Volume 3, Number 21 2 June 1986 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - FidoNews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (C) Copyright 1986 by IFNA (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1. The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them. Everything here is subject to debate. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL Why Are They Doing This to Me? 2. ARTICLES Alpha Computer Services Does It Again with INTRCPT! Announcing the International FidoNet Conference Forcing Fido to return back to SEAdog Does a Microcomputer Managers Association Exist? Are you having problems with your modem? WelchNet Goes Private 3. COLUMNS European FIDO node for media and radio enthusiasts!! The World of Computing: Educational software and humor 4. WANTED Position Wanted 5. FOR SALE Ham Radio (Drake TR-4/CW) for sale Entertainment Software for your PC! Public Domain Software Library Sale!! 6. NOTICES The Interrupt Stack CARTOON: Gruesome George, by Bruce White Fidonews Page 2 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= Why Are They Doing This to Me? For those of you who didn't already know, I'm a general partner at System Enhancement Associates. We've released all sorts of goodies to the public. I'm sure most of you are familiar with our Robot and Xlatlist programs, not to mention SEAdog. But mostly we are known for ARC. It's a nice little program, if I do say so myself. We released it as shareware as an experiment. We frankly didn't expect shareware to work, but we'd do it the same if we had it to do over again. Lately we seem to have uncovered a new dimension in shareware that frankly disturbs us. ARC is popular, and everyone wants the latest version. Also, we released the sources, which may have been a mistake (though I'd like to think not). This makes us vulnerable to the destructive hacker. I hope you saw our notice a few weeks back about ARC513.COM. Apparently someone has made a Trojan Horse version of ARC, and is distributing it far and wide. I even got a call from Infoworld. It seems that this business is serious enough to interest Infoworld in doing an article about it. As if the whole flap about ARC513.COM wasn't enough, I've since heard of an ARC514.COM floating around, and even an ARC520.COM. This hurts. I hope that we've sufficiently established our product that we can withstand a little of this, though endless FAT-killer versions will cause us problems before too long. But meanwhile, it still hurts. What did we ever do to anybody to deserve this? I'd really like to know where this is coming from. I remember last year there was a big fuss about pirated software, and many sysops started keeping track of who uploaded what. Has anybody uploaded one of these things to your board? If so, who? Please let us know. If you have any information, anything at all, please contact me at 1/1. If you have a phone number or an address on whoever sent it to you, then please tell me that, too. I figure I'll probably have to crawl through several links of uploads and downloads before I get anywhere, so all the information I can get will be none too little. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 3 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Juan E. Jimenez, Micro Consulting Associates DataFlex Fido - 103/511 Modem Help West - 1/110 714-675-7106 Data 3/12/2400 baud 24 hrs +---------------------------------------------------------+ | Alpha Computer Services' INTRCPT PD Util Does it Again! | +---------------------------------------------------------+ A few weeks back I published a little note here about a small utility called INTRCPT that allows a PC/AT running DOS 3.2 to write 720k into 360k diskettes. At that time I said that it didn't work with DOS' DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP. Well, the problems have been fixed and it works with ALL DOS utilities. It has also been tested on as many programs as we have been able to lay our hands on, including 1-2-3, PC-Paint, Symphony and many others (too many...) and it has been found to be compatible with all of them. The version of INTRCPT that has solved the problems is now identified as INTRCPTX. Apparently both Microsoft and IBM had notified the author, Sandy Zelkovitz of ACS, that it simply could not be done! Well, it can be done, it has been done, so there! In the process of getting this little gem to work so well, several undocumented DOS interrupt functions and sub-functions were discovered, and a list of these will be posted here as soon as it is ready. This should prove to be very interesting, so keep your eyes peeled for this one and don't forget to pick up your copy of FidoNews at you local BBS!