FidoNews · Vol 25, No 43 · 27 Oct 2008
The F I D O N E W S Volume 25, Number 43 27 Oct 2008
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| |The newsletter of the | | |
| | FidoNet community. | | Netmail attach to (POTS): |
| | | | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-960447) |
| | ____________| | |
| | / __ | Netmail attach to (BinkP): |
| | / / \ | Editor @ 2:203/0 |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | |
| \_______\(_| /_) | Email attach to: |
| _ @/_ \ _ | bfelten @ telia dot com |
| | | \ \\ | |
| | (*) | \ ))| |
| |__U__| / \// | Editor: Björn Felten |
| ______ _//|| _\ / | |
| / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
Table of Contents
1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1
2. GENERAL ARTICLES ......................................... 2
"Rumors of my demise ... " Part II ....................... 2
3. ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................ 4
FidoNet Software References .............................. 4
4. SPECIAL INTEREST ......................................... 9
Nodelist Stats ........................................... 9
5. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 11
How to Submit an Article ................................. 11
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 13
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 1 27 Oct 2008
=================================================================
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
=================================================================
Freedom is when the people can speak, democracy is when the government
listens.
-- Alastair Farrugia
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FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 2 27 Oct 2008
=================================================================
GENERAL ARTICLES
=================================================================
"Rumors of my demise ... " Part II
By Richard Webb, 1:116/901
Recently I wrote an article for the fidonews on this topic. I was also
glad to see a bit of discussion of that article in the fidonews echo,
which I don't normally carry here.
Whether or not the ideas put forth in that article might actually
work, I saw that as just a starter if you will. My objective was to
get folks to do some thinking about what fidonet is, and why it is
what it is. By looking at our past and what we continue to do well we
can then better consider a future for fidonet which offers continued
viability as a network.
One of the great things about fidonet has always been the ability to
connect and participate using a variety of computer hardware and
software platforms. Connections can be established by pots or a
variety of internet methods.
Losing even one of these methods would cause us to lose that
versatility I spoke of earlier. The ability to communicate in plain
text across a variety of computer platforms has been the forte of
fidonet now for a quarter of a century, or close to it. what works for
establishing your connection to fidonet may not work for another.
Last week a major mail mover here in zone 1 encountered some serious
difficulty with internet connections. As my system has regular links
with that system I was able to make an offer to step into the
connectivity void and provide connections to echomail and routed
netmail. By commenting out a couple of lines in my areafix software's
control file connections could quickly be made with most of the z1
backbone and other echo routings could be modified elsewhere over time
if necessary.
AS it turned out the internet outage problem was quickly resolved, but
in the interim the disconnected mail mover was able to establish
connections quickly with echomail and routed netmail. Had the problem
persisted the old standby was there and able to fill in the gaps.
WHy retain facility inr our nodelists to indicate pots connectivity?
WHy continue to support it? Along with one possible scenario I posited
a couple issues back last week provides another good reason.
FIdonet, like amateur radio offers a variety of ways to establish
connections. FOr example, the radio amateur wishing to pass a piece
of high priority traffic might choose the easiest route, make contact
with a station using his microphone and pass the message. But, if
radio conditions are too poor for voice intelligibility he might opt
for one of the computerized digital modes.
WHat, no computer? There's always the old standby telegraph key on the
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 3 27 Oct 2008
bench. THat carrier keyed on and off by that telegraph key will cut
through the hash and trash quite readily if the signal can be
perceived at all. tHe receiving station won't have to ask for repeats
as often, as there's no confusion which is inherent in voice
transmissions during high noise conditions. NO doubt whether that
telephone number contained a 5 or a 9, etc.
We in fidonet have at our disposal the same sort of redundancy which
will enable us to maintain communications. Even if transfer speeds
aren't quite optimum using our old dial-up lines we can always forego
the moving of large files until the broadband connections are restored
or choose a feed enabling us to receive our echomail and routed
netmail/email and serve our users. even at 9600 baud the volume of
compressed mail you'd normally pull isn't going to be a real limiting
factor. ONe can always wait until regular links are restored to get
one's picture of the day fix <grin>.
So, give it some thought, and instead of telling folks about this
antiquated network you are part of just because it's been your hobby
now for years tell them about the variety of ways old fido offers for
remaining connected. YOu might even gain some new users or convince
that friend or coworker to become a point. AFter all, those ham radio
swap meets and flea markets have those old modems available for cheap,
and your newly minted point or user might just appreciate being able
to put one to use. You might also appreciate the fallback when a major
mail mover has an internet outage and can fall back on a pots
connection to keep the mail moving. COmments via routed netmail are
welcome, or you can post to fn_sysop which I carry.
