1361 lines
60 KiB
Plaintext
1361 lines
60 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 3, Number 51 29 December 1986
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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| _ |
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| / \ |
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| /|oo \ |
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| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
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| _`@/_ \ _ |
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| International | | \ \\ |
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| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
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| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
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Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
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You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
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FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
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ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1/1.
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Copyright (C) 1986, by the International FidoNet Association.
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All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted
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for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
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please contact IFNA.
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Table of Contents
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1. ARTICLES
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Managing a Major Network Reorganisation
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INVITATION TO JOIN A NEW ECHO CONFERENCE - "SOFTWARE CAREERS"
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Western New York Net formed
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2. COLUMNS
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What is Baud Rate
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3. WANTED
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Writer wanted
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4. FOR SALE
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Magazine On Disk for IBM PC and Compatibles
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DISCACHE V0.01
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Buy some MIDI for Christmas!!
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5. NOTICES
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The Interrupt Stack
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LAPTOP echomail
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BBS for Whisper Reader/LEX-31 owners
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Fidonews Page 2 29 Dec 1986
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Gary Stern, 155/214 [620/301]
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Bill Bolton, 155/219 [620,403]
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Managing a Major Network Reorganisation
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One of the most frustrating things about being involved in a
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"remote" Fido network is finding out how other nets have solved
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problems in the past. Somehow or other we manage to struggle
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along here on the bottom of the world, often I fear re-inventing
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the Fido wheel. Occasionally we come across something that
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another net has taken the trouble to document, such as the SOCAL
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echomail policy document ECHO-102. Even though this document
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was way out of date when I got it, it shed light into several
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dim areas of echomail and gave us some idea of what should be done.
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In this light I am submitting the documentation on the Great
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Australian Network Changeover to FidoNews, in the knowlege that
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someone else in the Fido community, either now or sometime in
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the future is sure to need to do the same sort of thing again.
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I'd also like to say thank you VERY much to Jon Sabol, 1/112, who
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turned a spoltlight into many dark recesses of echomail for me.
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Bill Bolton
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PREPARING YOUR SYSTEM FOR THE
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GREAT AUSNET CHANGEOVER
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-----------------------------
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By Gary Stern
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and Bill Bolton
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Network 155 in Region 12 will soon cease to exist and will be
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replaced by four new networks, Nets 620, 626, 630 and 690 in Region
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50. You will need to make some changes to your system to
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accommodate the new networks. The way we will pass mail around
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the network is also changing. This document will tell you what
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you need to do to be ready for changeover day, December 7th.
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IF YOU ARE RUNNING FIDO ONLY
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----------------------------
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Fido users will need these files:
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1. XLATLIST.600 Sample control file.
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2. ROUTEGEN.60X Sample Control files.
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3. AUS_ECHO.ARC New echomail files.
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IF YOU ARE RUNNING FIDO + SEADOG
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--------------------------------
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Fido systems that are also running SEADOG will need an
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Fidonews Page 3 29 Dec 1986
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additional file:
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4. PARTCDOG.600 Sample sections of SEAdog files.
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WHERE TO GET THE FILES
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----------------------
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The files probably wont be ready at the same time that this
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document gets distributed but should be ready within a day or
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two. A message advising where to get them will follow shortly.
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READ IT ALL!
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------------
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It doesn't matter what you are running, you should read the
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whole document before doing anything.
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BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER
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---------------------
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On or before December 1st, 1986.
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1) Close down the sending of echomail from your node as
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soon as you receive this document. This is done by
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disabling all SCANMAIL invocation lines in your RUNBBS
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batch files. Then you must edit your AREAS.BBS to remove
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all forwarding nodes. You should continue to run TOSSMAIL
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after all mail events so that any echomail still in the
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mail system that is delivered to you will be tossed to the
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correct area.
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2) While this point is not policy, you should consider
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raising the level of access to your FidoNet MAIL area to
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sysop privilege only, until after the changeover.
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This will avoid users sending out mail to other nodes with
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"soon to be invalid" return addresses. When we change, the
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old net numbers will disappear out of the nodelist plus your
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individual node within your new net might be different.
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Also if you have mail from your system still IN TRANSIT
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anywhere in the network (maybe overseas) when the nodelist
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with the new node numbers becomes effective, the transiting
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node will immediately ORPHAN your messages which means they
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will never be delivered.
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AT THE TIME TO CHANGEOVER
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-------------------------
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At 1200 hrs (midday) on Sunday, December 7, 1986:
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You should have received NODEDIFF.A39 in the morning mail
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Fidonews Page 4 29 Dec 1986
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schedule. In a perfect world that would be all you would
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receive, however since we haven't had to do a changeover like
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this previously you may also receive some final instructions so
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please check your mail on that day.
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1) Check NODEDIFF.339 with an editor or just type it out, just
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to make sure the changes have been done. You will find
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that Australia is now in Region 3 which should be well down
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toward the end of the file. If for some reason it isn't
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there or you haven't received NODEDIFF.A39, DO NOT MAKE ANY
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FURTHER CHANGES. Ring your Network Co-ordinator for
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information.
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2) You will have to modify the new XLATLIST.CTL file
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distributed with this document. You need to insert your new
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Node Number. If you have any BAUD or PHONE statements
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applying to Net 155 nodes statements in your present
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XLATLIST.CTL, these need to added and also modified to
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reflect the new network addresses. Finally you'll need to
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modify the cost table in the new file to suit your
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location!
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If you are a hub or a host, please carefully read the
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special instructions in the XLATLIST.CTL file.
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3) ROUTEGEN.CTL must be modified. If you will be in Net 620
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you can use the ROUTEGEN.620 file after renaming it to
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ROUTEGEN.CTL. If you are in Net 626 use ROUTEGEN.626,
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if in Net 630 use ROUTEGEN.630 and if in Net 690 use
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ROUTEGN.690. You only have to insert your new NODE number.
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You should delete all existing ROUTE.* files before
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running Routegen.
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4) Before running XLATLIST you must go into Fido and use the
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SYSOP "4" command to reset your Net and Node numbers. You
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MUST reset your Net/Node numbers before you run XLATLIST.
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If you are also a HUB or a HOST you MUST set your Net and
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Node number in Fido to your normal node identity. You
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should set your Alternate Node number to your hub or host
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identity. You MUST NOT put your hub or host identity as
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||
your primary node number.
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5) Run XLATLIST and invoke Fido to compile its new nodelist.
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6) Modify your RUNBBS.BAT (or SEADOG.BAT) file to cover
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the new mail arrangements and external events as detailed
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below.
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7) Put your system back on line.
