fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:36 Page 1 Volume 2, Number 2 16 Jan 85 +----------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - FidoNews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +----------------------------------------------------------+ Editor: Tom Jennings Publisher: Fido #1 Chief Procrastinator: Tom Jennings ......................................... Disclaimer or dont-blame-me: The contents of the articles contained here are not my responsibility, nor do I necessarily agree with them; everything here is subject to debate. I publish EVERYTHING received. You can take this to mean anything you want, but hopefully as an invitation to comment, make suggestions, or write articles of your own. ......................................... HOT NEWS Sorry this issue is so late; I got back from Boston Monday night, was too overwhelmed Tuesday to do it, trying to catch up from the lost week. The Fido List is no longer included in the newsletter. It's just too big. This issue is very large, partly because this was a long week (Monday to Wednesday) so there were a lot of articles. (Note that one very lengthy article was not included this issue; it will be included next week.) Bumper stickers are complete; they look pretty good. The artwork is a bit crude (the same doggie, about 4 times larger than the one on the manual cover) but it's simple and to the point. I have 500 stickers; they cost me about $95.00, so here's the deal: $1.00 three stickers fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:42 Page 2 $5.00 twenty stickers Plus a SASE. (I'm soooo lazy ...) If I run out, it will take me another week or two to have more made; I'll inform you here if I do. My address is: Tom Jennings 2269 Market St. #118 San Francisco CA 94114 fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:43 Page 3 NEWS ARTICLE SUBMISSION The format of FidoNews is totally ad hoc; please make recomendations as to formats, sections needed, liked, or hated, columns you'd like to see, or see removed, anything at all. If you want to submit something regularly, we can start a column for you. You are ENCOURAGED to send things in for the newsletter. ANYTHING is fit for the newsletter, such as a description of your board, problems found, questions, jokes, fixes, horror stories about wrong FidoNet numbers, things for sale, etc etc etc. SUBMITTING AN ARTICLE An article should have your name, node number (if applicable), followed by the text. Text can be any ASCII derivative; WordStar, soft paragraphs, 8th bit set, etc are all OK. Articles can be uploaded at either Fido #1, #27 or #51, or by sending it by FidoNet. Make sure the file name is unique, especially if you send it by FidoNet, so you dont overwrite another article. ------------------------- From: Jon Tara on FIDO 92 Subject: Distribution of the newsletter & misc. comments 1) I think that the concept is *great*. Before Tom started the newsletter, I toyed with the idea, even sent out a couple of flocks of messages suggesting it. *Somebody* has to eventually *do* something, rather than just talk about it, and I aplaud Tom for doing it! 2) However, to be sucessful, the newsletter has to have wide, and automatic circulation. My thought was that the net is just too big for free distribution - thus I had envisioned it as a commercial newsletter, maybe .50/issue. I would still like to see a subscription service for those of us who would like regular delivery without having to call one of the major nodes manually and pick it up. I am willing to provide this service, at cost. (12-16 cents per minute.) All I ask is that *somebody* see to it that I get the newsletter FIDOmailed to me (preferably Tom). If you aren't in a major local net that already gets the newsletter, but would like to get it automatically, just send a $10 check to: Jon Tara fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:50 Page 4 1300 E. Lafayette #2808 Detroit, Michigan 48207 This should get you about 20 issues, if the size of the newsletter doesn't increase too much. (Users! Sponsor receipt of the newsletter for your node...) I will return your checks if I don't get enough to make it worth-while to have Tom mail the newsletter to me. (Like 4 or 5.) Of course, if somebody wants to mail it out free to everyone: never mind! I do think that the newsletter (and the offshoots it may spawn) will be an incentive for further FIDOnet development, low-cost links, etc. which will reduce the need for such "commercial" services. 3) Personally, I think that commercial ads that appear every week should be paid-for. The revenue would allow Tom to send the newsletter to more nodes. (It would be nice to see the newsletter automatically sent to all local nets over a certain size.) 4) I think that the paginated format is over-kill. How many people print these things out on paper? I'd rather see an ARPAnet or Usenet (article next week!) type format, where articles simply follow each other, seperated by dashes. ------------------------- Lane Fowler Sysop Fido of the South Fidonode 3 Atlanta Ga. 404-938-4808 semi restricted Fido of the South has been running for about 2 years of which I have been running it for about a year. During this past year I have seen a lot of versions of Fido come and go. In the past 9 months I have had a very secure board, and I would like to share to other Fido sysops what I do and how well it works. I have my system set for private message system /M but any one who calls can log on and take a limited look around. I have used the Questionaire no password 'qnopwd' option. Which will interrogate any user who can not be found or has entered an incorrect password. The questionaire follows: This questionaire is designed to allow us to screen our potential users to provide the most productive environment for all. fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:56 Page 5 Do you wish to fill out this questionaire ? (NOTE: YOU MUST FILL OUT THIS QUESTIONAIRE TO GAIN FULL ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM) +2 (1) Yes (2) No ! Question -1- What is your REAL NAME? (You must use your real name on Fido) / Question -2- What is your address ( Number, Street, City, State, ZIP ) You have 2 lines of text for this information. / / Question -3- What is your age? / Question -4- What is your phone number?