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FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 4 27 Oct 2008
=================================================================
ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================
-=:{ FidoNet Software Reference }:=-
Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal
P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info
.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.
|Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node|
`- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'
Argus |MI |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84
| | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889
| | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001
BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102
| | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998
BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/
| | maloff@corbina.net
| | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000 (Outdated)
FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280
Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net
| | v2.4 on Sep 26th 2003
FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330
Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101
| | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX
Husky Project |MTPUI|http://sf.net/projects/husky/
| | v1.4 RC2 on Sep 22nd 2003
Radius |MI |http://radius.pp.ru 2:5012/38
(based on Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463
| | Last Release: v4.010 on Jan 3nd 2005
Taurus |MI |http://taurus.rinet.ru (Russian) 2:461/70
| |http://www.fidotel.com/taurus (English)
(based on Radius) | | E-mail: taurus@rinet.ru
| | v5.000 alpha on Oct 11th 2004
Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608
| | Website is in Russian only
WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com
Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com
Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204
Software, Inc. | | AUP 451.1 on April 26th 2004
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org
| | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.10
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 5 27 Oct 2008
FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org
| | support@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60
JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de
(ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000
Squish |T |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/
| | Lanuis site redirects to above
| | Squish is part of Maximus.
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net
| | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222
ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com
Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com
| | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002
EZYCom BBS |BT |http://ezycom.sytes.net
| |http://members.westnet.com.au/centuryp/
| | ezycom@westnet.com.au 3:690/682
| | v2.0 on 3 May 2003
Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org
| | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final
Maximus BBS |B |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/
| | v3.03
| |Archives back online at:
| |http://maximus.outpostbbs.net/
MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802
Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net
| | v0.60.0 on June 5th 2004
Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com
| | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001
Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net
| | groberts@nexusbbs.net
| | v0.99.41-Beta on Oct 16th 2002
| | [Note: No Longer under active
| | development.]
Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be
| | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002
RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120
Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com
| | v2.62.2SW
Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/
Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150
| | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 6 27 Oct 2008
Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net
| | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net
| | v3.10L Beta
Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net
| | support@telegard.net
| | v3.09g2 SP4
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/
| | Last Update: August 2004
Cheepware |DU |http://outpostbbs.net
Sean Dennis | | sean@outpostbbs.net 1:18/200
DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201
Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org
Ruth Argust | |
DoorMUD |D |http://doormud.com
| | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002
| | Website is down after
| | past the splash page.
Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com
| | scott@jibben.com
| | 1995-99 Release dates
John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com
| | support@johndaileysoftware.com
Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/
| | nannette@shiningstar.net
Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com
Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com
| | Tel: (404) 256-9518
The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/
| | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases
Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/
| | jpritch@eisonline.com
| | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002
Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013
Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org
| | last update: Jul 17th 2002
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de
| |http://www.apoint-mail.de/indexe.htm
| | (English Version)
| | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de
| | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 7 27 Oct 2008
CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de (German Only)
| | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999
FreeXP |P |http://www.freexp.de 2:2433/460
| | support@freexp.de
| | v3.40 RC3 Aug 31st 2003 (Snapshot)
OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004
| | (Site is in German Only)
| | mk@openxp.de v3.8.15 Beta Feb 10th 2004
| | Download Page comes back 404 not found.
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600
| | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003
SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de
| | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999
TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet
| | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed
| | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com
| | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997
Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/
Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806
(Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001
TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/
| | transnet@ressl.com.ar
| | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998
TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.start.ca/software/multiboard
Communications, Inc.| | Unsure about support now but Free Keys
| | are now available. Donations accepted.
| | v3.5 (Note: KeyGen is a Windows Program)
Ifmail |UI |http://ifmail.sourceforge.net
| | crosser@average.org 2:5020/230
| | Ifmail is a FTN <-> E-Mail/News Gateway
| | Program.
Meltdown-BBS |UI |http://meltdown-bbs.sourceforge.net/
| | meltdown-bbs.project.petkan
| | @spamgourmet.com
| | Fido: 2:350/5
| | Meltdown-BBS is an FTN <->
| | Web/PHP/MySQL BBS forum system.