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NEW MAIL ARRANGEMENTS
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---------------------
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Fidonews Page 5 29 Dec 1986
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Fido doesn't use daylight saving times and will not refer to
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them in this document. If you have trouble converting between
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Australian Eastern Standard Time and daylight saving time, buy
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yourself a cheap digital watch (they just about give them away
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now) and leave it set to Australian Eastern Standard time. You
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should then be able to get the times right!
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The Australian National Mail Hour will run from 0400 to 0500
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Australian Eastern Standard Time, 0330 to 0430 Australian
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Central Standard Time and 0200 to 0300 Australian Western
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Standard Time.
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IF YOU ARE IN NET 626, 630 or 690
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---------------------------------
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Nets 626, 630 and 690 will send mail to their hosts for 25
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minutes, starting 30 minutes before the national mail hour using
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Schedule-G. Starting 5 minutes after the national mail hour,
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nodes will poll their host to pickup mail for 25 minutes using
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Schedule-W.
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IF YOU ARE IN NET 620 AND ARE A LOCAL NODE
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------------------------------------------
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Net 620 is more complicated as it running three hubs. The local
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nodes will send mail to their hubs for 10 minutes using
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Schedule-H, starting 30 minutes before the national mail hour
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and ending 20 minutes before the national mail hour. The local
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nodes will send any mail not addressed to the nodes on their
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hub, and which was not able to be delivered to their hub
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(perhaps due to a failure), to the outgate for 10 minutes using
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Schedule-G, starting 15 minutes before the national mail hour
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and ending 5 minutes before the national mail hour.
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After the national mail hour the local nodes will be in a
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receive only mode for 20 minutes using Schedule-V. This is
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followed by 10 minutes where the local nodes poll their hub for
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received mail using Schedule-W.
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IF YOU ARE IN NET 620 AND ARE A HUB
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-----------------------------------
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The Hubs will receive mail from their local nodes for 10 minutes
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using Schedule-H, starting 30 minutes before the national mail
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hour and ending 20 minutes before the national mail hour. This
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is followed by 5 minutes to process the received mail. Hubs
|
||
will then send any network mail to the outgate for 10 minutes
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using Schedule-G, starting 15 minutes before the national mail
|
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hour and ending 5 minutes before the national mail hour.
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The hubs will receive mail from the outgate for 10 minutes using
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Schedule-V, starting 5 minutes after the national mail hour and
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ending 15 minutes after the national mail hour. This is
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||
Fidonews Page 6 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
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||
followed by a 5 minutes to process the received mail. For 10
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minutes, commencing 20 minutes after the national mail hour, the
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hub is polled by its local nodes to pickup received mail, using
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Schedule-W.
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||
The 5 minutes between the schedules before and after the national
|
||
mail hour are for the hubs to run arcmail (from), tossmail,
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||
scanmail and arcmail (to).
|
||
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||
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||
MAIL TIMETABLE FOR HUBBED NETWORK
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||
---------------------------------
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The following timetable shows what each stage in a three
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tiered mail network (node, hub, outgate) in region 50 does
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during national mail processing.
|
||
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Time Node Hub Outgate
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---------------------------------------------------------
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||
0325 Process mail Do nothing Do nothing
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||
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||
0330 Send to hub Receive from Do nothing
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||
nodes
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||
0340 Do nothing Process mail Do nothing
|
||
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||
0345 Do nothing Send to Receive from
|
||
unless hub outgate hubs
|
||
down then
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send to
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outgate
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||
|
||
0355 Do Nothing Do nothing Process mail
|
||
|
||
0400 Direct mail Direct Mail Poll hosts
|
||
if required if required for mail
|
||
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||
0425 Direct mail Direct Mail Process mail
|
||
if required if required
|
||
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||
0430 Direct Mail Direct Mail Send to hosts
|
||
if required if required
|
||
|
||
0500 Do Nothing Receive from Send to hubs
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outgate
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0515 Do Nothing Process mail Do nothing
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||
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0520 Poll hub Hubs hold mail Do nothing
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||
for mail
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||
|
||
0530 Do nothing Do nothing Do nothing
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||
|
||
0535 Process Mail Do nothing Do nothing
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 7 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
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MAIL TIMETABLE FOR HOST NETWORK
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-------------------------------
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The following timetable shows what each stage in a two tiered
|
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mail network (node, host) in Region 50 does during national mail
|
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processing.
|
||
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Time Node Host
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------------------------------------------
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0325 Process mail Do nothing
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0330 Send to host Receive from
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nodes
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0355 Do nothing Process mail
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0400 Direct mail Hold for pickup
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if required by outgate
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0425 Direct mail Do nothing
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if required
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0430 Direct Mail Receive from
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if required outgate
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0500 Do Nothing Process mail
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0505 Poll host Hold mail for
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for mail nodes
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0530 Do nothing Do nothing
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0535 Process Mail Do nothing
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ECHOMAIL
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--------
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All echomail will be shut down prior to the changeover. New
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software will be distributed to all nodes and echomail
|
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conferences will be reintroduced, one at a time.
|
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To speed mail processing, ARCMAIL is being introduced. ARCMAIL
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has a dramatic effect on the handling of all mail, but
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especially echomail and will allow us to expand the number of
|
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echomail conferences that can be supported by the network.
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Nodes will run an external event commencing an adequate time
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prior to their first morning mail period, we recommend at least
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5 minutes before the mail period. This event will include
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TOSSMAIL to clear any mail echomail left in the net mail message
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area for the previous mail time, SCANMAIL to place new echomail
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messages from the node into the net mail area and ARCMAIL to
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pack the messages for sending.
|
||
Fidonews Page 8 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
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Similarly, an adequate time after the morning mail period, nodes
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will run another external event, again we recommend 5 minutes
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after the end of the mail period to ensure any mail
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transmissions have finished. This event will run ARCMAIL to
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unpack messages and TOSSMAIL to clear echomail messages from the
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net mail areas into the appropriate conference areas. You may
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optionally want to renumber or otherwise process received
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messages at this stage.
|
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ECHOMAIL CONFERENCES
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--------------------
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The first echomail conference that will be started is a new one
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for the Australian FidoNet Association. This will be followed
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by AUST_SYSOP etc. at a later date. You will be advised when
|
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other conferences will individually commence.
|
||
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||
The reason for re-starting echomail with a new conference is to
|
||
simplify the initial testing of the new echomail routing
|
||
structure. When the existing conferences are re-started you
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will need to do a lot of work with the SEENBY and SETMARKS
|
||
commands to prepare your echomail areas. Instructions on what to
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do will be issued separately once we have the AFNA conference
|
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running satisfactorily.