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 4 2 Jun 1986 Thom: Jim Butterfield doesn't include any sort of addressing information in articles. This makes it somewhat difficult to reach him by FidoMail... Would you please forward this message to him? Thank you. ------------- Jim: I have been enjoying your column; the one on users groups was quite apropos, as I am pr manager (and entertainment director) for a brand new 'puter club, and sometimes it's hard to hold the interest of a group. The next speaker I've arranged for is a hacker (in the true sense of the word) and a software engineer. I think I'll have him read that before he gives his presentation. He does tend to talk in very technical terms. What prompts this message is the column in fido319. I am writing pd talking software for the blind, and one project that I have been interested in taking on for some time is a conversion of adventure, and perhaps some of the other text-type adventure games. I need source code because I'm going to have to muck with a lot of the strings in order to make them sound intelligable through the votrax-based talker. My preference in source is C, because I know it well, but FORTRAN, Pascal, and BASIC would be suitable, too. I know that there is a C version of adventure out there some- place. I believe it was written in the BDS flavor, but I'd be sur- prised if there weren't an MS-DOS version floating around, too. That game has been my favorite since I first saw it on a mainframe, many moons ago, even though I have never solved it. One of these days....! Do you have any suggestions, ideas, and/or source code that might help me? I can be reached on Fido 147/1, MCI Mail to Remark bbs, or cuuxb cbosgd \ > !okstate!glmnhh!gorgo!ddrex ihnp4 and my snailing address is: POB 1214, Bethany OK 73008. Thanks in advance, David Drexler ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 5 2 Jun 1986 SILICON MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIDO NET AUGUST 14-17, 1986 The Colorado Springs PC Users Group (COSUG) and the International Fido Net Administrators will planning a conference for Fido sysops and regional and net coordinators in August, 1986, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, otherwise known as "Silicon Mountain". As presently being scheduled, workshops and programs will take place on Friday, August 15, 1987, and Saturday, August 16, 1986. The conference will provide an opportunity for Fido sysops throughout the world to come together and learn more about using Fido. Regional coordinators and network hosts will have a chance to discuss mutual problems. So far, Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson and Ken Kaplan have agreed to come and speak. Suggestions are invited for additional speakers and workshop leaders. Programs will include "nuts and bolts" type technical discussions of common sysop problems and more specialized discussions of net and region coordination. In addition we hope to have presentations on new software programs, such as SEAdog, which work with Fido, and new hardware, such as optical disks and high speed modems. Registration will start on Thursday, August 14, and Departure will be on Sunday, August 17, 1986. Spouses and families are welcome, and family-oriented activities such as a trip up Pikes Peak, will be provided. Sometimes called "Silicon Mountain", because of the concentration of high-tech, military and industrial installations, including the United States Space Command, Colorado Springs lies at the foot of Pikes Peak (elevation 14,410 feet), at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, in the western United States. There are many tourist attractions, including a Rodeo, mountain climbing and hiking, and sight-seeing. Because of the altitude (approximately 6000 feet), the weather should be very pleasant and comfortable compared to the rest of the United States. We are looking for commercial and corporate sponsors and exhibitors to help with the costs, as well as additional program topics and speakers. Suggestions are welcome. Ken Kaplan will be assigning the conference a net/node number, 1/10. Further information concerning costs, expenses, registration, and programs will be provided soon. Direct airline service is available to Colorado Springs from many cities, such as Chicago, Salt Lake, St. Louis, etc. Be sure to put the Silicon Mountain Fido Conference on your schedules right away. Talk your friends and fellow sysops into coming also. Air fares in the United States are very cheap, and Fidonews Page 6 2 Jun 1986 we may be able to get a special room rate for persons who are willing to share with someone else. George Wing, Conference Coordinator COSUG BBS, 128/13 Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 7 2 Jun 1986 Gee M. Wong, 1/100 Forcing Fido to return back to SEAdog There have been numerous reports collected by Fido Bugs West and Fido Bugs East, that both Fido 11v and 11w (and probably some of the earlier Fido releases as far back as 11q) may not always give up control of the system after a caller terminates his/her session when the /E parameter is used to invoke Fido. This small problem in Fido can be a real nuisance