13 9 Sep 1996

most Echos are moderated by someone and rules are usually posted on a
regular basis to keep subjects germane and the Echo moving in the
right direction. the rules for an Echo are often found as the first
message in that Echo.

to send a message directly to another system requires using Netmail
which is a special message area on a FidoNet system that usually
requires prearranged credit to send non-local messages. credit is
arranged with the Sysop of that system although some offer Netmail use
for free and some don't offer it to users at all. having established
credit for Netmail, one enters a message as usual but also needs to
know the Netmail address of the recipient as well as their name.
Netmail addresses are in the form of Zone:Net/Node which is usually
entered simply by the User as Net/Node. for example, if you wanted to
send me a Netmail message, you would address it to my name and when
prompted for my Node number would enter 135/14. 135 represents Net
135 in Zone 1 which is the SFLorida Net based in Miami_FL_USA. 14 is
my individual system Node number in that Net. Netmail is the basis of
all structure within FidoNet which is grouped geographically into
Zones, Regions, Nets and Nodes.

> Also, how are people repeating part of a message? I
> see a ">" followed by some text of another message and
> wondered how this was accomplished. Does the sender
> of the message type this in themselves or is there a
> way to make the system do it.

quoting a message is accomplished in different ways by different
software. the instructions for same are usually in help files
contained on the system you are using.

TTFN.
Chris

=====

And finally, this would be a 'baton passing' message to a new NC:

--------------
[NEWNC135.MSG]

Date: 13 Aug 90 03:34:54
From: Christopher Baker
To: Alan Criado on 135/142 Merlin's Mailroom in Miami FL
Subj: stanmsgs.zip net135\n135*.zip d:\file\fnet\new135pk.zip
______________________________________________________________________

here are the files you need to do the NC thing.

STANMSGS contains a bunch of stuff created over the years to deal with
standard questions and Node number applications. you can throw out the
stuff that doesn't pertain to Net 135 ops. you will primarily be using
UPDATE.135, NEWNODE.35Q and NEWNODE.135.

NEWNODE.35Q is read into the editor when a first request is received
but without the full info requested by UPDATE.135. some new systems
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 14 9 Sep 1996

will pick up this file and some won't. most of the time, all you get
is the Sysop name and the system phone number. once that come in, i
check the next number in sequence and edit in a dummy Node with the
requesting system's phone number. i then enter a message to that new
Node and attach UPDATE.135 for more info. i insert the new Node
number in the slot provided in NEWNODE.35Q and send it to the
requesting system.

NEWNODE.135 is sent after the UPDATE.135 info comes in and is checked
for completeness. i insert the new Node number again and attach
NEW135PK.ZIP which contains a lot of helpful stuff for a new Sysop.

both NEWNODE.135 and NEWNODE.35Q have been modified for your temporary
assignment as NC 135.

there isn't really much to it. the only thing a system needs to
qualify for a Node number is the ability to send and receive direct
Netmail. the only reason to deny an application would be to exclude a
known twit {xxxxx xxxxxx comes to mind} or someone previously
excommunicated for cause.

if it looks like a Node is going to be accepted when i send out the
first packet, i go ahead and put it into the Net segment. the Net
segment must be sent to the RC at 151/2 by 1200 on Wednesday to make
the cut for Friday's list. the Net segment must be updated anytime a
listing changes. it must be ARCed with the password xxxxxx and given
the extension of .Ann where nn is the last two digits of the julian
date for the upcoming Friday [just add 7 to the last compiled list].

this week's list has already been fixed for Friday and i will continue
to update it as necessary until the final version for .229 is sent in.
i will then resend the latest copy to you for any adjustments required
for .236.

i edit it by hand using a text editor. all the fields must be correct
and complete with all spaces delineated as underscores [_]. any
missing or incorrect field will be kicked out by the RC's compiler and
an error message sent back to the originator.

it is not as complicated as it sounds. [grin]

good luck.

Date: 13 Aug 90 03:39:03
From: Christopher Baker
To: Alan Criado on 135/142 Merlin's Mailroom in Miami FL
Subj: \mail\master\network.135
______________________________________________________________________

here is the Net segment as it stands at this moment.

when ever you do an update, you need to send a copy to Peter Adenauer
so he can update the SYSOP.135 list. i also forward a copy of new
applications [completed ones only] to him for addition to the list.

i do all the processing [ARCing, file sends] in a batchfile. it is
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 15 9 Sep 1996

attached.

let me know if you have any questions on any of this stuff.

i will also place a copy of these explanatory messages into
STANMSGS.ZIP to make it easier for you to get the elected NC going,
whenever that happens.