(voice phone) / Question -5- When can you be reached? (enter one line of text) / Question -6- What would you like your password to be? ( Must be ONE word ) / Question -7- What TYPE of computer do you use?(Apple,Ibm,Trs-80...) (enter one line of text) / Question -8- DO you use your computer for business or pleasure? / Question -9- (The last one...) fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:16:59 Page 6 Where did you hear about this BBS? (1) A local IBM BBS. (2) A non-local BBS (not in Atlanta) (2) A local non-IBM BBS (4) A non-local non-IBM BBS (5) Somewhere else +5(1-5)? ?Where did you hear about us (enter 1 line of text)? Thank you for taking the questionaire! Access considerations generally within a week. If you need to tell the purpose of your bbs you can put it in NOPWD.BBS which can tell new people that you are only a C board or what ever. The only hard part is having to sit down and type in the new users using the sysop command, or you could always put this questionaire in the answer-Questionaire section on Fido and set the /P switch so that new users will have limited access until you read the answers to their questionaire and give them normal access. All first time callers and people waiting for access can also access Fido by a special name and password which is listed in the WELCOME1.BBS file just before the bbs prompts for First Name:. I use; First name FIDO Last Name GUEST Password FIDO Do Not put colons in the Welcome1.bbs file because some people who have auto log on will have problems. Fido Guest has twit level access and I have carefully set the 3 command to allow the Guest to look at messages but not be given a chance to enter a message even though they can't anyway. I also leave them a message to greet them to Fido. You may also do this with the /P switch and the internal questionaire by setting the privilege of most of the board to normal and one message base and a file area to Disgrace will allow them to look around. I Do Not allow Handles on my BBS at all. I feel if they can not use their real name then they don't need to be on my board. Now that you have their Name and address, What do you do with it? Well I have written several programs to collect this data and put into a small data base where if there are any problems I can quickly call the user up and solve them them. fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:06 Page 7 In the past few months Bulletin Boards here in Atlanta have been victims of full-scale war from BBS crashers. Fido 53, a close neighbor to Fido 3, Abandoned the Fido Software because of a BBS crasher who was using a handle and had access to the board and the sysop had no address for him. We have had only a few bad messages on Fido 3 at which time I was able to call the user that night and find that some one had gotten his password, which I changed quickly. If you are worried about bad messages on your BBS it is very simple to find your self a good BBS'er who would be glad to notify you about any wrong messages. Here at Fido of the South I have 4 other Sysops who help me oversee the message base and more importantly the file area. Since I have many files which I can not run in the IBM I need someone who can screen new files and supply the board with new files. This is my reason for so many Sysops. In Atlanta we have lots of Software manufacturers who would not appreciate it if I had Copyrighted software on my board so all uploaded files go into the NEWFILES directory. Then one of the sysop, depending on the computer, downloads it and sees what it is; then it is transferred to the right section if no copyright is being violated. There is one other thing that you can do with Fido's privilege options and that is start a Club level. On Fido of the South I have two clubs who have their own message base and file section. I have given the Club members privileged access and then set the higher systems of the board to allow only privileged users into their area. This works fine as long as you have someone watch to be sure that a privileged user does not overstay their welcome on the BBS, since Privileged users have double the access time. This is the method I use to protect my board and it works great. Please don't except Handles and lets be careful out their. If you are calling long distance you may access Fido of the South by entering; First Name:Sysop Last Name:Guest Password:Fido3 Please leave me a message when you log off. Lane Fowler Sysop Fido of the South Atlanta Ga. 404-938-4808 (C)opyright 1984 by Richard Levey "PLEASE...GET ME A MODEM FOR CHRISTMAS." This is the most common phrase I hear from children in the store around Christmas time. It seems that every child that has a computer wants or needs a modem, and often the parents go out and purchase a modem believing it to be "just another fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:14 Page 8 program for the computer." For those of you who don't know what a modem is, or more importantly, what a modem does, read on and discover the fascinating world of telecommunications that opens once you own a modem. To get the technical jargon out of the way, a modem is a modulator- demodulator, hence the term modem. Simply put, a modem translates signals from your computer and changes them into signals your phone line can accept, and takes signals from the phone line, and changes them back so your computer can accept them. Actually, it is nothing more than an interface between the computer and a phone line. Once you own a modem, and a suitable communications software package you may then start exploring the wide world of computer communications that becomes available to you. Some modems come packaged with software and some do not, this being a choice of the manufacturer. One of the nice features that become available are the thousands of COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS that exist around the country. These BBS's are usually called at no charge to you other than Ma Bell's standard telephone charges as in any local call. No matter where you live, there is a BBS close to you, that you can call. As I write this article, there are new BBS's opening around the country. A BBS is a service run by the owner of the computer, usually know as the SYSOP, which stands for system operator. The sysop is the owner, and for the most part, the final authority when it comes to questions or problems that occur on the system that he runs. Most BBS's have all or some of the following features. 