|
||
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||
Please note that you must use the new echomail files contained
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||
in AUS_ECHO.ARC. The other conferences will not be restarted
|
||
until everyone is using the same versions of echomail software.
|
||
|
||
You will need to create a system message area for the AFNA
|
||
conference and then edit AREAS.BBS to enter the AFNA message
|
||
area number and the conference name AUST_FNA.
|
||
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||
|
||
ECHOMAIL HANDLING
|
||
-----------------
|
||
|
||
Local nodes will only forward echomail to their hubs or hosts.
|
||
Hubs or hosts will only forward echomail to their local nodes
|
||
plus the outgate.
|
||
|
||
The following are examples of entries in the AREAS.BBS files for
|
||
various nodes:
|
||
|
||
HUB 500
|
||
-------
|
||
|
||
20 AUST_FNA 620/200 620/502 620/503 620/504 620/505
|
||
|
||
This hub has the AFNA conference is message area 20 and
|
||
forwards it to his local nodes 620/502....620/505 and
|
||
to the outgate 620/200
|
||
|
||
Node 502
|
||
--------
|
||
Fidonews Page 9 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
10 AUST_FNA 620/500
|
||
|
||
This node has the AFNA conference in message area 10
|
||
and forwards it to his hub, 620/500 only.
|
||
|
||
Hubs will still receive messages intended for them as nodes
|
||
because echomail knows about alternate node numbers. That's why
|
||
its important that your hub or host number be the alternate node
|
||
identity and not the primary one.
|
||
|
||
Using the same examples here are the sort of command lines which
|
||
should appear in your RUNBBS batch files:-
|
||
|
||
|
||
HUB 500 before Schedule-G and after Schedule-V
|
||
----------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
arcmail from 620/200 620/502 620/503 620/504 620/505
|
||
tossmail run -stats
|
||
scanmail run -nopriv -stats
|
||
arcmail to 620/200 620/502 620/503 620/504 620/505
|
||
|
||
The hub runs the same event for all mail processing.
|
||
|
||
Before Schedule-G the hub unARCs mail received from its
|
||
local nodes and tosses any echomail into the appropriate
|
||
areas. It then scans echomail areas for outbound messages,
|
||
including any echomail messages originating from the hub.
|
||
It then ARCs all mail destined for the outgate and nodes.
|
||
Any messages originating on the hub and destined for the
|
||
local nodes are ARCed but will remain in the net mail
|
||
message area for the time being.
|
||
|
||
After Schedule-V the hub unARCs any mail received from the
|
||
outgate and tosses any echomail into the appropriate areas.
|
||
It then scans echomail areas for outbound messages and
|
||
places them in the network file area. Any messages for the
|
||
local nodes are then ARCed or possibly added to an existing
|
||
ARCed packet for the node that was prepared after
|
||
Schedule-G.
|
||
|
||
Note that before Schedule-G there would normally be no mail
|
||
from the outgate to be processed, only mail from the nodes.
|
||
Similarly after Schedule-V there is normally no mail from
|
||
the nodes to be processed, only mail from the outgate.
|
||
|
||
|
||
NODE 502 before and after morning mail period
|
||
---------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
arcmail from 620/500
|
||
tossmail run -stats
|
||
scanmail run -nopriv -stats
|
||
arcmail to 620/500
|
||
|
||
The node runs the same event for all mail processing.
|
||
Fidonews Page 10 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Before the mail period the node tosses any echomail
|
||
messages that may have been accidently left in the net mail
|
||
message area from the previous mail time. It then scans
|
||
the echomail message areas for outbound messages. All mail
|
||
for the hub is then ARCed.
|
||
|
||
After the mail period the node unARCs any mail received
|
||
from the hub and tosses echomail into the appropriate
|
||
message areas.
|
||
|
||
To assist in developing a traffic analysis of the network we are
|
||
asking all sysops to log statistical information on their
|
||
echomail traffic, hence the use of the "-stats" option on
|
||
tossmail and scanmail. Please keep archives of these logs as we
|
||
will be asking you to forward them so we can get on with the
|
||
traffic analysis. The ECHOMSGS.LOG generated by the "-stats"
|
||
does not contain any information about the content of the
|
||
messages or who sent them, only information on the number of
|
||
messages processed out of each echomail area.
|
||
|
||
To assist in keeping private mail out of echomail conferences we
|
||
want you to use the "-nopriv" option with scanmail. This will
|
||
stop private "junk" echomail from cluttering up echomail
|
||
conference areas.
|
||
|
||
As ARCMAIL uses a external program to do the ARCing you must
|
||
make sure that it is accessible to ARCMAIL by having it in the
|
||
same directory or otherwise accessible through a PATH statement
|
||
in DOS.
|
||
|
||
|
||
OTHER SCHEDULES
|
||
---------------
|
||
|
||
The ROUTEGEN.CTL you use will also build files for Schedule-R
|
||
(Australian National Mail hour) and Schedule-T (International
|
||
mail hour) for your convenience. You may wish to edit these
|
||
depending on your mail traffic requirements for file attaches
|
||
etc.
|
||
|
||
|
||
HELP!
|
||
-----
|
||
|
||
If you don't understand this document (please read it a few times
|
||
first to make sure exactly what it is you don't understand) you
|
||
should contact the network co-ordinator for your new network.
|
||
The new network co-ordinators are :
|
||
|
||
620 - Brian Gatenby (02) 922-xxxx
|
||
626 - Alan Salmon (062) 58-xxxx
|
||
630 - John Blackett-Smith (03) 818-xxxx
|
||
690 - Leonard Holling (09) 339-xxxx
|
||
|
||
If your network co-ordinator can't help you to understand it you
|
||
can ring REALTORS (02) 387 5335 or SOFTWARE_TOOLS (02) 449-2618
|
||
Fidonews Page 11 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
to leave a message and login again the next morning and collect
|
||
your reply.
|
||
|
||
If all else fails (and we really mean this to be an absolute
|
||
last resort, only) ring either Gary Stern (02) 398-xxxx or Bill
|
||
Bolton (02) 449-xxxx at home. Please DO NOT EVER publish these
|
||
numbers to your users. We can't guarantee to be home but during
|
||
the runup period to the introduction to the new network
|
||
structure we will definitely try to be after 19:00 AEST.
|
||
Just make sure you have contacted your network co-ordinator
|
||
first.
|
||
|
||
|
||
SPECIAL NOTES FOR FIDO + SEADOG USERS
|
||
-------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Setting up for SEAdog is a lot easier than for Fido! In Fido
|
||
just set an external event starting at the time of your first
|
||
mail event, not 5 minutes before. If you have set your pre-mail
|
||
external event to occur 5 minutes before the mail event as we
|
||
suggested, this will bring your Fido and SEAdog together as far
|
||
as the no answer period just prior to an event. SEAdog has a 5
|
||
minutes no answer period while Fido has a 10 minute one.