Date: 13 Aug 90 03:58:05
From: Christopher Baker
To: Alan Criado on 135/142 Merlin's Mailroom in Miami FL
Subj: weekly files
______________________________________________________________________

the Nodelist and Nodediff files are available from RC18 [you must tell
him to put you into the distribution] or from the source. i get them
from 1/0 but you may do whatever works best for you. they are
available from 1/0 after 2330 on Thursday or from 151/2 after 0100 on
Friday.

the FidoNews is available from RC18 [i get that from him] or from 1/1.
it's usually easier to get it from RC18 and is available after 0600 on
Mondays.

you must poll for anything being distributed from RC18 or f/r from the
sources.

135/10, 135/60, and 135/69 are distribution Nodes for these files and
are sent both list and diff as well as the news as soon as they come
in.

i also send diffs to: 43 [hold], 71, 88, 990, and 18/68. i send news
to: 43 [hold] and 990. they are all available for f/r and many systems
call here for it but never asked for formal distribution. i usually
refer distribution requests to one of the three dist. Nodes to avoid
loading up this system with full list requests.

i would advise maintaining this schedule until a new NC is elected and
then let that person formulate whatever works best for them. keep in
mind, that an NC is not required to maintain the level of service of a
previous NC above and beyond the basic requirements of passing on Host
routed mail and the weekly files.

most Nets don't get their lists until Saturday or Sunday or their news
till Wednesday or Thursday. it's always been a point of pride with me
to get them out as soon as they are released. with a 9600 bps modem,
that should be even easier. [grin]

that's all i can think of now.

TTFN.
Chris

-30-

[your turn!] Ed.
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 16 9 Sep 1996

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 17 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
REVIEWS
=================================================================

Six Mail Processors Reviewed [IV]
Damian Walker, 2:2502/666

Half way there! This is the fourth article in a six-part series, in
which I take a look at six mail processors and let you know what I
find. This week it is the turn of IMail. A full feature table
covering all six mail processors will appear in the final article of
the series.

IMAIL

IMail, as has been mentioned in the previous article, is the
creation of Andreas Klein. The version on test here is IMail-386
1.70, which I know is not the latest version by a long way. However,
it was not until after testing started that two kind souls (Trevor
Cook of 2:2502/75 and Kev Baillie of 2:2502/1) dropped off a copy of
IMail 1.75. I have also seen versions 1.80 and 1.85 on tear lines in
various echoes.
As all the work which surrounds these reviews is a time-consuming
process (installation, browsing the documentation and the package
itself, not to mention preparing the package for the speed tests), I
have been loathe to go through it all again.
Having said that, I will make sure that the feature table
contains the details of the very latest version I have here. This is
currently 1.75, but if some kind soul can tell me where I can obtain a
later version in the UK (or via the Internet), then the feature table
can be even more up-to-date.
Bear this in mind when thinking of the features I mention, and
note that 1.70 isn't that old a release; the executables are dated
September 1995.
Now that I've made my excuses, on with the review...

First Impressions

My first impressions of this package were very good. It seemed to
me, looking over the feature list and the documentation, that I was
looking at a package with a feature count to rival that of FastEcho.
On the feature list I have penned on a scrap of paper here the columns
for both packages look very similar, with little ticks in all the same
places, and very few crosses in the others.
The documentation is rather slim though; this package has around
the same number of pages as that for GEcho, while the program itself
has features which would justify a tome the size of FastEcho's manual.
However, as mentioned in the review of FMail, size doesn't always
matter. And if you like a bit of humour in your documentation, take a
look at IMail's disclaimer section. I'll say no more about it here...
One thing that strikes me odd, having seen the packages reviewed
in the first three articles of the series, is the fact that IMail uses
separate executables for things which the other packages include in
the main program. For instance, the areafix manager and the netmail
packer each have their own executable, and there exists another
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 18 9 Sep 1996

executable for compressing packets.
One of the executables is the normal full-screen setup program,
which is a feature common to all the programs reviewed this far. The
on-line help of this program is unrivalled by any of the other
packages under review. It is a full help system, with no blank areas
that I can find, and it includes a master help index allowing the user
to browse through the various parts of the setup program, and thus to
find out a bit about the features of the program itself.

On Further Examination...