to SEAdog owners who permit callers to drop into Fido, but also wish to make use of DYNAMIC CRASH mail during the day. By having the system hung at Fido, SEAdog is no longer in control and the system is no longer available to accept incoming CRASH mail. So what I have done is to create a utility, FIDOEXEC 2.2, which addresses this problem by monitoring both Fido and Carrier Detect. This utility is being released as FIDOEX22.ARC, which contains FIDOEXEC.DOC, FIDOEXEC.COM, and FIDOEXEC.ASM. This utility may be downloaded from 1/100, and it is also being made available for distribution through 1/98 and 1/99. FIDOEXEC may be freely used in a noncommercial environment by all FidoNet Sysops, who are registered with IFNA, as shown in the most recent copy of NODELIST, or in a SEAdog environment operated by anyone who owns a legal copy of SEAdog. FIDOEXEC may also be copy and distributed, so long as no fee is charged for such copying or distribution, and that it is distributed unmodified and in its entirety. FIDOEXEC 2.2 is currently available at 1/100, and SEAdog owners may File Request FIDOEX22.ARC from the Pickup Directory. When FIDOEXEC is invoked, it will in turn invoke FIDO_IBM (current version only supports the IBM version of Fido), and it will also monitor carrier. If FIDOEXEC determines that carrier has been lost but Fido has not release control of the system, then FIDOEXEC will simulate the keying of a Control-C from the console by a Sysop in order to force Fido to terminate. If Fido does not terminate after the first Conrol-C is entered by FIDOEXEC, then it simulate entering Control-C up to four more times until Fido gives up control. If however, after the fifth Control-C, Fido does not give up control of the system, then FIDOEXEC will force a warm reboot. Lastly, contributions (yes please give), if you use this utility on your system (be honest), please consider making a contribution (whatever you can afford to give) to: FidoNet(tm) Adminstrators PO Box 41143 St. Louis, MO. 63141 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 8 2 Jun 1986 Alfred Anderson, 14/61 Microcomputer Managers Association ================================== There must be hundreds of people throughout the United States that coordinate the use of microcomputers within their company. This includes the responsibility for negotiating vendor contracts, evaluating/selecting hardware and software standards, perform internal training and consulting services, handle custom programming requests, and provide a comprehensive hardware/software maintenance services. I'm one of those people and I would like to establish contact with people performing similar services for their companies. I'd like to discuss hardware/software standards and selection processes, share vendor evaluations, compare support services planning, networking plans, use of "compatibles" and staffing services. It may be that a group along these lines has already been formed. If so, I would appreciate someone providing me with a contact so I could obtain more information. It would be best if I could tie into an existing group. If no such group exists, then perhaps we could form one along the lines of FIDONET. With the work being done with ECHOMAIL, we could effectively use FIDONET to form a national special interest group. Please direct any replies to: Alfred Anderson FIDO 14/61 (AKA 14/0) If you're interested, send me a message and I'll let you know if someone has provided the name of a national organization or if we're going to try and form one on our own. Oh, if you are not a Microcomputer Manager yourself, but you work for a company that has one, could you pass this message to the appropriate person? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 9 2 Jun 1986 Juan Jimenez DataFlex Fido, 103/511 Modem Help West, 1/110 How to get help for that modem that won't work with Fido Some of you may not be aware of this, but a few months back FidoNet Administration set up a number of Help Nodes to take the load of providing tech help for Fido users away from TJ and the main network nodes and distribute it by type to a number of volunteer sysops on the network. Well, two nodes were set up for Modem Help. One is Jim Ryan's Fido (1/108) and the other is my board (1/110). Our goal is to help people who are having problems with their modems and cannot get them to work with Fido. We are here to help, but we need to get very specific info to be able to assist you. For this reason I am taking the liberty of putting together a little template of questions that you should answer in your messages to us regarding modem problems. If you provide all this info we will be better able to help you and you will save your time and money. We need the following info on EVERY request for assistance: FIRST OF ALL, HAVE YOU READ THE FIDO MANUAL? (Amazing how many people refuse to read a manual... ) 1) Type of computer you are using 2) Configuration (memory, # of com ports, etc.) 3) Operating System and version number 4) Type of modem 5) Internal or external installation? 