|
||
|
||
This external event, which should have the same exit errorlevel
|
||
as your " /e" on your FIDOEXEC line. The length of this event
|
||
should run till the end of normal morning mail time plus 1
|
||
minute. You still have to setup the net/node numbers in Fido
|
||
with the sysop 4 command and adjust your XLATLIST.CTL file plus
|
||
your ROUTEGEN.CTL file. You will need to change the node
|
||
numbers in your CONFIG.DOG file.
|
||
|
||
Take special note in the XLATLIST.CTL file as there are some
|
||
special instructions for SEAdog users in it!
|
||
|
||
Should you have any problems send a CRASH mail message to
|
||
REALTORS (02) 387-5335 but only if you if you have SEAdog up and
|
||
running on your board so that you can receive the CRASH reply!!
|
||
(otherwise you just wont get a reply).
|
||
|
||
|
||
December 1st, 1986
|
||
Gary Stern, Realtors, 155/215 [620/301]
|
||
Bill Bolton, Software Tools, 155/219 [620/403]
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 12 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
A new Echo Conference devoted to discussion of various subjects
|
||
effecting Software Engineers and MIS professionals has been
|
||
started by SuperResume Fido in San Francisco, 125/612,
|
||
415-546-0119. SuperResume is operated by Lee Johnson, the
|
||
owner of LEE JOHNSON INTERNATIONAL, a recruiting firm
|
||
specializing in Software Engineering and MIS Professionals
|
||
since 1974. This 12 years of experience seeing candidates
|
||
succeed and fail in their professional careers has provided
|
||
some very interesting incites. What is needed is a national
|
||
forum to discuss these issues and bring together new ideas from
|
||
a wide variety of professionals. The proposed Echo Conference
|
||
discussion areas are:
|
||
|
||
1. CARPLAN ........ Career Planning
|
||
2. COMP ........... Compensation Negotiation
|
||
3. CONTRACT ....... Contracting Pro & Con
|
||
4. COSTS .......... Cost-of-Living Comparisons
|
||
5. COUNTER ........ Counter Offer Experiences
|
||
6. GEOIND ......... Geographical/Job Market Activity
|
||
7. INTV ........... Interview Techniques/Experiences
|
||
8. JOMISA ......... JOBS: MIS - Applications
|
||
9. JOMISI ......... JOBS: MIS - Internals
|
||
10. JOMISN ......... JOBS: MIS - Network/Comm.
|
||
11. JOSEA .......... JOBS: Software Engineering - Applications
|
||
12. JOSEI .......... JOBS: Software Engineering - Internals
|
||
13. JOSEN .......... JOBS: Software Engineering - Network/Comm.
|
||
14. RESCOMP ........ Resume Composition Ideas
|
||
15. MISC ........... Software Careers Miscellaneous Subjects
|
||
|
||
The file CARECHO.ARC is available for download on the
|
||
SuperResume (tm) Fido (125/625 - 415-546-0119) for those who
|
||
would like to participate in all or some of the above AREAS.
|
||
It contains and ARC'd BACKUP.COM of all the subdirectories and
|
||
dir.bbs's to make installation easy.
|
||
|
||
In addition to coordinating the SOFTWARE CAREERS ECHO
|
||
CONFERENCE, Lee Johnson is also making available his
|
||
copyrighted SuperResume (tm) QUESTIONNAIRE.BBS file for Fido
|
||
Sysops who wish to run it as the questionnaire feature of their
|
||
Boards. It produces a detailed, accomplishment-oriented
|
||
resume. This is extremely important because a resume is the
|
||
single most important representation of a professional's
|
||
career. Many well qualified candidates never even get to first
|
||
base (the interview) because they were screened-out due to an
|
||
inadequate resume. Nevertheless, most of people only think
|
||
about their resume when they are considering changing jobs. As
|
||
a result, many deficient, flawed, and poorly constructed
|
||
resumes are in circulation today, and many people's growth is
|
||
being held back.
|
||
|
||
Lee Johnson is also offering Fido Sysops A WAY TO DEFRAY A
|
||
PORTION OF THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING THEIR BOARDS. If a Board
|
||
runs the SuperResume Questionnaire and obtains a completed
|
||
SuperResume (or any resume) of a Software Engineering or MIS
|
||
Professional candidate, Lee Johnson will pay a $500.00 US
|
||
finder's fee to the Sysop and $50.00 US to the National FidoNet
|
||
Fidonews Page 13 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Administrator if LJI successfully places that candidate. If
|
||
the Sysop personally interviews the candidate, and provides a
|
||
written appraisal of the candidate, the finder's fee goes up to
|
||
ten percent (10%) of LJI's gross fee, which sometimes can be
|
||
$15,000, or a $1,500 finder's fee. Detailed interviewing
|
||
forms will be supplied if requested.
|
||
|
||
If you are interested in either participating in the SOFTWARE
|
||
CAREERS ECHO CONFERENCE, or in running the SuperResume (tm)
|
||
Questionnaire (or both!), please contact Lee Johnson at:
|
||
FidoMail 125/612; voiceline: 415-788-6000;
|
||
dataline: 414-546-0119.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 14 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Bill Hliwa, Sysop
|
||
The Med Tech FIDO (260/0, 260/10)
|
||
|
||
Western New York Net is formed
|
||
==============================
|
||
|
||
Effective with NODELIST.353, the FIDO's of Western New York
|
||
will be part of a new network: NET 260. The systems comprising
|
||
NET 260 are located in the Greater Buffalo and Greater Rochester
|
||
areas. Most members were originally in NET 107; others were
|
||
independents in REGION 13.
|
||
|
||
This reorganization will provide our area with more coherent
|
||
communications by directly linking local NET 107 members (who
|
||
previously had to deal with New York City -- 400 miles away) and
|
||
the local independents. As an added benefit, NY MetroNet (NET
|
||
107) should feel some relief from their currently heavy netmail
|
||
traffic.
|
||
|
||
If you send Net Mail (EchoMail) to any of the affected
|
||
nodes, please make a note of the change.