1) Public Message base allowing all callers to exchange messages. 2) Private Electronic Mail (EMAIL) for private messages. 3) Downloading and Uploading of PUBLIC DOMAIN software. 4) On-Line interactive programs for the caller to use. 5) Private conferences on varying subjects. 6) Telex and Ecom services for business use. Again, the features provided by each system differ as to the locality and the desire of the sysop to provide extra services. As a new caller to a BBS, you will probably be allowed to read the messages, leave messages, and view the available download files. After you register with the sysop you will usually receive more services on your next call. Some sysops require registration before you can even enter their system's. This usually comes about due to pranksters who have annoyed the sysop into running a closed BBS. I would like to remind all callers to any BBS, that access to a BBS is a privilege, granted by the sysop. A similar analogy might be that of a visitor coming into the sysop's home. If you behave, you are welcome to return. Behave poorly and you might not be allowed back in. Even the commercial services, like Compuserve have standard system rules for all callers to observe, so please accept fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:23 Page 9 the rules, or do not call. All bulletin boards that accept software for uploading and downloading request that you upload ONLY public domain software, or software that you personally hold the copyright on. This is for your protection as well as the sysop's protection. BBS's have been closed down due to the distribution of copyrighted software, so please abide by this. If you have a problem with the BBS, or don't understand a feature, leave a note or comment for the sysop. He will gladly explain the features involved, and correct the problem if need be. As the sysop of a popular bbs, I appreciate a caller telling me about a system error, and usually reward the caller with a higher access level, for taking the time to leave me a note. The first thing you must do to communicate with another computer is connect the modem to your computer. I would STRONGLY suggest you study the manuals for both the modem and the computer before you attempt this. The next step would be to load and run your communications software commonly known as terminal software. Below you find a table with the most commonly used settings for most types of Bulletin Boards. SPEED PARITY LENGTH STOP BITS ======================================= 300 EVEN SEVEN ONE 1200 NONE EIGHT ONE Almost every terminal package comes pre configured to one of these settings, so you should now be set and ready to. Now dial up the local BBS number or call my BBS at 914-352-6801 and lets get you onto a BBS. If you are using a manual connect modem, listen for a high pitched tone in the phone and then switch the modem from phone to data. If you have an automatic modem, this will be done for you. NOW SLOWLY HIT AT LEAST THREE CARRIAGE RETURNS. Most people do not do this and end up with problems. This procedure allows the BBS to recognize your transmission speed and type of data being sent so it can match it for reliable communications. At this point you should get some type of welcome message on the screen, or in some cases just a request for you to enter your ID, PASSWORD, or ACCOUNT NUMBER. Read the message and see what it says for a NEW CALLER to do. In most cases it says type NEW or NONE. You will now be asked for your first and last name and in most cases, the city and state you live in. On my BBS you will also be asked for a phone number, so you can be verified and your access level raised. It is in your best interests to supply COMPLETE, ACCURATE, and VERIFIABLE information to the sysop. Private information is held in confidence by most sysops, so I would not be worried about leaving this type of information as the sysop needs it for verification purposes. Now, if all is well, you should start seeing more of the BBS. Usually the menu will appear with all the fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:32 Page 10 commands, that make the system run. At this point I would recommend you go ahead and explore the system. There is little you can do to hurt a BBS, so go ahead and try all the different functions to see what does what. A note here about the CPC RRBS system. If you attempt to access a function that you are not authorized for, you will get a message similar to, "Sorry..your name..Authorization needed from the sysop." With the RBBS system each one of these attempts is logged, and the system will disconnect you, and lock you out if you go over a number know only to the sysop. I ask my steady callers to let me know if they cannot access something they have in the past, instead of making many tries and getting logged of the system. Some times it is just a file error, or an oversight by the sysop, and I correct these as soon as they are brought to my attention. At some point in time, you might want to speak to the sysop. Most systems have some type of CHAT feature which allows interactive conversation between the caller and the sysop, so again read the menu and examine all the options available. If you like the BBS then you might want to leave a COMMENT or FEEDBACK to the sysop telling him so. It helps when the sysop is there at 3 in the morning working on a bug in the system to know that the callers appreciate his work and effort. When it comes to uploading and downloading many systems differ in the features used, so we will cover only the two most commonly used methods. Uploading is when you transfer a file to the host computer. The host computer is in this case the computer that you called. Downloading is when the host transfers a file to your computer. The most common transfer method is know as