6) If external, cable configuration 7) Description of problem, to include: a) Does Fido answer? b) Does Fido dial out? c) Which communications program(s) do you have that WILL work with the little beast? d) What have you tried to get it to work (Fido settings, modifications to cable, etc.) 8) Can you afford a new modem that will work? Just kidding on that last one.... That's all there is to it. If you will provide us with this info we will be able to respond to your problem with a fix (or a replacement recommendation...) in a minimum of time and with a minimum of confusion... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 10 2 Jun 1986 WelchNet Goes Down Effective May 26, WelchNet (and I) will be moved to a new phone number (in Berkeley, California) and will become a private FidoMail-only system. As a result, direct BBS support for GAGS will end, but I'll still be available to answer questions and such via FidoMail, and of course by phone and U.S. Mail. I'll also respond to mail to 'mwelch' on BIX (the Byte Information Exchange). New GAGS* Version: In June, I will release a new version of GAGS*, with just two minor changes: the address and phone number will be changed throughout, and I will make a change to the "Save Game" option that will eliminate a bug and also prevent the overwriting of files. (Some Fido sysops had pointed out that when allowing callers to exit Fido and play a GAGS game, the less polite callers have chosen to save their games to file names like "\FIDO\USER.BBS" or "\COMMAND.COM.") At that time, I'll send a postcard to all registered users notifying them of my new address and phone number, but GAGS users who weren't having troubles with the save-file option shouldn't bother upgrading. Since WelchNet will be a private node, with the number known only to the local host, you should not attach files to WelchNet, and I will no longer be able to afford outgoing file transfers. I've tried to locate new BBSs to service callers interested in the message areas I had. The following list may be of use to people who did or didn't call WelchNet during its 14 months of operations: Seequa: WelchNet's Seequa messages and files have been moved over to Dog Lab, run by longtime Seequa Chameleon victim/owner Bruce Oblander at (415) 594-0781. (San Carlos, California; Fido 125/594.) Turbo Pascal callers can try the following BBSs: Turbo Fido (916) 481-9557 Carmichael CA Fido 10/6 TurboPointer (516) 682-8525 Wilmington DE Computers Unltd.(513) 258-0020 Ohio (9pm-11am) High Sierra (209) 296-3534 SE Calif. 24 hours Amiga Callers should try the following: Fidonews Page 11 2 Jun 1986 Lido_Hotel (203) 248-7324 Hamden, CT 16/630 AMuse (212) 269-4879 New York 107/? Amiga BBS (313) 348-4479 Novi, MI FAUG (415) 595-5452 N.Calif. RSVP_BBS (415) 659-9169 Fremont, CA 10/425 Amiga Talk (602) 846-3901 Arizona Gateway_NRA (718) 338-3501 Brooklyn 107/222 Casa_Mi_Amiga (904) 733-4515 Jacksonville, FL 112/1 And GAGS* can be downloaded from the following boards: James Mulvey ? Connecticut 203-259-6838 Fido 17/0 Puyallup, WA 206-848-9232 MachineDo L.A. area, CA 213-548-3546 102/115 G_BBS Los Angls.,CA 213-874-9484 Fido Nordal Richardson,TX 214-690-6464 Metro Fire Fido ?? Florida 305-596-8611 135/14 Illini Data Bollingbrk,IL 312-759-5402 P-1 FidoNet ?? Michigan 313-545-1931 Computer Plaza Pittsburgh,PA 412-653-7155 WestPenn Pittsburgh,PA 412-367-2505 Fantasy Factory Pacifica, CA 415-355-6047 125/3 Pyramid of Power Alameda, CA 415-482-0532 The Exchange Oakland, CA 415-339-8457 RBBS Sci-Fido Oakland, CA 415-655-0667 125/84 SkateBoard S.F., CA 415-776-7228 125/433 Harry Logan S.F., CA 415-621-6520 RBBS Fido_Racer Murray, KY 502-762-3140 N.Ctrl.Library Wenatchee, WA 509-663-5232 Dog's Breath Austin, TX 512-836-8588 Allen's Board Cincinnati,OH 513-579-5731 St. Joes Hosptl. Phoenix, AZ 602-235-9653 The Morning Zoo CherryHill NJ 609-424-5823 Apocolypse Now Sandy, UT 801-561-9856 Uncle Sams Fido Honolulu, HI 808-546-3719 Please let me know of other BBSs with GAGS on-line. * GAGS is the Generic Adventure Game System, a text adventure game authoring system for MS-DOS computers. Mark J. Welch P.O. Box 2409 San Francisco, CA 94126 (415) 564-1066 (voice, until 6/1/86) Fido 125/459 (FidoMail only) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 12 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= European FIDO node for media and radio enthusiasts!! by Jonathan Marks, "Media Network" Producer, Radio Netherlands, Hilversum, Holland. A little radio background ------------------------- At this moment, hundreds of English language radio stations are on the air analysing world affairs. They can be received anywhere, from Canberra to Cologne, from Holland to Hawaii - providing you're carrying the right type of radio. The events of the last few weeks have made people even more aware of how important