|
||
|
||
For reference, the following nodes are shown with former and
|
||
current node designations:
|
||
|
||
Name Old Net/Node New Net/Node
|
||
------------ ------------ --------------
|
||
|
||
--Buffalo area--
|
||
|
||
The Med Tech FIDO 13/15 260/10(0)
|
||
The IBM Temple 107/701 260/101
|
||
I-Tech1 107/703 260/110
|
||
AEOLUS 107/713 260/111
|
||
GATEKEEPER 107/733 260/112
|
||
The Public Domain 13/17 260/120
|
||
|
||
--Rochester area--
|
||
|
||
Modem Madness BBS 107/704 260/204
|
||
Infancy Research 107/708 260/208
|
||
Finger Lakes FIDO 107/716(700) 260/216(200)
|
||
Hitch Hikers Guide 107/723 260/223
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 15 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COLUMNS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
What is Baud?
|
||
|
||
Anyone reading technical echomail may have noticed a large
|
||
number of messages about baud rates, bit rates, band widths, and
|
||
modulation techniques involved with modems. There is a fair
|
||
amount of confusion relating to baud rate verses bit rate and how
|
||
they are limited by the telephone line band width. This is
|
||
nothing new, texts on the subject generally avoid the term "baud"
|
||
except within the narrow context where it is germane. This
|
||
article will define some of the various terms used in data
|
||
communications, and discuss limitations of phone lines to
|
||
communication speed.
|
||
|
||
Serial transmission of data is the most common method of
|
||
moving data over distance, and the most common way of interfacing
|
||
serial devices to each other is RS232. The essence of RS232 is
|
||
signal levels which represent ON or SPACE levels, and OFF or MARK
|
||
levels. ON is any voltage between +3 volts and +15 volts while
|
||
OFF is -3 to -15 volts. The signal shape is really a square wave
|
||
centered at zero volts and is a baseband signal. A baseband
|
||
signal is one whose spectrum extends down to zero hertz, or near
|
||
zero. The signal is polled at regular intervals to determine its
|
||
voltage, and therefore the data it contains. RS232 has only the
|
||
two voltage levels defined so it is a binary coded signal.
|
||
Besides signal shape and levels, RS232 defines a number of
|
||
parallel signals such as "clear to send" and "data terminal
|
||
ready". Some of these signals are status flags such as "carrier
|
||
detect", while others are meant as flow control, such as "data
|
||
terminal ready" or "request to send". Since a typical modem
|
||
provides only the transmit and receive functions, the flow
|
||
control must be done within the data stream. Some modems however
|
||
send data as packets with error control (akin to XMODEM) that can
|
||
recreate all of the hardware signals so as to make a distant
|
||
terminal appear to be hard wired.
|
||
|
||
Regular phone lines were designed for voice communications,
|
||
but due to their wide use and therefore low cost, they have been
|
||
widely used for data communications. A baseband signal such as is
|
||
found in RS232 doesn't lend itself to phone lines since they
|
||
don't have frequency response down to D.C. or zero hertz. When
|
||
voice grade phone lines were designed the band of frequencies
|
||
they had to pass was determined by the nature of human speech.
|
||
Very low frequencies (below 300 hz) and higher ones (above
|
||
3000hz) were found to be unnecessary for voice recognition at the
|
||
receiving end, as a result the total "BAND WIDTH" available to a
|
||
phone user is only around 2700 hz. BAND WIDTH when used to
|
||
describe frequency response is the difference in hertz between
|
||
the high and low, half power frequencies. In electrical systems,
|
||
power dissipated across a load (or resistance) in terms of
|
||
voltage is: V * V / R. Where "V" in this case will be the
|
||
amplitude of the sign wave being applied to the circuit. In
|
||
between the high and low half power frequencies there will be a
|
||
Fidonews Page 16 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
frequency where the amplitude of the response wave will be
|
||
maximized, call that voltage Vm. The half power points will be
|
||
reached when V=Vm/sqrt(2). The output power at that point would
|
||
be Vm * Vm / (2 * R) which is one half the mid band power. The
|
||
cause for the fall off of power at different frequencies is due
|
||
to capacitive and/or inductive elements in the circuit. In phone
|
||
lines capacitance comes naturally in parallel, that is it tend to
|
||
shunt the signal to ground. In this configuration the higher the
|
||
frequency the lower the "resistance" will be. Inductance is added
|
||
on purpose by the phone companies in the form of loading coils
|
||
which are added to decrease signal attenuation in the mid
|
||
frequencies. In any case the band width of a voice grade line is
|
||
strictly limited so that many calls can be stacked on top of each
|
||
other, in order to use transmission lines more effectively. Data
|
||
equipment must strive to make the best use of this narrow band
|
||
width. There is a hard limit to the amount of data that can be
|
||
sent through a telephone line as will be seen later.
|
||
|
||
The signal type of choice to carry data through phone lines
|
||
is the sine wave. A sine wave has but one frequency associated
|
||
with it. This means that if its frequency is within th band width
|
||
of the line carrying it, then the received sine wave will not
|
||
have its shape altered due to clipping of the high frequency
|
||
components. This can't be said for the square or triangular
|
||
waves which requires an infinite band width to fully describe
|
||
them. The sine wave is simply defined:
|
||
|
||
v= A * sin( w*t + p)
|
||
A is the amplitude (in units of volts for this exercise)
|
||
w is the frequency which must be in radians per second
|
||
t is time in seconds
|
||
p is the phase angle in radians
|
||
|
||
Information can be encoded by the sine wave in three
|
||
different ways. By altering "A" which is amplitude modulation
|
||
(AM), by altering "w" which is frequency modulation (FM), or by
|
||
altering "p" which is phase modulation (PM). There are mixed
|
||
modes which come into use in the more exotic modem schemes, used
|
||
to get the really high bit rates.
|
||
|
||
FSK or frequency shift keying was the most widely used
|
||
method for data transfer through modems. This is a FM process
|
||
whereby a RS232 MARK would be represented by the presence of one
|
||
frequency while a SPACE would be indicated by another frequency.
|
||
Now is the time to introduce the term BAUD. A "BAUD" is the time
|
||
interval in which data is carried, that is the minimum time in
|
||
which a signal holds a single state which the receiver is to
|
||
recognize and convert into data. The baud rate is how many BAUD
|
||
times occur in a second. The baud rate is NOT the same as the bit
|
||
rate as will be seen later in multiple state modulation. In FSK
|
||
type modems (Bell 103) the baud time happens to be the same as
|
||
the bit rate since each signal state encodes a single bit. Many
|
||
would think that the baud rate is limited to highest frequency
|
||
available to be transmitted (3000 hz) but this is not necessarily
|
||
so. Nyquist showed in 1928 that the maximum signal change rate
|
||
(baud rate) for a band width "W" would be 2*W baud. This is
|
||
Fidonews Page 17 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
called the Nyquist rate and is an upper limit that assumes no
|
||
inter-symbol interference. This could be visualized by
|
||
considering a sine wave. Each cycle has a positive and negative
|
||
part. The amplitude in each part could be independently altered
|
||
while still having a sine wave, therefore a 1200 hz signal could
|
||
be changed 2400 times a second which is 2400 baud. This type of
|
||
change (AM) is not very useful in phone lines since it is the
|
||
type of change most commonly caused by natural phenomena. In Bell
|
||
103 the baud rate is commonly 300 which is over 3.5 cycles at the
|
||
lowest carrier frequency. The practical considerations of
|
||
detecting frequency changes requires about 1.5 cycles so 300 baud
|
||
is some what conservative.