While I'm on the subject of the help program, I did notice a down
side of this otherwise jolly and wonderful setup program (no sarcasm
intended, it really is very good). On certain screens, you are given
the option of saving (F10) or aborting (ESC), and pressing ESC brings
up a prompt allowing you to reconsider.
This in itself is no disadvantage, of course, until you find that
this prompt appears even when you've made no changes. This is quite
annoying when casually browsing through the options, or taking a final
look at everything to make sure you've set it up correctly. A minor
niggle, I know.
IMail, like FastEcho, provides support for all the really common
message base standards-- Hudson, *.MSG, JAM and Squish, so if you are
thinking of moving to IMail from some other mail processor, you have a
good chance of being able to use your existing message base with IMail
(unless it's a proprietary message base like PCBoard or WildCat!, of
course).
In previous reviews I have mentioned the problem of providing a
full list of available echoes for your downlinks, even when you don't
carry them all. IMail has no description import utility built in, but
the areafix processor does include a solution of a different sort, the
%AVAIL command.
Most mail processors allow you to hold a copy of your uplink's
area list so they can check that forwarded requests are for valid
areas, and also for the purpose of filling in area descriptions.
While the %LIST of most (all?) mail processors shows only areas
present in your area database, %AVAIL also shows areas in these uplink
area lists as well, complete with descriptions.
IMail has the facility to create new message areas on the fly,
like FastEcho, when messages appear in unknown areas. This, as has
been mentioned in earlier articles, allows points to add areas to
their setup merely by issuing an areafix command and waiting for the
new mail to arrive.
Your area list files for other programs can be updated
automatically as well. The amusingly-named IMTHINGS external utility
can export your configuration to a number of other programs. This is
a useful feature for putting in batch files for running on a regular
basis.
IMail allows 255 area groups, making a change from the normal 26.
26 groups is enough for most nodes, but large hubs, or nodes active in
a large number of networks, might need more than 26 in order to give
all the security they need; IMail provides for this.
You can also call other programs before messages are processed
using IMail, in a similar way to FastEcho. IMail does not include a
feature to call a process after tossing messages, though.
One feature which IMail holds exclusively is the automatic posting
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 19 9 Sep 1996

of echo rules to downlinks fixing in to an echo. This function relies
upon the rule file for each echo being present, of course. Anyone who
has waited impatiently for echo rules to be posted before making their
first contribution to an echo will appreciate this feature at their
uplink's system.
The speed tests for IMail are among the most complete in the
packages reviewed, since it supports all the commonly-used message
base standards. Although slower than the two smaller packages
reviewed already, IMail came in slightly quicker than FastEcho.
IMail tossed 91 messages into a newly-created Hudson message base
in 11 seconds. The same messages tossed into new JAM areas took 15
seconds-- with identical results for Squish and *.MSG areas.
Bear in mind, though, that the figures given are for the 386
version of IMail and the 8086 version of FastEcho, so comparing them
is useless. More interesting is the comparison between IMail and
FMail (both tested 386 version), or IMail and GEcho (the version of
GEcho under test was not a 386/DPMI program).

Summary

You may have noticed that this review contains a number of
references to FastEcho. While I am not trying to make direct
comparisons here, the similarities between the packages in the number
of features make FastEcho a useful package to relate to; to say that
IMail shares a feature in common with FastEcho prevents me from having
to repeat the exact nature of that feature at length (for readers who
have followed the whole series of articles, that is).
Leaving the differences and similarities with FastEcho aside to
consider IMail as a package in its own right, it is very clear that
IMail is a good choice of mail processor for any system from large
central Fidonet hubs to leaf nodes and points.
Besides the features mentioned here, it also contains minor
features of use to systems with downlinks; the sort of thing you
wouldn't miss if you didn't have in the first place, but which you
wouldn't want to do without if you got used to them. If you are
considering installing a mail processor or replacing your existing
software, I recommend you download this package and take a closer
look.
In the fifth article of this series, I will examine JMail, a
program by Jason Steck of 1:285/424 (PROZ Software).

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 20 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
COORDINATORS CORNER
=================================================================

Nodelist-statistics as seen from Zone-2 for day 250
By Ward Dossche, 2:292/854
ZC/2

+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
|Zone|Nl-222|Nodelist-229|Nodelist-236|Nodelist-243|Nodelist-250|%%|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 1 | 12622|12530 -92 |12435 -95 |12313 -122 |12131 -182 |39|
| 2 | 16426|16408 -18 |16391 -17 |16366 -25 |16311 -55 |52|
| 3 | 1023| 1023 0 | 969 -54 | 966 -3 | 958 -8 | 3|
| 4 | 637| 637 0 | 638 1 | 634 -4 | 630 -4 | 2|
| 5 | 99| 99 0 | 99 0 | 99 0 | 100 1 | 0|
| 6 | 1020| 1020 0 | 1020 0 | 1020 0 | 1020 0 | 3|
+----+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+--+
| 31827|31717 -110 |31552 -165 |31398 -154 |31150 -248 |
+------+------------+------------+------------+------------+

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 21 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
NET HUMOR
=================================================================

From: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
To: "Baker, Christopher" <[email protected] (Christopher Baker)
Date: Thu, 05 Sep 96 08:32:06 -0500
Reply-To: "Mike Riddle" <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Sing along.....