international communication is. In the last five years, there has been a boom in sophisticated portable radios. They can cover not only medium wave (or "AM" as it's often refered to in North America) and VHF (or "FM"), but stations that operate on the dial space in between. This lies between 3 and 30 Megahertz, and is often termed the "shortwave band". The new generation of receivers has successfully destroyed the image of shortwave as something to do with "ham" radio and giant antennas on the rooftop. Today, shortwave is the news medium, easy to access in English wherever you happen to be. It is invaluable for world news and stock exchange information. But you need to know what you're doing. Wide choice of receivers ------------------------ There are currently over 70 different shortwave receivers on the world market. You'll find them at many duty-free outlets in Europe, and in larger electrical stores. The problem is that many sales assistants don't do much travelling, and they're advice and background knowledge is often innaccurate. Demonstrations under a ceiling full of flourescent lights often produces a loud buzz when the radio is switched to the shortwave range. Cheaper sets use the conventional "pointer and dial" method to indicate where you are on the dial. However, manufacturers such as Sony, Grundig, Silver, Panasonic, Nordmende, and Philips currently market so-called "world receivers" with a digital frequency readout. Instead of searching a crowded dial looking for English voices, if you know that, say, Voice of America is on 6040 kilohertz, you simply twist the tuning knob until the display shows 6040, turn up the volume, and there's the station. Some more expensive models go even further. The tuning knob is replaced or supplemented by a calculator style keypad. If you want to listen to Radio Netherlands transmitting to North America pressing 6-1-6-5 at 0230 GMT is sufficient. Shortwave signals get much further than Fidonews Page 13 2 Jun 1986 AM or VHF. So whats the connection between shortwave and FIDO? -------------------------------------------------- For the last 25 years, one non-commercial international broadcasting station, Radio Netherlands, has been broadcasting a programme for radio enthusiasts. Formerly called "DX Juke Box", the programme has now been remodelled and is called "Media Network". It is broadcast each THURSDAY on Radio Netherlands' English Service. In over 30 minutes, we illustrate events in broadcasting from all over the world. There's an emphasis on radio broadcasting, though an increasing amount of material to interest the satellite and computer enthusiast is also being included. A weekly propagation report has built up a loyal following, especially amongst those who use computer programmes to help plan listening. Contrary to what one might first expect, computers have already reached listeners in developing countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Indeed, some letters have been received from listeners in the region sent in on floppy disk! Because of listener demand from more news of developments in both the computing as well the communication field, regular items are included in Media Network under the INFODUTCH column, where INFODUTCH stands for Information Of Direct Use To Computer Hobbyists ! Home computers (e.g. Sinclair, BBC, MSX) have found their way into schools and colleges in many parts of Asia, and also in West Africa. Listeners in Nigeria ask for computer listings to experiment in their part of the world. RN listeners, with suitable equipment, are now be able to access English language material on the computer in one of two ways. They can either phone the number in Hilversum direct by dialling the international exchange in your country, i.e. 011 in North America, 010 in the UK, followed by 31 for Holland, 35 for Hilversum, and then 45395. Radio Netherlands material can be found in message/file section number 2. Your modem needs to be capable of decoding CCITT tones (standard in Europe), and our computer will automatically switch to either 300/300 or 1200/75 Baud. We're working on the 1200/1200 and 2400/2400 capability. You can also use FIDO, address messages to Jonathan Marks, at FIDO net 500, node 202. The following data is now on the system: 1. Texts of consumer tests on communications equipment, i.e. new shortwave radios, antennas, and computer interfaces. 2. Current radio propagation information, updated regularly. Unlike medium wave and VHF, shortwave conditions are dependant on the sun and the radiation it gives to the earth. The solar data is montiored continuously for Media Network, and forecasts (similar to weather forecasts) are used by an estimated 250,000 listeners worldwide on a weekly basis. Fidonews Page 14 2 Jun 1986 3. BASICODE programs received from listeners abroad, and developed by Radio Netherlands. 