XMODEM or MODEM 7. This is a method developed several years ago by Mr. Ward Christiansen a pioneer in the field of telecommunications. Xmodem came about as a need developed to be able to transfer files between DIFFERENT types of computers without having a programmer convert the program for each machine. Of course you still cannot run a commodore program on an apple, but Xmodem allows you to transfer files between them with no problem at all. Xmodem sends files in small segments and then checks to see that the segment sent was the exact image of the segment received. If it is not the same it sends the same segment again until it gets a valid transfer. This continues until the file is sent correctly. The error rate for an Xmodem transfer is less than 1/10 of one percent ! Of course there is a small price to pay for this accuracy. Due to the nature of the transfer at 1200 baud, you still only realize at the highest a baud rate of 600, but most people feel it is worth it. Xmodem is usually chosen when the file is a machine language file or some other type of file that cannot be easily edited by the caller. The second type of transfer is know as an ASCII transfer. This is used when the file is a text file with no control characters or other system characters in it. ASCII transfers are much faster, but are subject to errors in the fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:42 Page 11 reception due to noise, surges, etc; in the phone lines. With an ASCII transfer, you must manually open your buffer and then close it again at the end of the transfer. Once your level has been raised to allow file transfers, I would suggest you read any and all help files in that area BEFORE you attempt to do your first transfer. Again, I would like to remind you that the fastest way to get thrown off a BBS is to upload commercial or copyrighted software. There are thousands of public domain and user supported programs out there, some of which are easier to use than commercial software and many are more powerful in their features than commercial software. I would say 50% of the over 400 Sanyo programs we have on our BBS are public domain programs, which I have collected and put here for your use. Remember to log off any system you call properly, as indicated in the menu. This allows two things to occur. The first is very important if you are a new caller, as when you log off your information is saved in the users file for future reference. The second thing that occurs is that the BBS resets itself to get ready for the next caller. NEVER end a session by just shutting down the modem UNLESS the BBS asks you to disconnect that way. One other item you should be aware of is system maintenance. A BBS takes many hours of work to maintain, and there will be times when you call expecting the modem to answer you, and you get a voice answer. This usually means that the system is being worked on, and will return to service soon. If you get a voice answer, you might want to speak to the person answering the phone. In most cases it is the sysop, and he can tell you what is going on, and when he expects the BBS to return to service. Also you might want to ask him questions, and since you have him on the phone, go ahead..ask away. Once you are comfortable with the local services, then you can start to check into the larger commercial services, such as Compuserve, The Source, Delphi, and many of the other services available. Some modems come with free connect time for either Compuserve or The Source and this time can be used to explore the various services available to you on each of the services. You should examine the rate structure on a commercial system, and understand fully the charges involved, which range from $6 per hour in the evening to $12.50 per hour during prime time. If you decide to subscribe to a commercial system guard your password and change it on a regular basis, to prevent use by un- authorized people, for which you might be responsible. Compuserve uses several different protocols for transferring files on their system. Xmodem has now been implemented as is available in all areas of the system. Compuserve also supports their own protocol's know as Protocol A and Protocol B. In order to use these you must purchase a copy of Vidtex software for your computer. Although similar in nature to Xmodem, Vidtex also has other features. The most often used feature is one that is invisible to the user. When you run Vidtex it sets aside a certain portion of memory as a 'send-a- a-head buffer' which fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:17:52 Page 12 the Vidtex host computer, in this case Compuserve will fill with as many menu's as possible. This allows you to select menu items without the host constantly resending the menus to you, allowing the system to operate faster. Another nice feature of Vidtex is the color and graphics displays that can be produced ONLY if both the host and the caller are running Vidtex compatible software. As an example of this in the weather menu on Compuserve there is a selection for Vidtex weather maps. When you access this area, you receive a graphic map displayed on your screen. Several of the games also use this feature, and can be viewed by going to the games menu. A local BBS called Mnematics also runs Vidtex, and can be reached at 914-365- 0183, 24 hours a day at both 300 and 1200 baud. Mnematics offers many services to both their home and professional user alike, and is well worth a call. Some of the many other features on Compuserve are Email, Telex and Ecom messages, Special Interest Groups (SIGS), and personal programming areas that allow you the use of many languages such as Cobol, Fortran, Basic, and many others. A special note on SIGs. A SIG is a group of people with a common interest, such as the IBM PC SIG. While the SIG is neither sponsored or run by IBM, there are an incredible amount of PC/XT and AT users involved in this area. In my opinion, more technical knowledge can be gained from this SIG, than from any other source of IBM information. A special feature is the ability to follow a message 'thread', which is simply a reply to a reply to a reply to a message, thus allowing you to read