|
||
|
||
PSK or phase shift keying gets by the frequency barrier that
|
||
keeps FSK from producing the higher bit rates. In PSK (a PM
|
||
method) the only parameter in the sine wave changed each BAUD is
|
||
the phase angle "p". The Bell 212A modem specification uses a
|
||
four level phase modulation technique. The term four level means
|
||
that four different phases are used and detected by the receiver
|
||
during each BAUD. The number of bits an M level state can
|
||
represent is n=log2(M) or log(M)/log(2). A four level state can
|
||
represent two bits during each baud. In the 212A specification
|
||
+90 degrees would be 00, 0 degrees 01, +270 degrees 11, and +180
|
||
degrees 10. The 212A baud rate is 600 which means the bit rate
|
||
would be:
|
||
|
||
bit rate=600 BAUD/second * 2 bits/BAUD= 1200 bits/second
|
||
|
||
To increase the bit rate to the next state would require 3
|
||
bits/baud or 8 phases. To get 2400 bps using such a scheme would
|
||
require 16 different phases (22.5 degrees apart). The problem
|
||
here is that one class of noise present in phone lines called
|
||
"phase jitter" can cause phase errors up to and sometimes over 30
|
||
degrees. To avoid the bulk of this type of noise the phase angle
|
||
difference should be kept above this amount. The 2400 baud modems
|
||
common today use a form of QAM (quadrature amplitude modulated).
|
||
This method uses a combination of two waves with different
|
||
amplitudes to get the required 16 levels. A QAM signal can be
|
||
expressed in equation as follows:
|
||
|
||
s(t)=a(t)cos(wt+p)+b(t)cos(wt+90+p)
|
||
|
||
a(t) is the in-phase modulating wave form while b(t) is the
|
||
quadrature modulating wave form. During each baud a(t) and b(t)
|
||
are constants so the equation simplifies to:
|
||
|
||
s(tn)=c*cos(wt+theta+p) {p is a single arbitrary phase angle tn
|
||
stands for a specific baud time
|
||
c=sqrt(a*a+b*b) theta=atan(b/a)}
|
||
|
||
The new pure sine (cosine) wave has amplitude and phase
|
||
differences which can multiply the number of states possible. If
|
||
there are 4 values for amplitude and 8 values for phase then the
|
||
signal could have 32 different states or five bits. The random
|
||
variations in phase "p" has less effect the outcome since it
|
||
effects both waves the same. The phase difference in the
|
||
Fidonews Page 18 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
resultant wave is due to the interaction of the two wave forms.
|
||
QAM is the method used to get up to 9600 baud out of a phone
|
||
line. Other types of noise are present in a phone system, and are
|
||
mostly due to switching and cross over with other wires. The
|
||
error rate at the higher bit rates would be unacceptable if there
|
||
weren't some error recovery used. This is now quite easy to do
|
||
from a hardware standpoint, since the memory and processing power
|
||
needed to do it takes a small amount of space and cost little
|
||
enough to make the increase in bit rate worth it. The ability
|
||
for high speed modems to run will increase due to another reason.
|
||
More and more fiber optic phone line will replace conventional
|
||
ones. These are immune from many of the noise sources that effect
|
||
copper wires, sources such as RF and magnetic fields.
|
||
|
||
The ultimate bit rate that could be "pumped" through a phone line
|
||
is fixed by the band width AND the signal to noise ratio.
|
||
Shannon's law relates random bit transmissions/second to band
|
||
width and signal to noise ratio. It is derived from the concept
|
||
of entropy. Entropy is a measure of randomness in a system. It is
|
||
really a thermodynamic property but has applications in
|
||
information theory. The maximum bit rate for a channel with
|
||
signal power S and noise power N is given by:
|
||
|
||
C=BW log2(1+S/N) where BW is the band width, S is the signal
|
||
power and N is the noise power.
|
||
|
||
With a typical band width 2600 hz and a typical signal to noise
|
||
ratio of 30db (or 1000/1) the bit rate would be:
|
||
|
||
bit rate=2600 * log2( 1001 ) or 25,914bps
|
||
|
||
The noise factor is assumed white or Gaussian. This kind of noise
|
||
is unavoidable in electrical systems. In fact "N" can be
|
||
calculated by:
|
||
|
||
N=kTW where k=1.37e-23 joule/degree
|
||
T is absolute temperature (Kelvin)
|
||
W is the band width in HZ
|
||
|
||
This product gives "N" in terms of joules per second or watts.
|
||
At room temperatures noise would be on the order of 1e-17 watts
|
||
over a 2600 hz band width. If a phone signal were just 0.1 watts
|
||
the signal to noise ratio could be as high as 160db. In practice
|
||
it is about 30db so it can be expected that the signal to noise
|
||
ratio will increase in the future so that the top bit rates will
|
||
increase, and this increase will happen without an increase of
|
||
the band width available.
|
||
|
||
One last problem to consider with the high speed modems is
|
||
compatibility. To get 9600 bps from a 600 baud signal would
|
||
require 65,536 levels in a state. There is no obvious way in
|
||
which to assign a level to a 16 bit pattern so the manufacturer
|
||
must invent an "ALPHABET" for that conversion. Until an alphabet
|
||
is standardized as well as error recovery techniques there is
|
||
simply no way the modems will talk to each other.