4. Communications/Broadcasting news. What else? ---------- Here's an idea of some of the subjects being dealt in the radio programme over the next few weeks. Thursday: May 15th Media Network "All Set for the Sun". This week's Media Network will include an interview with Dr David Marsden of the European Space Agency's Technology Centre at Noordwijk on the Dutch North Sea Coast. He'll be looking at a project that should have been launched today, but is still ready to explore the sun's poles. It will help to unravel some of the mysteres of the solar wind, which in turn affects shortwave radio reception conditions. The programme will also include clandestine radio news from John Campbell, and we hope to have media news from our African correspondent, Richard Ginbey. Thursday: May 22nd Media Network "Paris Reportage". This week we'll be linking to the studios of Radio France Internationale to find out the results of the European DX Council conference in the French capital. Results of the EDXC Computer survey are expected, plus developments on the shortwave receiver front. Yaesu will be talking about their Computer Aided Tuning system, and we look at the new receiver from Japan Radio Company. They'll also be media news from Andy Sennitt. Thursday: May 29th Media Network "News Review" . This week's edition will carry a round-up of media developments, plus a look at new equipment. Victor Goonetilleke provides Asian media news round-up. Thursday: June 5th Media Network "AM Stereo Gone Down, down under?" We look at the medium wave stereo concept launched back in 1982 in the United States, and later in Australia. Has it succeeded? Why will it never catch on in Europe. Thursday: June 11th Media Network "News Review" including contributions from clandestine columnist John Campbell and African media reporter Richard Ginbey. We'll also have a survey of new publications for the summer (at least for us) Thursday: June 19th Media Network "Vintage Wireless Lives" There's a growing value in the "junk" valve/tube radios that get stored away in cellars and the garden shed. The numbers of "antique" radio collectors is on a sharp increase in Europe and North America. Some manufacturers have even started to make "reproduction" copies of receivers that made in the 1930's. We look at the trends, the current market situation, and why people want to collect sets that Grandpa used to fiddle with. Fidonews Page 15 2 Jun 1986 Tuning in the shortwave programme --------------------------------- Media Network is broadcast each Thursday by Radio Netherlands. To find us on shortwave, use the guide below. It is arranged to cover one whole day of broadcasting. The 0530 UTC broadcast is, therefore, put at the end of the list since although the day has changed in The Netherlands, it is still the previous evening on the West Coast of North America. Confusing perhaps, but if you look at a globe you'll see the reason more clearly. Time (GMT) Main Area Served Frequencies (kHz) 04:30 Middle East F9895, F11720 07:30 New Zealand B9630, B9715 08:30 New Zealand B9715 08:30 S.E. Asia M21485, M17575 10:30 Australia/Caribbean B9650, B6020 11:30 Middle East/Asia F15560, M21480, M17575 11:30 Europe F17605, F9715, F5955 14:30 S.W. Asia M17575, F15560, F13770, M11735, F5955 16:30 Southern/East Africa M9515, M6020 18:30 South/Central Africa B21685, B17605, M9540, M6020 18:30 Europe F6020 (Parallel to Afr.Svce) 20:30 West Africa F11740, F9895, M9715, M9540 01:30 Eastern N. America F9895, F6020 02:30 Eastern N. America B9590, B6165 05:30 Western N. America B9715, B6165 The time shown above is the starting time of the broadcast. Media Network is broadcast approximately 23 minutes after the start of the 55 minute transmission. The letters before each frequency correspond to F - Flevoland, The Netherlands, B- Bonaire Relay Station, Caribbean, M- Madagascar, Africa. Transmissions not directed to your area may be audible, e.g. the 0430 UTC broadcast is currently being heard in Australasia, but reception is generally not as reliable as those transmissions beamed your way. Constructive comments, questions, suggestions, and criticism is always welcomed by the producer, Jonathan Marks. Mail to Net 500, Node 502. File Attach to Net 500, Node 0 for the time being. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 16 2 Jun 1986 THE WORLD OF COMPUTING written by Reuven M. Lerner FidoMail 107/233 Hello, and welcome back! As I mentioned last time, I was planning on doing a report about some educational software that I had looked at, and discuss the future of educational software. Unfortunately, my school had a fire, and although there was no structural damage to the computer center or to the machines themselves, we have been denied access to that wing of the building until everything's cleaned up. Which means that for now, I just have to talk about the future of educational computing. But before I get to that, let's get to the latest news from Microsoft! I am absolutely delighted to report that not only is Microsoft coming out with a version 