the original message and all the replies, comments, etc; that the message generated. It is in this manner which I picked up more information in the use of 1-2-3 than from the manuals which were good to begin with. The sysops on the IBM SIG are the finest on Compuserve, and are very experienced in the use of IBM equipment and programming. Any time you have a question, they provide accurate, reliable answers, quickly! The SIGs also contain databases knows as ' XAs'. An XA contains public domain software, or commercial software that the authors have given explicit permission to be merged into the database, thus supplying a caller with over 1000 programs to choose from. Their are SIGs for most common types of computers and most SIGs contain programs for those types of computers. To get to the IBM SIG type GO PCS-131 at any system prompt.Conferencing on the SIGs is also another good way for all callers to share their ideas, with CO's being scheduled on a regular basis. Check the bulletin area of your favorite SIG for the time schedules. Since I started this article, I understand that a second IBM sig has been added at PCS-129. The second SIG is for people just getting started into computing, and has different software in it's databases. Best of all 90% of the SIGs on Compuserve charge nothing to join or download software. One other fascinating feature of Compuserve is the CB simulator, which allows callers to communicate in 'real fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:01 Page 13 time' with each other. Real time means that what you type is seen by all other people on the channel with little or now delay. This allows callers from all across the country to get together, just like they were on a real CB radio. With two bands to choose from and at least 36 channels on each band there is more than enough room for everyone. All of the commercial services offer many different services and you are the only one who can decide which is right for you. If you have children who might be using the modem, sit down and explain to them about the telephone charges and on line charges and monitor them while they use the modem. An item that must be discussed here is accessing databases that normally do not allow the public access, such as TRQ credit, Los Alamos lab's and many others. The government is taking a serious attitude about these types of illegal entries, and the MINIMUM fine is usually confiscation of equipment. Now, you might be able to afford to hand over better than $1000 to the government, but I can't. So, I feel the second rule in purchasing a modem would be to understand exactly what a modem is, and provide ADEQUATE adult supervision when it is in use. A fine example of a multi purpose BBS is the system we run known as the ELECTRONIC STORE. After trying many programs we have settled on the NOCHANGE BBS program written by Jim Kloss. We had a need to try and accommodate many varied interests so we could get the maximum amount of callers possible. I feel we offer more features than any other BBS running on a micro/mini system. For the serious programmers we offer over 1000 programs to chose from when downloading. For the not so serious caller we offer over 15 interactive games, some of which rival Vidtex for color graphics capability. Due to the unique modular design of the BBS software, we add modules on a weekly basis. Any basic program can be converted very simply to run over the system thus allowing callers to have many various utilities at their disposal and still not have to buy a bigger computer. Right now we have several applications programs on line and plan on adding more as we go along. With this type of design the number of available programs for a caller to access in limited only by disk space, not memory available. We offer all callers the chance to take a booth in our FLEA MARKET area, thus allowing them to advertise merchandise for sale in an orderly fashion, with all callers getting a fair share of the available market space. In our BBS watch area, the caller has a listing of over 5000 bbs numbers to choose from, and can produce a customized report selecting various criteria such as state,type of computer, baud rate, area code and many other criteria. A caller can also rate any system that is listed and enter comments about the particular system he is familiar with. All in all we offer a wide range of services for all callers. Lately, we have been running an average of 80 to 100 callers per night, with most callers running one of the many available programs. As time goes by we hope to fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:13 Page 14 add multi user capability thus allowing multiple callers on line at the same time to double the capacity of the system. Some of the more popular BBS's are now running under an operating system that allows multiple users into the system at one time. A fine example of this is the Central Core Information Service, which can be reached at 914-221-0774, 24 hours a day. The sysop, John Giberson, is a tolerant individual, who works with the callers to make the most out of his system. C.C.I.S. now supports three callers at one time, and who knows, it might be four before very long. System Description - Fido 64, The Graf Spee Jay Maynard, SysOp The Graf Spee is a system I set up on my Compaq Plus computer to allow folks I know, and folks I don't know who ask me nicely, to get access to my collection of public domain utilities and interesting information. I originally got it when I needed to set up a method for a friend who lives 45 miles away (no, Houstonians don't drive 45 miles regularly to swap disks!) to send me files for programming projects I was helping him with. I originally got RBBS-PC for the purpose, but I had to spend a fair amount of time just getting the darn thing to work...it kept telling me I had a 'fixed disk error 1701', when everything else worked fine. I fiddled around with that for a while, and then Paul Wells introduced Fido to the Houston area on El Dorado (Fido 48). I was hooked...although the user interface was different, it was much easier to use after a period of readjustment, and the type-ahead buffer was sheer heaven! I got it from him