MakeNL |U | http://hub2000.darktech.org/makenl
| | fidonet.hub2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 8 27 Oct 2008
| | Fido: 1:229/2000
| | FidoNet Nodelist Processor
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org
Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/
(in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings)
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
File Archives:
http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.net
http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com
http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi
http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu
http://www.bbsfiles.com http://hobbes.nmsu.edu
Note: most also provide FTP access
(use ftp:// instead of http:// above)
*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*
Please send corrections & additions to: Robert Couture, 1:229/2000
E-Mail: rpa4email (at) rogers (dot) com
Telnet: runekeep.darktech.org
(Leave Feedback as Guest or create an account)
Emeritus: Ben Ritchey, Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 9 27 Oct 2008
=================================================================
SPECIAL INTEREST
=================================================================
Nodelist Stats
Input nodelist nodelist.298
size 570.1kb
date 2008-10-24
The nodelist has 4657 nodes in it
and a total of 6301 non-comment entries
including 5 zones
41 regions
298 hosts
320 hubs
admin overhead 664 ( 14.26 %)
and 577 private nodes
189 nodes down
214 nodes on hold
off line overhead 980 ( 21.04 %)
Speed summary:
>9600 = 375 ( 8.05 %)
9600 = 3603 ( 77.37 %)
(HST = 72 or 2.00 %)
(CSP = 0 or 0.00 %)
(PEP = 1 or 0.03 %)
(MAX = 0 or 0.00 %)
(HAY = 1 or 0.03 %)
(V32 = 1770 or 49.13 %)
(V32B = 97 or 2.69 %)
(V34 = 2432 or 67.50 %)
(V42 = 2040 or 56.62 %)
(V42B = 111 or 3.08 %)
2400 = 30 ( 0.64 %)
1200 = 5 ( 0.11 %)
300 = 644 ( 13.83 %)
ISDN = 288 ( 6.18 %)
----------------------------------------------------------
File Req Flag Applicable software Number of systems
----------------------------------------------------------
XA Frontdoor <1.99b 1392
Frontdoor 2.02+
Dutchie 2.90c
Binkleyterm >2.1
D'Bridge <1.3
TIMS
Xenia
--------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 10 27 Oct 2008
XB Binkleyterm 2.0 6
Dutchie 2.90b
--------------------------------------
XC Opus 1.1 2
--------------------------------------
XP Seadog 1
--------------------------------------
XR Opus 1.03 26
--------------------------------------
XW Fido >12M 186
Tabby
KittenMail
--------------------------------------
XX D'Bridge 1.30 1827
Frontdoor 1.99b
Intermail 2.01
T-Mail
--------------------------------------
None QMM 1217
--------------------------------------
CrashMail capable = 1705 ( 36.61 %)
MailOnly nodes = 2598 ( 55.79 %)
Listed-only nodes = 360 ( 7.73 %)
Other = -6 ( -0.13 %)
[Report produced by NETSTATS - A PD pgm]
[ Revised by B Felten, 2:203/208]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 11 27 Oct 2008
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
How to Submit an Article
If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here
are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred
method if you want reasonable control over how the published article
will appear in the Fidonews:
a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's
probably quite OK. No line may be longer than 70 characters.
b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first
time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on
the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the
format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index,
the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put
your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you
may want to add some other address where you can be reached for
personal comments.
c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 22:00 UTC.
Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects
and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration
file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file
extension of the correct subject on the file name if known.
Ideas for Subject areas:
Subject File | Subject File
----------------------------------|----------------------------------
From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb
Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net
Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art
Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur
Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev
Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not
Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que
Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx
Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe
Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth
Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor
Best of Fidonet *.bof | Letters to the Editor *.let
If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT
on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews.
If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem
in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out
of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message
sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your
article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I
can not fix and I need your help on it.
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 12 27 Oct 2008
Send articles via e-mail or netmail, file attach or message to:
Björn Felten
Fidonet 2:2/2 or 2:203/0
E-Mail bfelten @ telia dot com
Skype file bfelten
IMPORTANT! If you send the article via e-mail, make sure you put the
word "fidonews" somewhere in the subject line! That way it
will always pass the spam filter, ending up in the proper
folder.
Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article.
That way I will know to look for it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FIDONEWS 25-43 Page 13 27 Oct 2008
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Editor: Björn Felten, 2:2/2 |
| Columnists: Frank Vest - Frank's Column |
| Robert Couture - Fidonet Software Listing |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince |
| Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, |
| Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, |
| Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet.
There is no copyright attached to Fidonews, though authors
retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed
by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication
and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are
encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor
at one of the addresses above.
The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file
area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS.
These sources are normally available through your Network
Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from
the following sources:
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| File request from 2:2/2 or 2:203/0: |
| current issue FIDONEWS |
| back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP |
| |
| On the web: |
| http://felten.yi.org/fidonews |
| http://www.fidonews.net |
| |
| The Snooze *and* the FIDONEWS echo in your newsreader: |
| news://felten.yi.org/FIDONEWS |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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