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 19 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
GLOSSARY:
|
||
|
||
Alphabet: A table to convert signal states into
|
||
characters they represent
|
||
Amplitude modulation: Where information is encoded by changes in
|
||
amplitude only.
|
||
Band width: Range of frequencies within the half power
|
||
limits. That is the difference between the
|
||
two -3db frequencies.
|
||
Baseband: The signal at its original frequency and
|
||
shape.
|
||
Baud: The minimum time where all signal
|
||
parameters are held constant.
|
||
Baud rate: The number of times the basic signal can be
|
||
changed per second.
|
||
Bit rate: The number if bits per second passing
|
||
through a channel. In a modem it is the
|
||
baud rate times the number if bits per
|
||
baud.
|
||
Decibel (db): 10 * log10(p2/p1) where p2 is referenced to
|
||
p1. Both p1 and p2 represents power. For
|
||
voltage db is calculated 20 * log10(v2/v1)
|
||
Frequency modulation: Where information is encoded by changes in
|
||
the carriers frequency.
|
||
FSK: A way of represents data by a discrete
|
||
change in frequency of the carrier.
|
||
Hertz: Number of events per second.
|
||
Modulation: The process of varying a signal according
|
||
some aspect of another signal.
|
||
Phase: The angular displacement of a cyclic signal
|
||
In a sine wave Y=A sin(wt+p) p is the
|
||
phase.
|
||
Phase modulation: Technique of changing phase of signal to
|
||
represent changes of the baseband signal.
|
||
|
||
|
||
References:
|
||
|
||
1.*Clark, A.P., 'Principles if Digital Data Transmission' 2nd ed.
|
||
(1983)
|
||
2. Martin, James, 'Telecommunications and the Computer', (1979)
|
||
3. 'IBM PC Technical Reference', (July 1982)
|
||
4. 'Hayes Smartmodem 1200 manual'
|
||
|
||
*Reference (1) gives the most technical detail and over 500 other
|
||
specific references.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 20 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
WANTED
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
David Kohen, 164/7
|
||
|
||
Writer wanted
|
||
|
||
Hi! I'm the Technical Editor for a new Hong Kong based
|
||
magazine,and I'm looking for someone, or someones, to write a
|
||
regular column on the North American computer scene.
|
||
|
||
What we're looking for is something a lot like Jerry Pournelle's
|
||
Chaos Manor in Byte (you can take that as a compliment, Jerry, if
|
||
you come across this), with coverage of events, conferences, new
|
||
products, etc. Since we can't, yet, offer Byte's kind of money or
|
||
expenses, we really need someone who is working in the field,
|
||
gets around, can write and wants to earn some extra money. Most
|
||
of the time you'll decide for yourself what you want to cover.
|
||
Occasionally we'll ask you to do something specific.
|
||
|
||
We're also open to receiving articles on a one-off basis,
|
||
including reviews, programs etc. We'll pay on a sliding scale,
|
||
according to how much editing is needed, for text, photos and
|
||
programs.
|
||
|
||
All submissions should be supplied on IBM compatible disk. In the
|
||
case of programs they should be heavily annotated, and public
|
||
domain (they'll all be posted on SEAnet, our local Fido host).
|
||
IBM, Mac and Unix-based programs are more likely to get into
|
||
print, the Amiga and Atari STs are not available here. Obviously
|
||
Mac programs should be on a Mac disk (although we'd still prefer
|
||
the text in IBM format if possible, we don't yet have an in-house
|
||
Mac).
|
||
|
||
If you are interested, or you know someone else who is, I can be
|
||
reached by mail at:
|
||
|
||
Interface Magazine
|
||
1911, C.C. Wu Building,
|
||
302 Hennessy Road,
|
||
Wanchai,
|
||
Hong Kong.
|
||
|
||
Or (preferably) through Fidonet on 164/7
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 21 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FOR SALE
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
MAGAZINE ON DISK FOR IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES
|
||
|
||
The first issue of BIG BLUE DISK, a magazine on disk for the IBM
|
||
Personal Computer and compatibles, will hit the stands this
|
||
October. It is contained entirely on a floppy disk. Each issue
|
||
contains programs, articles, feedback from subscribers, program
|
||
reviews and demos, and more.
|
||
|
||
For example, issue number one contains the following:
|
||
|
||
- PLANET OF THE ROBOTS: In this text adventure, a time warp has
|
||
transported you to a future Earth where robots rule. Can you
|
||
find your way back?
|
||
|
||
- HOP-A-LONG HANGMAN: A new version of the classic word game,
|
||
with three different skill levels and word sets.
|
||
|
||
- LIFETIME CALENDAR: Travel back in time or plan the future.
|
||
Display any month from January, 1753 to December, 4999.
|
||
|
||
- LOAN AMORTIZATION: Calculate simple interest loan terms that
|
||
best suit your budget. This easy-to-use program produces a
|
||
full amortization schedule.
|
||
|
||
- STRING ART: This program generates many captivating patterns.
|
||
Check it out; a little high-tech cloud watching is good for the
|
||
soul.
|
||
|
||
In addition, BIG BLUE DISK #1 contains a column of hints and
|
||
tips; and a report of late-breaking news in the computer
|
||
industry. Also, for the first time anywhere, BIG BLUE DISK
|
||
presents a review of VersaForm XL version 4.0, the latest version
|
||
of an inexpensive but powerful, programmable, forms-oriented
|
||
database.
|
||
|
||
This issue will be available at many outlets nationwide,
|
||
including Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Booksellers. You can also
|
||
order it by direct mail by sending $9.95 (check, money order, or
|
||
Visa/Mastercard/American Express accepted) to: BIG BLUE DISK, PO
|
||
BOX 30008, SHREVEPORT, LA 71130-0008.
|
||
|
||
Mail subscriptions are also available: One year (12 monthly
|
||
issues) costs only $69.95. (A 41% savings over newsstand price.)
|
||
A six-month subscription is available for $39.95.
|
||
|
||
BIG BLUE DISK requires an IBM PC or compatible, with at least
|
||
256K of memory and a Color Graphics Adapter or compatible
|
||
graphics board. Send questions/comments to Daniel Tobias on FIDO
|
||
19/216.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 22 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
W.R.Hunter, 109/626
|
||
|
||
Disk I/O Slowing you down?
|
||
|
||
Are you dealing with a large Database that takes forever to read?
|
||
Is your Network bogged down due to disk seek time? Do you simply
|
||
want to make BETTER use of the EXTENDED OR EXPANDED memory
|
||
capacity on your system?
|
||
|
||
Your solution is:
|
||
|
||
D I S C A C H E V 0.01
|
||
|
||
DISCACHE can help you recover lost seconds when it counts!
|
||
DISCACHE works by keeping commonly accessed disk data in memory
|
||
so that when such data is read it is copied from memory rather
|
||
than read from disk.
|
||
|
||
DISCACHE supports 3-types of memory:
|
||
|
||
1. CONVENTIONAL (to 640K)
|
||
2. EXTENDED - AT memory via BIOS INT 15
|
||
3. EXPANDED - via Lotus/Intel EMS
|
||
|
||
DISCACHE can help you utilize ALL of your Extended/Expanded
|
||
memory to the fullest, as it helps you get the most from your
|
||
system.