==================BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE==================
>Return-Path: [email protected]
>Received: from tomservo.mindspring.com (tomservo.mindspring.com
[204.180.142.36]) by oasis.novia.net (8.7.5/Novia) with ESMTP id
>Date: Thu, 5 Sep 96 07:48:07 -0400
>Subject: Sing along.....

This may have been 'round the block once already, but ya gotta love
it!

He's a real UNIX Man
Sitting in his UNIX LAN
Making all his UNIX .plans
For nobody

Knows the blocksize from 'du'
Cares not where /dev/null goes to
Isn't he a bit like you
And me?

UNIX Man, don't worry
It's the tube that's blurry
UNIX Man
The new kernel boots, just like you had planned

He's as wise as he can be
Programs in lex, yacc and C
UNIX Man, can you help me
At all?

UNIX Man, please listen
My printout is missin'
UNIX Man
The wo-o-o-orld is your 'at' command

===================END FORWARDED MESSAGE===================

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 22 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
COMIX IN ASCII
=================================================================

--- Following message extracted from NETMAIL @ 1:374/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Wed Sep 04 20:51:22 1996

From: Janet Sullivan @ 1:314/23
To: Editor @ 1:1/23
Date: 04 Sep 96 10:14:38
Subj: Fido Vs. The Net (FidoNews Comix Submission)

%|:. %|:. |
%|:. ,----%|:. ,------------, |
F I D O V S . T H E ' N E T %|:. | SQU%|:. | SQUASH 'UM | |
%|:. | %|:. | | |
%|:. | FO%|:. | FOOTWEAR | |
_ %|:. '----%|:. '------------' |
/ \ %|:. %|:. |
/ oo|\ %|:. %|:. |
(_\ |_) %/:. %/:. }
_ / _\@'_ :. :. }
// / | | ________-~________-~ }
(( / | (*) | /:. /:. /:. /:. }
\\/ \ |__U__| %|:. |:. %|:. |:. )
\ /_ ||\\_ {%|:. |:. {%|:. |:. }
\____)|_)\_) ( ( )
^~~~^~~~ ^~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 23 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
=================================================================

Back in my RC and NC days, I used to maintain and distribute message
files specifically aimed at new Sysops. These files were information
and queries so each side of the equation knew what was going on and
what was required. They were basic text files clipped from existing
policy and augmented as needed for local operations.

I have heard of others making similar files available to their new
folks.

The Question of the Week is:

Do you have FidoNet primer files to share with other Coordinators and
Sysops that would make joining FidoNet easier to understand and
accomplish? If so, where are they, where can we get them, what are
they called, and when are they available?

As always, send your answers as Netmail, email, .ARTs, or as Echomail
messages in the FIDONEWS Echo [available on the Zone 1 Backbone].

Thanks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 24 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
NOTICES
=================================================================

Future History

12 Oct 1996
General Elections, New Zealand.

29 Oct 1996
Republic Day, Turkey.

5 Nov 1996
Election day, U.S.A.

5 Nov 1996
Guy Fawkes Day, England.

1 Dec 1996
Twelfth Anniversary of FidoNews Volume 1, Issue 1.

12 Dec 1996
Constitution Day, Russia

26 Jan 1997
Australia Day, Australia.

6 Feb 1997
Waitangi Day, New Zealand.

16 Feb 1997
Eleventh Anniversary of invention of Echomail by Jeff Rush.

29 Feb 1997
Nothing will happen on this day.

11 Jun 1997
Independence Day, Russia

26 Jul 1997
FidoNews Editor turns 48.

6 Dec 1997
Gallileo takes close-ups of Europa to resolution
of 11 meters at the north pole.

1 Dec 1998
Fifteenth Anniversary of release of Fido version 1 by
Tom Jennings.

31 Dec 1999
Hogmanay, Scotland. The New Year that can't be missed.

15 Sep 2000
Sydney (Australia) Summer Olympiad opens.

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 25 9 Sep 1996

-- If YOU have something which you would like to see in this
Future History, please send a note to the FidoNews Editor.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 26 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================

Latest Greatest Software Versions
by Peter E. Popovich, 1:363/264

No excuses; I've fallen behind. There's a lot of info still pending
from last week that I haven't gotten clarified for this week.

I've done some reorganization; I think I'll be able to process info
faster in the future. The real hitch is that situations that happen
in real life don't conform to any predefined structure.

