Volume 7, Number 9 26 February 1990 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | FidoNet (r) | | \ \\ | | International BBS Network | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings Copyright 1990, Fido Software. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact Fido Software. FidoNews is published weekly by the System Operators of the FidoNet (r) International BBS Network. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or authorized agents of the authors. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from node 1:1/1. 1:1/1 is a Continuous Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day. Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, Box 77731, San Francisco CA 94107, USA and are used with permission. Opinions expressed in FidoNews articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Fido Software. Most articles are unsolicited. Our policy is to publish every responsible submission received. Table of Contents 1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1 CIMN Update .............................................. 1 Why ISDN? ................................................ 2 FIDOCON 1990 REGISTRATION FORM ........................... 4 2. COLUMNS .................................................. 7 A View from the Bridge ................................... 7 3. FOR SALE ................................................. 9 New DESQview Utility ..................................... 9 4. WANTED ................................................... 11 Beta-Testers Wanted for an Amazing New BBS System ........ 11 5. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 12 And more! FidoNews 7-09 Page 1 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Computer Information Monthly News! CIMN(sm) Copyright 1989, 1990 For those of you who have been file requesting CIMN(sm) each month I would like to bring you up to date. Computer Information Monthly News for the month of March will be released on 1 March instead of 10 March. In addition for those of you who have been requesting both the color version and the black and white version effective with the March issue this will not be necessary. CIMN.ARC or CIMN.ZIP will be the only files necessary the DISKazine has been programmed to provide both color and non color with the one file. I would also like to take the oppounity to Thank each of you again for file requesting the program and making it available to your users. ================================================================= HIGH MESA RANGER'S BBS (301/1) JAKE HARGROVE HIGH MESA PUBLISHING, 13 OSAGE DR, LOS LUNAS, NM 87031 USA ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 2 26 Feb 1990 Michael Bloemer FIDO 1:396/5.8 WHY ISDN? What is ISDN? In 1981 the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defined ISDN as: "A NETWORK EVOLVED FROM THE TELEPHONY INTEGRATED DIGITAL NETWORK THAT PROVIDES END-TO-END CONNECTIVITY TO SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING VOICE AND NON-VOICE SERVICES, TO WHICH USERS HAVE ACCESS BY A LIMITED SET OF STANDARD MULTIPURPOSE CUSTOMER INTERFACES." Unfortunately, this very broad description really doesn't tell us much at all. ISDN was conceived as a technology standard in the late 1970's. AT&T determined to merge the different types of analog circuits its customers were using into a single totally integrated digital transmission scheme. In 1980, the CCITT got involved to establish a worldwide set of standards for a universal Integrated Services Digital Network. ISDN was born. In the United States, AT&T no longer controls ISDN standards setting activities. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) now controls this activity. Most standards setting activities were completed by the mid 1980's. ISDN trials began in 1986. Needless to say, progress has been slow. As a result, many of the initial reasons for ISDN have been supplanted by other technologies. These include LANs, fiber optics, and private T-1 networks. These technologies do not negate the need for ISDN, however. After all how many homes have fiber optic links or T-1 circuits in them. ISDN in many ways represents the networking alternative with the broadest potential reach. It represents the most all-encompassing network of the future. ISDN was designed to provide a worldwide mechanism for delivering standardized telecommunications services among the world's end-users. For once, the world's telephone companies are being far-sighted. Of course, this far-sightedness is not because they are nice guys. The major motivation is profit. This profit comes in a number of ways. Utilization of the same physical transmission medium for data, voice, video information, and other services is more efficient. Fewer lines are required. In addition, the various phone companies would like to add very profitable value-added services like advanced call handling, electronic mail, videotext, and public data base access. Will ISDN revolutionize the BBS world? Most definitely. Access to