|
||
|
||
DISCACHE is available NOW, not for the full price of $99.00, but
|
||
for a LIMITED TIME at $49.00 (Through Dec 31st, 1986)
|
||
|
||
HOW DO I GET DISCACHE? Simply write to:
|
||
|
||
WEG Systems, P.O. Box 5072, Springfield, VA 22150.
|
||
|
||
HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION? There are 2-ways to obtain more
|
||
information: Write to us at the address above -OR- Call us via
|
||
MODEM (with your computer) to our support line at (703)-425-0695,
|
||
WAFRUG_BBS, (1200/300 baud) 24hrs daily, 7-days weekly.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 23 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Now available from MidWest MIDI Consultants,Inc.
|
||
|
||
Systems Design Associates' PROMIDI(tm) Studio System SDA-200.
|
||
|
||
The SDA-200 Promidi Studio System consists of the Midicard and
|
||
associated software for an IBM Personal Computer or Compatible.
|
||
|
||
PROMIDI RECORDS MIDI MUSIC DIRECTLY TO DISK IN REAL TIME:
|
||
Recording length and number of recordings/tracks limited only by
|
||
disk space. Real-time recordings of 60,000 notes with a 2-drive
|
||
system, 1.5 million with a 10Meg hard disk, with only 256K of RAM
|
||
in the host computer. PROMIDI'S ONLY LIMIT ON STORAGE IS DISK
|
||
SPACE.
|
||
|
||
PROMIDI LETS YOU RECORD IN FILES, RATHER THAN TRACKS: Promidi
|
||
FILES EACH SUPPORT ALL 16 MIDI CHANNELS. You can edit, extract
|
||
or copy individual MIDI channels in a file, even move MIDI music
|
||
from one channel to another. Further, with the new Midimerge,
|
||
Promidi users can record up to EIGHT MIDI INSTRUMENTS IN A FILE
|
||
AT ONCE WITH NO LOSS OF FIDELITY yet edit them individually, just
|
||
as if they had been recorded one-at-a-time.
|
||
|
||
PROMIDI'S RESOLUTION IS 192 CLOCKS PER BEAT AT ALL TEMPOS:
|
||
|
||
PROMIDI SOFTWARE IS DOWNLOADABLE: All operating instructions for
|
||
the Midicard interface are part of the Studio System recording
|
||
software. The absence of PROM chips on the interface ELIMINATES
|
||
chip-changing,and incompatibility caused by MULTIPLE HARDWARE
|
||
VERSIONS.
|
||
|
||
PROMIDI GIVES YOU MORE POWERFUL EDITING TOOLS: Automated
|
||
Punchin/Out, Cut & Paste, MaxAuto quantizing, Scalewise &
|
||
Intervalic Tramsposition, Slide, Chaining, StepEdit/Entry and
|
||
more. Promidi lets you PUNCH IN VOICE CHANGES on any beat.
|
||
BUILT-IN FSK TAPE SYNC and METRONOME, plus a ONE-YEAR WARRANTY on
|
||
both hardware and software. And more products compatible with
|
||
Promidi are in the works.
|
||
|
||
MidWest MIDI and SDA offer a 30 day money back gaurantee to all
|
||
mailorder customers, if not completely satisfied with the PROMIDI
|
||
System. Try before you buy DEMO program disk are also available.
|
||
|
||
More information about PROMIDI and the other brand name MIDI
|
||
products for the Commodore AMIGA,64/128, ATARI ST, APPLE //,& MAC
|
||
is available online on MidWest MIDI BBS (405) 733-3102 - 147/6 -.
|
||
|
||
MidWest MIDI BBS - FIDO 147/6 - 1200bps - 24hrs.
|
||
BBS #: (405) 733-3102
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 24 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
17 Jan 1987
|
||
Deadline for voting on the proposed bylaws. Your ballot MUST
|
||
be received by this date!
|
||
|
||
17 May 1987
|
||
Metro-Fire Fido's Second Birthday BlowOut and Floppy Disk
|
||
Throwing Tournament! All Fido Sysops and Families Invited!
|
||
Contact Christopher Baker at 135/14 for more information.
|
||
|
||
24 Aug 1989
|
||
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
The LAPTOP echomail conference deals with the TRS-80 Model 100,
|
||
102, 200, and other such laptop computers (but not the IBM PC
|
||
portables). If you are interested in joining this conference,
|
||
please contact the nearest of Fido 138/14, Fido 115/100, or Fido
|
||
11/301.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Marsha Hague, 14/61
|
||
|
||
We are looking for anyone who has purchased a Whisper Reader
|
||
portable data terminal being liquidated by MPC Sales, or who may
|
||
own an original LEX-31, both manufactured by Lexicon. Whisper
|
||
Line is a BBS set up for owners of these terminals to exchange
|
||
tips and techniques. Give us a call!
|
||
|
||
Whisper Line, 24 Hours/300 bps, (507) 289-8211
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 25 29 Dec 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
*Official IFNA By-laws Ballot
|
||
Official IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws Ballot
|
||
|
||
We, the interim directors of IFNA, submit for ratification the
|
||
Articles of Association and By-laws as published in FidoNews
|
||
number 349. In accordance with the recommendation of the By-laws
|
||
Committee, each person listed as the Sysop of one or more FidoNet
|
||
nodes, as of NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986, is entitled to
|
||
ONE vote.
|
||
|
||
The proposed IFNA Articles of Association and By-laws, as
|
||
published in Fido349.NWS dated December 22, 1986, should be:
|
||
|
||
|
||
(Check one line) Adopted ________
|
||
|
||
Rejected ________
|
||
|
||
I am the SYSOP of record a FidoNet node which was listed in
|
||
NODELIST.311 dated November 7, 1986 and have the right to cast
|
||
one vote. There will be ONLY be one vote per person. There will
|
||
be ONLY one vote per net/node number. I understand these rules
|
||
and cast my ballot in accordance with them.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
_______________________ ___________
|
||
Signature Date
|
||
|
||
|
||
_____/______
|
||
Net Node
|
||
|
||
|
||
Return this ballot via U. S. Mail to arrive not later than
|
||
January 17, 1987 at:
|
||
|
||
IFNA Ratification
|
||
C/O Christopher L. Bonfanti, CPA
|
||
Aselage, Kiefer & Co.
|
||
701 Emerson Road, Suite 201
|
||
Creve Coeur Corporate Center
|
||
St Louis, Mo. 63141-6709
|
||
|
||
Aselage, Kiefer & Co. are Certified Public Accountants and will
|
||
provide an independent count of the vote and publish the results
|
||
in FidoNews. Votes received by Saturday, January 17th will be
|
||
included in the results.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|