and it ran first time on the Compaq. I have since used it as an intelligent unattended file download host, and put it up nightly for FidoNet. It now occupies the second major block on my hard disk, right behind my utilities subdirectory. Hardware Configuration: I am running it on a Compaq Plus portable (like a 25 inch color TV) computer, with 640k of main memory, one floppy, and the standard 10Mb hard disk. In addition to the standard complement, my Plus has an AST SixPak Plus board, loaded, and a Hayes Smartmodem 1200B. (By the way, I would not recommend this configuration to Compaq fans out there...I have eaten one power supply already!) I also have a miscellaneous collection of other stuff, including an S-100 bus Z-80 computer on which I run my real BBS, The Packet Board (713-530-8596), two printers, three other machines, and a partridge in a pear tree. Software Configuration: My Compaq came with MS-DOS version 2.02, and I also have a real hodge-podge of other stuff resident in the machine from my normal AUTOEXEC.BAT, including a 159 byte keyboard buffer (v-e-r-y nice), DPATH.COM (extends PATH support to data files, sort of), Seaware's Extended Batch Language version 2.01b, and Sidekick. So far, my system has worked flawlessly... Fido Configuration: I set up two message areas and two file areas, largely because I was playing around. Message area 1 is a general area, where all of the normal messages go, and message area 2 is the FidoNet fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:23 Page 15 area. It is restricted to SYSOP level users only, as there are other Fidos in the area and I don't want to soak up long distance bills. File area 1 is a general file area, and file area 2 is the FidoNet files area...separated for the same reason. I have the /M switch set in my RUNBBS.BAT file, and set the other parameters pretty well the way the distributed file does (although I do have the limits turned up). I decided not to have a new-user questionnaire (QNOPWD.BBS), because I'm not going to validate anyone I don't know...so the option to leave a comment is sufficient. Installation Notes: Setting up Fido for this application was ridiculously simple...I simply ran SETUP.BAT, and then played around with the subdirectories (mainly deleting them). From startup to running system was about 2 hours, and that includes a lot of manual- flipping. I think that Fido is probably the neatest BBS running...and I've seen quite a few. The user interface could use some work, and the RBBS-PC bigots in town complain about the lack of graphics ability, but all in all, it's the best one I've met. If you have any questions, please send them via FidoNet...my system is up nightly for that very purpose, and that's probably the most reliable way to get me a message. Any other time, either the phone'll ring and ring or you'll get to hear my melodious voice (snicker!). Now that I've broken the ice, how about the rest of you? I'm dying to see how everyone else is doing it. I would like to make the following recommendations: 1) Allow a line of text in QNOPWD.BBS to be longer than 80 characters. At least extend it to 132. I'd like to do some fancy screen displays with my Rainbow but am limited by that constraint. Most escape sequences take an extra 6-8 characters each. (I know that limits my user base to only RB users, but thats fine with me). [ If I ever get around to it ... a valid suggestion. ] 2) If you have FIDO's for different machines (FIDO_DEC, FIDO_IBM, etc.) why not incorporate more of the machine dependent controls in them (e.e., use the key for help instead of "?" and use the function keys to make File Area or Msg Area selection. [ ... because its hardware independent. In order to do that, Id need a "universally" defined way to specify non-ASCII keys; I dont. Also, since many of these keys generate odd code sequences (DEC: escape codes; IBM; null followed by an 8 bit byte) they often get filtered out by comm. programs. ] 3) I'd like to see the menu options displayed 'frozen' in the top or bottom 1 or 2 rows of the screen, highlighted or whatever. Watching a scrolling display is poring $ fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:31 Page 16 primative. I'd like to see Fido use more of the display capabilities of the Rainbow. [ Again, hardware dependent, and most comm. programs do not supprot it. It has to be done in the users comm. program; Fido cannot do anything. Note that a Minitel and Fido combination will be able to do this sometime this summer. You can do it now on DECs by putting the scrolling region stuff into the help files. ] 4) How come the word privilege is misspelled throughout the program and documentation? [ Cause I dont own a dictionary ] 5) What did you do to the S/W between v10a & v10a1/2. I use to be able to direct output to my printer out of RUNBBS.BAT (ctty prn). Now I can't. [ Thats should not happen ... will look at it. ] 6) How do I input additions to the Oper. Manual. I have a Racal Vadic 3451P modem. It took some strap cuttings on one of the boards to get it to work right. It also bugs me to see RV212 come up when I start Fido_dec. How about a param for the 3451? [ In order to support any hardware, I need access to the hardware for testing. I also need manuals. I cannot code for something I didnt even knew existed. ] 7) It would also be nice to know if any msgs have been left for you when you first log on instead of having to go into each msg area & look. Couldn't that kind of status be kept in USER.BBS where you verify the login. At least a 'MESSAGE(S) WAITING' prompt after log on would let you know to look or not. Ideally, would be to see the msg areas & # of msgs waiting in each area. [ I coded that into a test version; for 8 message areas, it took over 5 minutes ... quickly removed it. There will be some changes in that dept. soon ... ] Like I said above, I love the Fido program. I've been hooked on it since I got a copy at DECUS in Anaheim. I'd be happy to enhance it to use more of the RB functions. I'm sure you don't want anyone mucking around with your S/W, but maybe you could send me the subroutines that do the displays and I could send submit them to you for your acceptance. I've been in the computer