services and other end users is enhanced by the great increase in speed offered by ISDN. ISDN is an all digital network. Digital technology is far superior to analog for data transmission. It also extremely resistant to errors. Line noise becomes a thing of the past. A PC to PC connection is completely digital. The modem is replaced by an ISDN Terminal Endpoint Type 1 or 2 (TE1 or TE2). The TE1 is used for devices which are ISDN compatible. PCs FidoNews 7-09 Page 3 26 Feb 1990 with integrated voice/data hardware and software will use this interface. Older PCs with RS-232 interfaces or LAN connections will require the TE2. Soon ISDN ports will be as standard as serial and parallel ports are today on PCs. ISDN access by the home consumer is via the Basic Rate Interface. The BRI is 144k bit/sec. It is divided into three channels. Two are 64k bit/sec and the other is 16k bit/sec. Either one of the two high-speed channels may be used for voice or data. The 16k bit/sec is generally used for control information (call set-up and shutdown), but may be used for packetized data. The BRI is meant to provide ISDN access to end-user devices like terminals, PCs, telephones, and faxes. The BRI provides the standard access interface for most end users. What does this mean to the average consumer? Today, not much. ISDN is being marketed to large corporations and the government for telemarketing and networking applications. ISDN's limited availability and its orientation toward the business market restrict its ability to deliver its promised worth. When ISDN reaches into the home, it will reach its full potential. Applications like call forwarding, video telephony, voice/data mail, and videotext, are some of the most exciting for ISDN. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 4 26 Feb 1990 The Secret Sysop Society presents __ *** Conclave '90 *** / \ The SYSOPS Convention /|oo \ Home of FidoCon 1990 (_| /_) Lyndhurst, New Jersey _`@/_ \ _ August 1-5, 1990 | | \ \\ | (*) | \ )) ______ |__U__| / \// / Fido \ _//|| _\ / (________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm) Rate Schedule: Before 6/1/90: Before 4/1/90: -------------- -------------- A. Single Occupancy.......$595.00 $545.00 $495.00 B. Double Occupancy.......$450.00 $400.00 $350.00 C. Conference w/ meals....$300.00 $250.00 $200.00 D. Conference w/ Banquet..$205.00 $155.00 $105.00 E. Conference only........$175.00 $125.00 $ 75.00 F. Banquet only...........$130.00 $80.00 $ 30.00 (Those registering before 4/1/90 get a $100.00 discount, those registering before 6/1/90 get a $50.00 discount on all plans.) You must pay by Check, Money Order, or Credit Card. Please send no cash. All monies must be in U.S. Funds. Checks should be made out to: "Conclave '90" The following registration form must be completed and mailed to: PO Box 12 Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 You may register by Netmailing this completed form to 1:1/90 for processing. Rename it to ZNNNXXXX.REG where Z is your Zone number, N is your Net number, and X is your Node number. US Mail confirmation is required within 72 hours of electronic filing. If you are paying by credit card, please include the required information. For your own security, do not route any message with your credit card number on it. Crash it directly to 1:1/90. The official Conclave '90 airline is American Airlines. American offers a 5% discount the lowest applicable round-trip fare, including 1st class travel, subject to availability of inventory. All fare rules and restrictions apply. In addition, American offers 40% off their round trip unrestricted day coach fare. International travelers qualify for special benefits, including complimentary admittance to the Admiral's Club Lounge at any American Airlines terminal. Newark is an American Air- lines city with direct flights to most major cities. When making reservations, you must call American's Toll-free reservation number at 800-433-1790, and reference Star number 13704F. FidoNews 7-09 Page 5 26 Feb 1990 C O N C L A V E '90 R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________ Apt. or Suite: _________ City: _________________________ State or Province: ____________ Postal Code: __________________ Country: ______________________ Voice Phone: ______________________ Data: _____________________ Zone:Net/Node.Point@Domain: ____________________________________ Special requirements: __________________________________________ +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Option | Full | | Pricing | Line | | (Choose A-F) | Name | Qty | Thru 4/1 | Total | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN A | | | $495.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN B | | | $350.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN C | | | $200.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN D | | | $105.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN E | | | $ 75.