Phase-out reminder: All I'm looking for with phase-outs is -one-
node who still uses the package. Hopefully that node know at least
who the author is, so I can start back-tracking. I'd prefer not to
have to drop anything, but I do want to start limiting the list to
current info...

Phased out this week: Aurora 1.32b

Phase-out highlights:
This week: DreamBBS 1.05 Deadline for info: 19 Sep 1996.
Last week: DMG 2.93 Deadline for info: 12 Sep 1996.

-=- Snip -=-

Submission form for the Latest Greatest Software Versions column

OS Platform :
Software package name :
Version :
Function(s) - BBS, Mailer, Tosser, etc. :
Freeware / Shareware / Commercial? :
Author / Support staff contact name :
Author / Support staff contact node :
Magic name (at the above-listed node) :

Please include a sentence describing what the package does.

Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

-=- Snip -=-

MS-DOS:
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FidoBBS (tm) 12u B S Ray Brown 1:1/117 FILES
FrontDoor 2.12 M S Joaquim Homrighausen
2:201/330 FD
FrontDoor 2.20c M C Joaquim Homrighausen
2:201/330 FDINFO
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
Imail 1.75 T S Michael McCabe 1:297/11 IMAIL
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 27 9 Sep 1996

InfoMail 1.11 O F Damian Walker 2:2502/666 INFOMAIL
InterEcho 1.19 T C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IEDEMO
InterMail 2.29k M C Peter Stewart 1:369/35 IMDEMO
InterPCB 1.52 O S Peter Stewart 1:369/35 INTERPCB
IPNet 1.11 O S Michele Stewart 1:369/21 IPNET
Maximus 3.01 B P Gary Gilmore 1:1/119 MAX
McMail g5 M S Michael McCabe 1:1/148 MCMAIL
Opus CBCS 1.73a B P Christopher Baker 1:374/14 OPUS
PlatinumXpress 1.1 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PX11TD.ZIP
Silver Xpress
Door 5.4 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 FILES
Reader 4.3 O S Gary Petersen 1:290/111 SXR43.ZIP
SquishMail 1.11 T P Gary Gilmore 1:1/119 SQUISH

OS/2:
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GIGO 07-14-96 G S Jason Fesler 1:1/141 INFO
Maximus 3.01 B P Gary Gilmore 1:1/119 MAXP
SquishMail 1.11 T P Gary Gilmore 1:1/119 SQUISHP

Windows (32-bit apps):
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximus 3.01 B P Gary Gilmore 1:1/119 MAXN
PlatinumXpress 2.00 M C Gary Petersen 1:290/111 PXW-INFO

Unix:
Program Name Version F S Contact Name Node Magic Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ifmail 2.8e M G Eugene Crosser 2:293/2219 IFMAIL
ifmail-tx 2.8e-tx7.6 M G Pablo Saratxaga 2:293/2219 IFMAILTX

F: B-BBS, M-Mailer, N-Nodelist, G-Gateway, T-Tosser, C-Compression,
O-Other. Note: Multifunction will be listed by the first match.
S: P-Free for personal use, F-Freeware, S-Shareware, C-Commercial,
X-Crippleware, G-Source

Old info from: 01/27/92
---------------------------------------------------------------------

MS-DOS Systems
--------------

BBS Software NodeList Utilities Compression
Name Version Name Version Utilities
-------------------- -------------------- Name Version
DMG 2.93 EditNL 4.00 --------------------
DreamBBS 1.05 FDND 1.10 ARC 7.12
Genesis Deluxe 3.2 MakeNL 2.31 ARJ 2.20
GSBBS 3.02 Parselst 1.33 LHA 2.13
Kitten 1.01 Prune 1.40 PAK 2.51
Lynx 1.30 SysNL 3.14 PKPak 3.61
Merlin 1.39n XlatList 2.90 PKZip 1.10
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 28 9 Sep 1996

