Just for reference: Tests of FidoNet mail connect time vs. compression method, using the file "FIDO646.NWS" (FidoNet Newsletter) as a test file. Included are the actual file transfer times. Times are from modem carrier detect to carrier loss, plus five second post-connect delay, using Fido/FidoNet version 12r-bis, at 2400 baud, on a generic 8MHz XT. A file-attach message was used to transfer the file. Compression size, bytes total connect time (NONE) 28 012 2:20 pkarc -oct u foo 11 640 1:13 lharc u foo 9 431 1:03 For reference, the connection overhead; the same file-attach message as about but without any files. (This is protocol end to end: connect, welcome message, transfer, pickup attempt, etc.) No file 0 0:20 The file compressed 19% smaller, but performance only improved only about 14%, due to the fixed 0:20 overhead. Obviously this would approach 19% if the file were much larger. (If you calculate it as (1:03 - 0:20) / (1:13 - 0:20) then it comes out to 19%)