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | PLAN F | | | $ 30.00 | | +===============+=====================+=====+==========+=======+ EXTERNAL EVENTS +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | NJ Beach Trip | | | $ 24.50 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Atlantic City | | | $ 22.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Eve. NYC Tour | | | $ 37.50 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Broadway Show | | | $ 75.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | NYC Shop Tour | | | $ 36.50 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Costume Ball | | | $ 50.00 | | +---------------+---------------------+-----+----------+-------+ | Total $ | | +==========+=======+ MC _____ Visa _____ Card Number: _____________________________ FidoNews 7-09 Page 6 26 Feb 1990 Expiration: ___________ Signature _____________________________ ( Credit card registrations require valid signature ) ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 7 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= A View from the Bridge "Captain's Log, Stardate 9002.24" Howdy! Sorry, I didn't make it into last week's episode. Did you miss me? ;-) Well, I'm back. What shall we babble about today? Sorry, I can't hear you, I'm on a different time track somewhere in your past. That's the advantage to writing. Its the only way I know of sending messages into the future. Anyways, if luck holds, you'll see a registration form for FidoCon in this issue of FidoNews. If you plan to go, please don't delay. There's a $100.00 discount for registering before 4/1/90, and that ain't hay. If you can't register by then, there's a $50.00 discount for registering by 6/1/90. It looks like we're going to have a lot of fun. BTW, the 'costume ball' is going to be held at the new Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament that just opened here. Those of you in Kissimee (sic) and California may be familiar with their locations there. You have dinner, eat with your fingers, order from your 'beer wench', and watch a medieval tournament, and those attending will be in costume, which is mandatory. I highly recommend it. On an unrelated note, (ANDY ROONEY ON:) Did you ever wonder what it is that causes some people who sit in front of a computer see something that someone else is doing, and start spewing lies & misinformation about it when it doesn't even affect them? (whew!) I do. (ANDY ROONEY OFF:) I mean, what is it about some people that they only way they can get off is by bashing others? Whether it be guys in a different network, people who use a different bbs than they do, a certain type of modem that others use, or even their conference mail processing program? What is it about certain people that their only goal in life is to make sure that YOU don't have fun? If you run up against these people, I'd advise you to ignore them. Their ignorance speaks for itself in most cases. There are some people who feel they have a 'right' to determine whether or not *I* run a groupmail processor. Frankly I don't understand this. As long as it's not causing dupes, or affecting others, what business is it of anyone else's WHAT I'm doing here? But no, they'd rather spread lies about how 'buggy' the software is, or how it's used for censorship, or some other crap. Of course THEY'VE never run the program! FidoNews 7-09 Page 8 26 Feb 1990 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 9 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= George Adam Stanislav Fidonet 1:129/39 Announcing ControlD ControlD is the language which allows you to control DESQview from the command line and batch files. Its main program, DO.EXE, is the interpreter. It controls DESQview with commands, such as: DO NOT ALLOW MENU DO HIDE DO KEY D1 DO ALARM IN 13 HOURS, 35 MINUTES AND 27 SECONDS There are many more. It is also possible to write a series of commands into a file, similar to DOS batch files and have DO.EXE interpret them all. ControlD is much more than an interpreter, though. It allows you to password-protect DESQview windows, permit opening of windows only on certain days of the week, or to disable some or all menus each time a window is open, then re-enable them once the window is closed. When I wrote DVEXEC, the grandfather of ControlD, I stated in the docs this was my last shot on shareware. In all the years I have been posting my programs on bulletin boards, I only received one check, for $25, while I spent many thousands of dollars in the process. DVEXEC became an overnight sensation (it was file-requested all the way from Australia the day after I posted it on a BBS!). Not one person in the whole world registered the program. ControlD is my first commercial program. It will be "officially" released on March 15, and will cost $65. However, I will send it to any Fidonet sysop who orders it before March 15, 1990, for just $45, plus $5 S&H. I will be even willing to send it C.O.D. within the United States of America for an additional $4. In Pennsylvania, please add 6% sales tax. You can order ControlD by sending me a check for the appropriate sum (US currency only). In your letter please state your Fidonet zone:net/node number. You must be listed in current Fidonet nodelist to qualify for the sysop offer, and your order must be postmarked on or before March 15, 1990. Please make the checks payable to George Adam Stanislav. The address: FidoNews 7-09 Page 10 26 Feb 1990 George Adam Stanislav 322 Mall Blvd., Suite 174 Monroeville, PA 15146 For C.O.D. orders you can send me a netmail message to 1:129/39. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 11 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= WANTED ================================================================= WANTED: Beta-Testers Wanted for Socrates BBS Features: - EXTREMELY customizable via Socrates BBS Programming System - Uses an alternate Subject-Oriented message system as well as regular Fido/Opus style - Has a completly flexibile access system; allows a full boolean logic statement instead of just a privelege level Uses standard *.MSG message format and works with most standard message utilities. Programming experience helpful. If interested in Beta-testing, contact Mike J, 1:150/199 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 12 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= LATEST VERSIONS ================================================================= Latest Software Versions MS-DOS Systems -------------- Bulletin Board Software Name Version Name Version Name Version Fido 12q+ QuickBBS 2.62* TBBS 2.1 Lynx 1.30 RBBS 17.2B TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Kitten 2.16 RBBSmail 17.2 TPBoard 6.0 Opus 1.03c+ RemoteAccess 0.01* Wildcat! 2.10* Phoenix 1.3 TAG 2.5d1* Network Node List Other Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version BinkleyTerm 2.30 EditNL 4.00 ARC 6.02 D'Bridge 1.30* MakeNL 2.20 ARCA06 2.20* Dutchie 2.90C ParseList 1.30 ARCmail 2.0 FrontDoor 1.99b* Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00 PRENM 1.47 SysNL 3.01* EMM 2.02 SEAdog 4.51b XlatList 2.90 Gmail 2.05* XlaxDiff 2.32 GROUP 2.16 XlaxNode 2.32 GUS 1.30* LHARC 1.13 MSG 4.0 MSGED 1.99 PK[UN]ZIP 1.02* QM 1.0 QSORT 4.03 StarLink 1.01 TagMail 2.20* TCOMMail 2.2 TMail 1.12 TPBNetEd 3.2 TosScan 1.00* UFGATE 1.03 XRS 3.10 ZmailQ 1.10* Macintosh --------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities FidoNews 7-09 Page 13 26 Feb 1990 Name Version Name Version Name Version Red Ryder Host v2.1b4 Tabby 2.1 MacArc 0.04 Mansion 7.15 Copernicus 1.0d* ArcMac 1.3 WWIV (Mac) 3.0 StuffIt 1.51 TImport 1.331 TExport 1.32 Timestamp 1.6 Tset 1.3 Import 2.52 Export 2.54 Sundial 2.1 UNZIP 1.01* Amiga ----- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailers Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version Paragon 2.00+* BinkleyTerm 1.00 AmigArc 0.23 TrapDoor 1.11 booz 1.01 WelMat 0.35* ConfMail 1.10 ChameleonEdit 0.10 Lharc 1.10* oMMM 1.43b* ParseLst 1.30 PkAX 1.00 PK[UN]ZIP 1.01* RMB 1.30 UNzip 0.86 Zoo 2.00 Atari ST -------- Bulletin Board Software Network Mailer Other Utilities Name Version Name Version Name Version FIDOdoor/ST 1.5c* BinkleyTerm 1.03g3 ConfMail 1.00 Pandora BBS 2.41c The BOX 1.20 ParseList 1.30 QuickBBS/ST 0.40 ARC 6.02* GS Point 0.61 LHARC 0.51 PKUNZIP 1.10 MSGED 1.96S SRENUM 6.2 Trenum 0.10 OMMM 1.40 FidoNews 7-09 Page 14 26 Feb 1990 + Netmail capable (does not require additional mailer software) * Recently changed Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 7-09 Page 15 26 Feb 1990 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 17 Mar 1990 Release date for Opus v1.10 5 Jun 1990 David Dodell's 33rd Birthday 12 Jun 1990 Fifth anniversary of FidoNet's switch to multiple nets. 27 Jul 1990 The beginning of the REGION 17 Convention at Menucha Resort in the Columbia Gorge, Oregon. For details contact Ken Zwaschka, 1:105/54. 1 Aug 1990 Start of FidoCon '90. Contact Bill Vanglahn at 1:1/90 for details. 5 Oct 1990 21st Anniversary of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" 14 Nov 1990 Marco Maccaferri's 21rd Birthday. Send greetings to him at 2:332/16.0 1 Jan 1991 Implementation of 7% Goods and Services Tax in Canada. Contact Joe Lindstrom at 1:134/55 for a more colorful description. 16 Feb 1991 Fifth anniversary of the introduction of Echomail, by Jeff Rush. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher Baker MetroFire, 1:135/14 MetroFire is no longer operating as a project of the Metro-Dade Fire & Rescue Department. It has moved and changed numbers. FidoNews 7-09 Page 16 26 Feb 1990 1:135/14 is now operated as a personal, hobby project from my home in Miami_FL_USA. The new number is 305-382-4016 and has been noted as such in the last four Nodelist issues. If you were a User of MetroFire, your records are still intact. The system still operates the same Echos and message and file areas. The general operation has not changed; only the place and telephone number. [grin] I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone. TTFN. Chris -----------------------------------------------------------------