Oracomm 5.M.6P@ XlaxNode/Diff 2.53
Oracomm Plus 6.E@
PCBoard 14.5a
Phoenix 1.07* Other Utilities(A-M) Other Utilities(N-Z)
ProBoard 1.20* Name Version Name Version
QuickBBS 2.75 -------------------- --------------------
RBBS 17.3b 2DAPoint 1.50* Netsex 2.00b
RemoteAccess 1.11* 4Dog/4DMatrix 1.18 OFFLINE 1.35
SimplexBBS 1.05 ARCAsim 2.31 Oliver 1.0a
SLBBS 2.15C* ARCmail 3.00* OSIRIS CBIS 3.02
Socrates 1.11 Areafix 1.20 PKInsert 7.10
SuperBBS 1.12* ConfMail 4.00 PolyXarc 2.1a
SuperComm 0.99 Crossnet 1.5 QM 1.00a
TAG 2.5g DOMAIN 1.42 QSort 4.04
TBBS 2.1 DEMM 1.06 RAD Plus 2.11
TComm/TCommNet 3.4 DGMM 1.06 Raid 1.00
Telegard 2.7* DOMAIN 1.42 RBBSMail 18.0
TPBoard 6.1 EEngine 0.32 ScanToss 1.28
TriTel 2.0* EMM 2.11* ScMail 1.00
WildCat! 3.02* EZPoint 2.1 ScEdit 1.12
WWIV 4.20 FGroup 1.00 Sirius 1.0x
XBBS 1.77 FidoPCB 1.0s@ SLMail 2.15C
FNPGate 2.70 StarLink 1.01
GateWorks 3.06e TagMail 2.41
Network Mailers GMail 2.05 TCOMMail 2.2
Name Version GMD 3.10 Telemail 1.5*
-------------------- GMM 1.21 TGroup 1.13
BinkleyTerm 2.50 GoldEd 2.31p TIRES 3.11
D'Bridge 1.30 GROUP 2.23 TMail 1.21
Dreamer 1.06 GUS 1.40 TosScan 1.00
Dutchie 2.90c Harvey's Robot 4.10 UFGATE 1.03
Milqtoast 1.00 HeadEdit 1.18 VPurge 4.09e
PreNM 1.48 HLIST 1.09 WEdit 2.0@
SEAdog 4.60 ISIS 5.12@ WildMail 2.00
SEAmail 1.01 Lola 1.01d WMail 2.2
TIMS 1.0(mod8) Mosaic 1.00b WNode 2.1
MailBase 4.11a@ XRS 4.99
MSG 4.5* XST 2.3e
MSGED 2.06 YUPPIE! 2.00
MsgLnk 1.0c ZmailH 1.25
MsgMstr 2.03a ZSX 2.40
MsgNum 4.16d
MSGTOSS 1.3

OS/2 Systems
------------

BBS Software Other Utilities(A-M Other Utilities(N-Z)
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Kitten 1.01 ARC 7.12 oMMM 1.52
Maximus-CBCS 2.00 ARC2 6.01 Omail 3.1
SimplexBBS 1.04.02+ ConfMail 4.00 Parselst 1.33
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 29 9 Sep 1996

EchoStat 6.0 PKZip 1.02
EZPoint 2.1 PMSnoop 1.30
Network Mailers FGroup 1.00 PolyXOS2 2.1a
Name Version GROUP 2.23 QSort 2.1
-------------------- LH2 2.11 Raid 1.0
BinkleyTerm 2.50 MSG 4.2 Remapper 1.2
BinkleyTerm(S) 2.50 MsgEd 2.06c SquishMail 1.00
BinkleyTerm/2-MT MsgLink 1.0c Tick 2.0
1.40.02 MsgNum 4.16d VPurge 4.09e
SEAmail 1.01

Xenix/Unix 386
--------------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
ARC 5.21
C-LHARC 1.00
MsgEd 2.06
|Contact: Willy Paine 1:343/15,| MSGLINK 1.01
|or Eddy van Loo 2:285/406 | oMMM 1.42
Omail 1.00
ParseLst 1.32
Unzip 3.10
VPurge 4.08
Zoo 2.01

QNX
---

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
QTach2 1.09 QMM 0.50s Kermit 2.03
QCP 1.02
NodeList Utilities Archive Utilities QSave 3.6
Name Version Name Version QTTSysop 1.07.1
-------------------- -------------------- SeaLink 1.05
QNode 2.09 Arc 6.02 XModem 1.00
LH 1.00.2 YModem 1.01
Unzip 2.01 ZModem 0.02f
Zoo 2.01

Apple II
--------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
DDBBS + 8.0* Fruity Dog 2.0 deARC2e 2.1
GBBS Pro 2.1 ProSel 8.70*
ShrinkIt 3.30*
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 30 9 Sep 1996

|Contact: Dennis McClain-Furmanski 1:275/42| ShrinkIt GS 1.04

Apple CP/M
----------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Daisy 2j Daisy Mailer 0.38 Filer 2-D
MsgUtil 2.5
Nodecomp 0.37
PackUser 4
UNARC.Com 1.20