field since '66 and have an extensive background in the industry. I work for a Navy research lab in DS & teach part time at UCSD. I also am chairman of the Rainbow LUG in San Diego. [ Fido uses a very large set of hardware independent libraries; it is a major project to add things like function keys. The main problem functionally is that I have no control over comm programs, and most computers dont have a consistent way of addressing the cursor remotely, if they have one at all. One absolute design rule I use is that Fido must be compatible with EVERYONE; about the only machines it is hard to work with are ones with less than 10 lines and 20 fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:40 Page 17 columns. Until things are more consistent, changes in screen handling will be made very slowly. The future Minitel/Telink/Fido screen support is going to be complex internally, and only possible because I have control at both ends. ] I RUN THE FOLLOWING BATCH FILE EVERY MORNING WHEN I COME IN AND IT MAKES LIFE MUCH SIMPLER FOR ME AS A FIDO SYSOP. I CALL THIS FILE SYSOP.BAT COPY SYSOP.LOG LPT1 ERASE SYSOP.LOG COPY MAILER.LOG LPT1 ERASE MAILER.LOG COPY ASNWERS.BBS LPT1 ERASE ANSWERS.BBS FIDOUSER.EXE THIS TAKES CARE OF NINETY NINE PERCENT OF THE WORK As a young puppy (new Fido Sysop) I have just started to enter the fascinating world of FIDO. In case you do not know, FIDO is the world's first BBS network. BBS network, you ask ? Yes, FIDO is a complete BBS program complete with the normal Electronic user to user mail, multiple bulletin boards, file transfers, and FIDO NET Mail. Fido is the brain child of Mr. Tom Jennings of San Francisco, California. Tom did the original programming, and still produces all the updates as needed to keep FIDO error free and running properly. FIDO is written in the C language, and as such is about as fast as I have ever seen a BBS run. FIDO requires 256k of memory, MSDOS 2.0 or higher and at least 2 floppies to run on. It is recommended that you use a hard disk whenever possible. At this point in time FIDO is available for the IBM PC, XT, AT, and PC Junior, as well as the Dec Rainbow 100, 100+, 100B, and the Otrona Attache 8:16. A Sanyo version is almost ready for release and by press time should be ready for distribution. Let us now explore FIDO one section at a time, and see what makes this program the ULTIMATE in BBS software. The message area can consist of up to 99 separate boards with each board devoted to a different subject matter. Each area can have it's own access level thus allowing any caller any combination of boards that you the Sysop desire that caller to be able to access. When you set up the board initially you have 2 message areas that callers can enter, read and write to, and a special area devoted to replies from the Sysop to feedback messages left by your callers. In the message area are the usual commands as well as two special ones the merit attention. The first is the REPLY command. This is used when a caller wishes to reply to a message left by someone else. It sets up a message thread fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:47 Page 18 that is managed by the program. If a message in the thread, or at the beginning or end of the thread is deleted the thread remains intact and can still be accessed. The second command is the READ REPLY command which allows the caller to read the entire thread from beginning to end. These two commands come in very handy, especially when the messages are about a newly released hardware or software item, and the users comments pertaining to the use, and or problems with such products. This is the least used command, and it is really a shame to let that much power goto waste. The second area is the file transfer area. Here the Sysop can set up to 99 separate areas for the transfer of software, text and documentation files, or whatever his users need to have access to. As before each area can have different security levels, thus allowing many possible combinations for each caller. At last count there were 9 different transfer protocols built into the program thus allowing a multitude of different computers to upload and download software. The Sysop has many choices in this area in setting the security levels thus preventing un-authorized access and use of software. If a caller does not have a high enough level, he just never sees a particular area, and thus will not even know of it's existence. This feature I make use of while I am out on the road visiting a client. I can call in and access any or all of my own software, WITH no other caller even know where it is, or how to get to it. The people who wrote the security portions of this BBS certainly deserve a lot of credit for their insight into potential problems that might occur. The caller can change many of his attributes at any time thus allowing him to customize the program to benefit him the most. This is the CHANGE area on the main menu. FIDONET or FIDO Mail is actually a program inside a program. This is perhaps the most powerful aspect of the entire system. FIDONET allows a caller the capability to send messages to any of the other FIDO BBSs in the world, just by calling into his local FIDO system. The first INTERCONTINENTAL FIDO message was recently sent from FIDO number 117 in Jakarta, Indonesia to FIDO number 51 in St. Louis. FIDO boards operate at this time in the United States, England, Sweden, and of course Indonesia, with one to open in Israel in the near future. FIDONET collects the messages left on the BBS in the FIDONET area, and groups them into packets for transmission to each FIDO there is a message waiting to be transmitted to. Then during the National Mail Slot, each FIDO initiates calls to the other FIDO systems it has messages for and transmits them. Expensive you might wonder ? The answer has fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:18:55 Page 19 to be a definite NO !! Each FIDO has it's own node number which makes it unique in the network. In our case all of our incoming mail is routed thru our host in New York City. This allows the individual FIDO systems to group together in one packet many messages for all the systems served by my host