3.0 of their Word word- processor, but they are also taking copy-protection off of it! We know that we're headed for good news in protection when one of the largest (if not THE largest) producers of software takes protection off. Let's hope that they are, in fact, the "IBM of software," and the rest of the industry will follow their lead. Educational Software As I said, I was going to review some educational packages, but due to the fire in my school (we're back in the building now, but the computers are not available), it's a little difficult. I have used them before, though, so let me at least tell you the problems that I have with some of the packages. First of all, they're unprofessionally done. I was astounded when a program costing about $25 was easily breakable by Control- c, and then listable and changeable! Any software company who makes software geared for younger children should have it just as bulletproof as programs made for busy executives who don't understand computers either. Half of the sixth-graders I spoke with knew that to break their own programs it took Control-c, how many do you think would try it on other programs? Second of all, the instructions on most of them are pathetic. As far as I can tell, they're made so that a math teacher can plug it into the computer in their room, and let the kids try to guess how to factor trinomials, or something of that sort. When I couldn't understand what to do next, I wondered what a teacher who has never used a computer would say? Do you think that she'd be eager to bring in a computer often if there was the possibility of a fatal error? An offshoot of that idea is the whole "user-friendly" concept. All of these companies try to tell us how user-friendly their package is, as opposed to the others. I hate to say it, but producing nice-looking documentation on a Macintosh is nice, but doesn't add anything to the quality of the writing. I work Fidonews Page 17 2 Jun 1986 with teachers who are nervous about using cassette recorders or VCRs. Shouldn't there be clear instructions to get them calm in front of an overpowering machine? Well, now that I've done some criticism, let me say that all in all, once you got around the quirks and documentation, there was a good program in there. Most of the programs worked as they should, and are good for giving students practice in different subjects. But there's a lot out there (I know, I get many of the catalogs). How can a school decide what to get? They should firstly deal with a large manufacturer. I don't know any school administrator who would feel comfortable dealing mail-order to get a low price, and then realize that he or she had lost money because there was no support (not to knock mail- order...it's just not for amateurs). Deal with a local computer store with support and knowledgeable salespeople. As you would guess by now, I also would require that schools only buy unprotected software. What kind of lessons to kids get when they learn that you have to copy software because there's no money? I'm sure that that's where many kids learn about copying. So where's educational computing going? I see a bigger boom in it in the near future, with better documentation, no protection (many catalogs have fewer protected than unprotected software, a change from a year or two ago), and better skills. There's more high-school software out now than there ever was. If you're an educator, please write to me, and tell me your opinions about software. I also suggest that you subscribe to Classroom Computer Learning, put out by the same people as Learning magazine. It has interesting games for all levels of students, programming instruction, and a lot more. It's the sign of things to come. Computer Humor I just got the April issue of Byte, and if you haven't already, try reading the April articles! Ask BYTE is really funny, and the last two articles in the Features section are almost real articles, except for some weird ideas put in. We computer people as a breed don't have much humor out. I know, many BBS' have joke sections, but if any of you have a lot of computer jokes, send it out to all of us! We need a good dose every once in a while. Next time I know that it was shorter this time, but I'm still getting over a big cold and have, literally, ten things to do. Because of that, I'll probably be looking into multitasking next time. Best wishes for a warm spring, and happy computing! Fidonews Page 18 2 Jun 1986 (c)1986 Reuven M. Lerner. All Rights Reserved. Permission is given to copy this column so long as it is for non-profit use. If you wish to use it for other than non-profit use, write to the author at 21 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, or at FidoMail 107/233. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 19 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= WANTED ================================================================= Position Wanted A friend (no, not me) is looking for a new job that can take advantage of her editing and communications skills. She is currently a commercial proofreader with extensive proofreading and copy-editing experience, as well as experience (15+ years) at various administrative, sales, and management tasks. She's interested in a position with more variety and respon- sibility than her current (proofreading) work, hopefully a job with some room to grow and potential for advancement. She now lives in Massachusetts, but is willing to relocate for the right position. She is an enthusiastic Atari 800 owner, fluent in BASIC (for what that's worth now) and involved in a user group. She also has some experience with the IBM PC and Apple II. If you know of a company that might benefit from her skills and interests, please drop a line so I can let her know who to contact. Send FidoMail to Mark Welch to 125/459, or mail on BIX to 'mwelch', or call Mark Welch (at work) at 800-227-8365 [800-344-4636 in CA], or write to P.O. Box 2409, San Francisco, CA 94126.) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 20 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= HAM RADIO FOR SALE Drake TR-4/CW (ham radio). 10-80 Meters, has CW filter. Excellent condition, with power microphone and manual. You must pick up or pay shipping from Framingham, Massachusetts. Asking $350 or best reasonable offer. Call Pat Davis at 617-620-1217, or send FidoMail to 125/459. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 21 2 Jun 1986 ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PC! SUPERDOTS! KALAH! Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both exciting games! Please specify version and disk format. These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80, CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but minor customization may be required. BSS Software P.O. Box 3827 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review. Questions and comments can be sent to: Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17 (609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 22 2 Jun 1986 Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!! Public Domain collection - 400+ "ARC" archives - 15 megs of software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When unpacked, you get approximately 21 megabytes worth of all kinds of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc... This collection is the result of more than 15 months of intensive downloads from just about 150 or more BBS's and other sources, all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This is the answer!!! To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check, postal money order or company purchase order) to: Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511 Post Office Box 4296 200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296 Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order. Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines, running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting, cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what we charge for the service. Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be prepared on. The following choices are available: - IBM PC-DOS Backup utility - Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility - DSBackup - Fastback - ACS INTRCPT 720k format (Requires a 1.2m floppy drive and PC-DOS 3.2) - Plain ol' files (add $50) Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges. California residents add 6% tax. For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 23 2 Jun 1986 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 14 Jun 1986 The Next Occasional MetroNet Sysop Meeting, to be held in West Milford, New Jersey. Contact The Wizard at node 107/16 for details and directions. 14 Aug 1986 Start of the International FidoNet Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Contact George Wing at node 128/13 for details. 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce White, 109/612 Gruesome George by Bruce White +-------------------------------------------------+ |_ | | \ | | \ Honey, what time | | George, with a is it now? | | $2,000 computer and | | | your telecommunications | ____\__ | | access to the world, | |_| \ | | how come you still _____ |\ | | need me to tell you | _ | | | | what time it is? ______ | |_| | | | | __(______)_|_____|___ | | | ||-----------------|| | | | ______ || || | | | \ {} / || || | | |(c) 1986 bw \__/ ||-----------------||__|__| +-------------------------------------------------+ ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANY SYSOPS interested in EchoMailing an area on SCIENCE-FICTION and fandom or on GAMING (role-playing games and war games) conference? I can assist you with installation, if you need it. The SF area already has two boards. Contact Brad Hicks, 100/523. -----------------------------------------------------------------