Macintosh
---------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
FBBS 0.91 Copernicus 1.0 ArcMac 1.3
Hermes 1.6.1 Tabby 2.2 AreaFix 1.6
Mansion 7.15 Compact Pro 1.30
Precision Sys. 0.95b EventMeister 1.0
Red Ryder Host 2.1 Export 3.21
Telefinder Host Import 3.2
2.12T10 LHARC 0.41
MacArd 0.04
Mantissa 3.21
Point System Mehitable 2.0
Software OriginatorII 2.0
Name Version PreStamp 3.2
-------------------- StuffIt Classic 1.6
Copernicus 1.00 SunDial 3.2
CounterPoint 1.09 TExport 1.92
MacWoof 1.1 TimeStamp 1.6
TImport 1.92
Tset 1.3
TSort 1.0
UNZIP 1.02c
Zenith 1.5
Zip Extract 0.10

Amiga
-----

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Software
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
4D-BBS 1.65 BinkleyTerm 1.00 Areafix 1.48
DLG Pro. 0.96b TrapDoor 1.80 AReceipt 1.5
Falcon CBCS 1.00 WelMat 0.44 ChameleonEdit 0.11
Starnet 1.0q@ ConfMail 1.12
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 31 9 Sep 1996

TransAmiga 1.07 ElectricHerald 1.66
XenoLink 1.0 Compression FFRS 1.0@
Utilities FileMgr 2.08
Name Version Fozzle 1.0@
NodeList Utilities -------------------- Login 0.18
Name Version AmigArc 0.23 MessageFilter 1.52
-------------------- booz 1.01 Message View 1.12
ParseLst 1.66 LHARC 1.30 oMMM 1.50
Skyparse 2.30 LhA 1.10 PolyXAmy 2.02
TrapList 1.40 LZ 1.92 RMB 1.30
PkAX 1.00 Roof 46.15
UnZip 4.1 RoboWriter 1.02
Zippy (Unzip) 1.25 Rsh 4.07a
Zoo 2.01 Tick 0.75
TrapToss 1.20
|Contact: Maximilian Hantsch 2:310/6| Yuck! 2.02

Atari ST/TT
-----------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
FIDOdoor/ST 2.5.1 BinkleyTerm 2.40n9 ApplyList 1.00@
FiFo 2.1v The Box 1.95* Burep 1.1
LED ST 1.00 ComScan 1.04
MSGED 1.99 ConfMail 4.10
QuickBBS/ST 1.06* NodeList Utilities Echoscan 1.10
Name Version FDrenum 2.5.2
-------------------- FastPack 1.20
Compression ParseList 1.30 Import 1.14
Utilities EchoFix 1.20 oMMM 1.40
Name Version sTICK/Hatch 5.50 Pack 1.00
-------------------- Trenum 0.10
ARC 6.02
LHARC 2.01i
PackConvert
STZip 1.1*
UnJARST 2.00
WhatArc 2.02

Archimedes
----------

BBS Software Network Mailers Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
ARCbbs 1.61 BinkleyTerm ARC 1.20
Odyssey 0.37 2.06f-wimp !AskFor 1.01
RiscBBS 0.9.85m BatchPacker 1.00
DeLZ 0.01
MailED 0.95
NetFile 1.00
ParseLst 1.30
Raul 1.01
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 32 9 Sep 1996

!Spark 2.16
!SparkMail 2.08
!SparkPlug 2.14
UnArj 2.21
UnZip 3.00
Zip 1.00

Tandy Color Computer 3 (OS-9 Level II)
--------------------------------------

BBS Software Compression Utility Other Utilities
Name Version Name Version Name Version
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
RiBBS 2.02+ Ar 1.3 Ascan 1.2
DeArc 5.12 AutoFRL 2.0
OS9Arc 1.0 Bundle 2.2
UnZip 3.10 CKARC 1.1
UnLZH 3.0 EchoCheck 1.01
FReq 2.5a
LookNode 2.00
ParseLST
PReq 2.2
RList 1.03
RTick 2.00
UnBundle 1.4
UnSeen 1.1

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Key to old info:
+ - Netmail Capable (Doesn't Require Additional Mailer Software)
* - Recently Updated Version
@ - New Addition
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Please send updates and suggestions to: Peter Popovich, 1:363/264

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 33 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
FIDONEWS PUBLIC-KEY
=================================================================

[this must be copied out to a file starting at column 1 or
it won't process under PGP as a valid public-key]

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.2
Comment: Clear-signing is Electronic Digital Authenticity!

-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

Pending a formal decision about including 'encrypted' material inside
FidoNews from the Zone Coordinator Council, the guts of the FidoNews
public-key have been removed from this listing.

File-request FNEWSKEY from 1:1/23 [1:374/14] or download it from the
Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 anytime except 0100-0130 ET and Zone
1 ZMH at 1200-9600+ HST/V32B.