and make ONE transmission thus cutting down the number of calls each system makes. When the message packet is received it is decoded and new packets are then assembled for each of the systems the host serves. Then in the second local time slot all of these message packets are then sent on to their destinations. The routing system also helps to keep costs very low. Many times your callers enter 35 messages to let's say a total of 12 different FIDO systems. However of these 35 messages perhaps 25 of them are routed thru 6 host systems. This cuts the number of calls your system makes that night from 35 down to 12 calls in all. As you can see this makes for a definite savings. The network is totally synchronized so that all of these transfers can take place with no Sysop intervention. It is automatic and totally transparent to the average user of your system. Tom and all the other programmers have got this working so well now that the average cost to send a message and/or program of 7000 characters is a mere 25 cents. Where else can can you get overnight service for that low of a price. The Sysop program allows you to set up each user with an account and this account is charged each time a message is successfully sent. Some Sysops only allow people to send FIDONET mail when they have first made a deposit to cover the costs, and others give callers FIDONET credit when they upload software, thus allowing the user to make full use of FIDONET and the system to grow with each upload. The support given behind this software is perhaps the best in the industry. As each new Sysop comes online, he finds an experienced Sysop to help him with the initial setup of his system. Of course a new new Sysop can also send FIDONET mail to Tom at FIDO number 1, and get help in that fashion. The documentation is perhaps the only sore point of the entire system. Copious as it is, the doc's leave a little to be desired by the average first time Sysop. As each new system gets ready to run, the Sysop must send a FIDONET message to FIDO 51 requesting a node assignment. This serves a dual purpose of making sure FIDONET is working on his system, and allowing each new system to be properly placed in the Node list and the route list which are updated with additions, deletions, and changes EVERY Friday night which keeps the lists as current and as up like no other BBS list. fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:19:04 Page 20 In fact if a master update was needed a Sysop could send a message to every node, and as each was received the message would be deleted. At the end of a week or so, as all the messages are delivered or not delivered (allowing for hardware problems, etc;) one could get a complete ACCURATE list of all the nodes not taking messages at that time. Sounds good you say. Where do I purchase this system from ? Well that's the best part of FIDO. If you are a die hard, it must be in a book type of person, then you may purchase the program, complete with printed manuals and binder from the author. Tom's address is as follows. Fido Software 2269 Market Street # 118 San Francisco, California 94114 If you are willing to experience the joy of doing it yourself then FIDO may be obtained at NO CHARGE simply by downloading it from almost any of the FIDO systems. Most systems that have the software for downloading have a file called GETFIDO. Read this file first to see exactly what files you need to download for your computer system. Make sure you get the get the Documentation file and the Sysop program for your type of computer. I can't speak for any other Sysop but if you need help in setting up, please feel free to call voice from 9 am to 5 pm at (914) 352-6801 or if you desire to see FIDO in action call the above number from 6 pm to 9 am. We accept 300 and 1200 baud and use the normal parameters for the speed you select. All in all, this is perhaps the best BBS system around, and I have run several other systems. I am one of the many Sysops who changed over from RBBS to FIDO. This system will also run under Multi-Link thus allowing multiple users to access the system. Richard Levey-Sysop Electronic Store-(914)352-6801 NOTICES FOR SALE ----The Pacesetter Company---- 11118 Cripplegate Road Potomac, Md. 20854 " 7% over Wholesale " You got it ! The Pacesetter sells computer software and hardware at 7 % over wholesale. No club memberships, no come fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:19:11 Page 21 ons, just good, low prices. All the time including such popular items as Hayes modems, Alloy Hard Disks, and AST 6-Paks. Come on -- call us -- (301) 299 - 3228 (Our BBS) Thanks again... Brian Driscoll From Enrique Mora on Fido 314 Creative Computer Consulting 4900 Ledgestone Dr. Fort Worth Texas 76132 Special offer to all FIDO sysops -------------------------------- All FIDO sysops will receive discounts of cost plus ten percent (plus s/h) on all orders over $100.00. CCC is a dealer of hardware, software, accessories and books for a number of micro computers, including: IBM PC and Compatibles DEC Xerox Apple Commodore Atari Victor cp/m 5 1/4" and 8" If you are thinking of purchasing some computer related equipment call or send a message via FIDONET to FIDO#314. We will be glad to give you a quote. Creative Computer Consulting - Sponsoring FIDO#314 voice (817)346-2653 data (817)294-7383 I HAVE 2 NEW 20 MEG HARD DRIVES WHICH ARE EXTERNAL WITH CASE AND POWER SUPPLY, CABLES AND CONTROLLER CARDS. COVERED BY ONE YEAR WARRANTY. DRIVES MADE BY CMI. CONTROLLER-DTC CARD. EACH UNTIL IS SELLING FOR $1375.00 ALL ARE BRAND NEW IN THE BOX WITH FULL DOC'S CONTACT RICHARD LEVEY VIA FIDO 79. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING FOR SALE AT THIS TIME. 1 D.S.D.D. DRIVE BRAND NEW NEVER USED 2 S.S.D.D. DRIVES BRAND NEW NEVER USED ALL COVERED BY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. PACKAGE PRICE IS $200 (AMERICAN) CONTACT ME VIA NODE 79 UNTIL I GET MY NODE NUMBER.....RICHARD LEVEY WANTED WANTED TO BUY: One used Gavilan computer. fidonews -- 16 Jan 85 23:19:15 Page 22 Send details (accessories, condition and price) to: Andy Meyer, FidoNet, Fido #317 - or contact Sysop of SMC-70 Citadel: (201) 930-6483 [24 hours, 300 baud]