This section will contain only this disclaimer and instructions until
a ZCC decision is forwarded to the Editor.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 34 9 Sep 1996

=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================

------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ----------------

Editor: Christopher Baker

Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell,
Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar,
Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell,
Donald Tees

"FidoNews Editor"
FidoNet 1:1/23
BBS 1-407-383-1372, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(ds)

more addresses:
Christopher Baker -- 1:374/14, [email protected]
[email protected]

(Postal Service mailing address)
FidoNews Editor
P.O. Box 471
Edgewater, FL 32132-0471
U.S.A.

voice: 1-407-264-2994 [1400-2100 ET only, please]
[1800-0100 UTC/GMT]

------------------------------------------------------

FidoNews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET
INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system. It is a compilation
of individual articles contributed by their authors or their
authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation
does not diminish the rights of the authors. OPINIONS EXPRESSED in
these articles ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS and not necessarily those of
FidoNews.

Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is
Copyright 1996 Christopher Baker. All rights reserved. Duplication
and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For
use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or
the Editor.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic
form may be obtained from the FidoNews Editor via manual download or
file-request, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet.
PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above postal
address. File-request FIDONEWS for the current Issue. File-request
FNEWS for the current month in one archive. Or file-request specific
back Issue filenames in distribution format [FNEWSDnn.LZH] for a
FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 35 9 Sep 1996

particular Issue. Monthly Volumes are available as FNWSmmmy.ZIP
where mmm = three letter month [JAN - DEC] and y = last digit of the
current year [6], i.e., FNWSMAY6.ZIP for all the Issues from May 96.

Annual volumes are available as FNEWSn.ZIP where n = the Volume number
1 - 12 for 1984 - 1995, respectively. Annual Volume archives range in
size from 48K to 1.2M.

INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via:

http://www.fidonet.org/fidonews.htm
ftp://ftp.fidonet.org/pub/fidonet/fidonews/

You can read the current FidoNews Issue in HTML format at:

http://www.geocities.com/athens/6894

STAR SOURCE for ALL Past Issues via FTP and file-request:

Available for FReq from 1:396/1 or by anonymous FTP from ftp.sstar.com
in the FIDONET\FNEWS directory:

FNEWSTOC.ZIP FidoNews, Table of Contents, all issues (1984 - 1995)
FNEWS1.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 1, all issues (1984)
FNEWS2.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 2, all issues (1985)
FNEWS3.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 3, all issues (1986)
FNEWS4.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 4, all issues (1987)
FNEWS5.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 5, all issues (1988)
FNEWS6.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 6, all issues (1989)
FNEWS7.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 7, all issues (1990)
FNEWS8.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 8, all issues (1991)
FNEWS9.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 9, all issues (1992)
FNEWSA.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 10, all issues (1993)
FNEWSB.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 11, all issues (1994)
FNEWSC.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 12, all issues (1995)
FNEWSD01.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 01 (January 1, 1996)
FNEWSD02.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 02 (January 8, 1996)
(etc)
FNEWSD34.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 34 (August 19, 1996)
FNEWSD35.ZIP FidoNews, Vol. 13, Nr. 35 (August 26, 1996)
(etc)

Each yearly archive also contains a listing of the Table-of-Contents
for that year's issues. The total set is currently about 11 Megs.

=*=*=*=

The current week's FidoNews and the FidoNews public-key are now also
available almost immediately after publication on the Editor's new
homepage on the World Wide Web at:

http://ddi.digital.net/~cbaker84/fidonews.html

FIDONEWS 13-37 Page 36 9 Sep 1996

There are also links there to jim barchuk's HTML FidoNews source and
to John Souvestre's FTP site for the archives. There is also an email
link for sending in an article as message text. Drop on over.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

A PGP generated public-key is available for the FidoNews Editor from
1:1/23 [1:374/14] by file-request for FNEWSKEY or by download from
Rights On! BBS at 1-407-383-1372 as FIDONEWS.ASC in File Area 18. It
is also posted twice a month into the PKEY_DROP Echo available on the
Zone 1 Echomail Backbone.

*=*=*=*=*

Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may
file-request GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message
to [email protected]. No message or text or subject is
necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated
response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch
should now mail to [email protected] rather than the
previously listed address.

*=*=*=*=*

SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file
ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews Editor, or file-requestable
from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". ALL Zone Coordinators also have
copies of ARTSPEC.DOC. Please read it.

"Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered
trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission.

"Disagreement is actually necessary,
or we'd all have to get in fights
or something to amuse ourselves
and create the requisite chaos."
-Tom Jennings

-30-

-----------------------------------------------------------------