FidoNews · Vol 25, No 36 · 08 Sep 2008
The F I D O N E W S Volume 25, Number 36 08 Sep 2008
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| |The newsletter of the | | |
| | FidoNet community. | | Netmail attach to (POTS): |
| | | | Editor @ 2:2/2 (+46-31-960447) |
| | ____________| | |
| | / __ | Netmail attach to (BinkP): |
| | / / \ | Editor @ 2:203/0 |
| | WOOF! ( /|oo \ | |
| \_______\(_| /_) | Email attach to: |
| _ @/_ \ _ | bfelten @ telia dot com |
| | | \ \\ | |
| | (*) | \ ))| |
| |__U__| / \// | Editor: Björn Felten |
| ______ _//|| _\ / | |
| / Fido \ (_/(_|(____/ | Newspapers should have no friends. |
| (________) (jm) | -- JOSEPH PULITZER |
+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
Table of Contents
1. FOOD FOR THOUGHT ......................................... 1
2. GENERAL ARTICLES ......................................... 2
Is there a future for POTS? .............................. 2
3. ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING ................ 4
FidoNet Software References .............................. 4
4. FIDONEWS INFORMATION ..................................... 9
How to Submit an Article ................................. 9
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability .................. 11
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 1 8 Sep 2008
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
=================================================================
Since the dawn of time, human beings have felt the need to share --
from food to art. Sharing is part of the human condition. A person
who does not share is not only selfish, but bitter and alone.
-- Paulo Coelho
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FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 2 8 Sep 2008
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GENERAL ARTICLES
=================================================================
Is there a future for POTS?
By Michiel van der Vlist, 2:280/5555
The first electric telephone was constructed in 1861 by Philipp Reiss
of Germany. It covered only a very short distance (within the same
building) but it was the start of the world encompassing telephone
network as we now know it.
At first the telephone network was used for voice only, but as
technology evolved it was used for other things as well. Newspapers
send pictures from one place to another. Later remote computer
terminals were connected to mainframes over telephone lines. These
techniques were all based on converting the signals into something
that for the telephone network was close enough to a voice signal to
transmit it through the system. A typical telephone network will
transmit analog signals in the range 300 - 3500 Hz. The equipment that
converts the signal is called a modem. An Acronym for MOdulater -
DEModulator.
When it started out around 1985 FidoNet was based on modems over
analog telephone lines. Modem technology evolved to increase the speed
from 300 bps in 1985 to 56 kpbs around 1998. After that modem
evolution stopped because other technologies that replaced data
transport over classic analog telephone lines became widely available
for, and affordable to the general public.
So far for the history.
Today most of the volume of data transported through Fidonet is done
via TCP/IP over dsl or cable. Some nodes still use modem connections
over POTS as their only means of connection and a few use more exotic
means to connect. Although the number of bits transported over POTS
has fallen sharply over the last decade, the number of systems -
nodes, points and users - that have it as their only means of
connection is still significant.
On the other hand, a growing number of FidoNet participants have done
away with their POTS lines and use TCP/IP over dsl or cable as their
only means of connection. So called ION's (InterNet Only Nodes) are
now very common even at the host and RC level. The question has arisen
whether FidoNet as a whole should continue to support POTS. Some would
not mind to see it go entirely and some say we should maintain support
for POTS as long as there is one single system that depends on it.
The reality is that it may be out of our hands.
VOIP (Voice Over IP) has become increasingly popular as a replacement
for classic analog telephony. There is an increasing number of people
who cancelled their POTS connection and use VOIP telephony
exclusively. The technology has evolved to the point that quality of
VOIP need no longer be inferior to classic analog telephony. For the
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 3 8 Sep 2008
human ear that is. For data VOIP is less suitable. Modem over VOIP may
result in a usable connection, but ever so often it does not or the
speed is reduced to 9k6 bps or less. The reason is that VOIP uses
lossy compression and the signal is broken up into packets that may or
may not arrive with exactly the same temporal separation as they are
send. (Packet jitter). It is hardly noticeable by the human ear, but
packet jitter is devastating for modem signals.
So if you want reliable fast modem connections, a POTS line is needed.
The problem is that not only are the end users switching to VOIP, here
in Western Europe the telcos themselves are taking down their POTS
systems in favour of VOIP. KPN, the leading telco and keeper of the
infrastructure in The Netherlands has announced that the classic POTS
network will be shut down by 2010 and from then on the network will be
VOIP only. In Belgium and Germany the major telcos have made similar
announcements. NGN, Next Generation Network, they call it. My personal
estimate is that the 2010 deadline is not realistic and will be
extended, but there is no doubt that classic POTS as we know it will
come to an end in the near future. This will have little or no effect
for my old mother who only uses the telephone for voice conversations,
but for FidoNet it may mean that, like it or not, we will have to tell
the sysops of the remaining POTS only systems that they will either
have to upgrade to Fido over IP or say goodbye. We may want to
maintain support for POTS but if the infrastructure no longer supports
it, then that is it.
I do not expect VOIP technology to improve to the point that it will
reliably transport modem signals. The telcos have no vested interest
in it. On the contrary they want to make money on dsl and cable. And
since they never officially offered anything but voice quality over
voice lines, anyone making legal claims will have no leg to stand on.
It looks like that within the next couple of years FidoNet wil no
longer be able to use POTS in large parts of the world. Don't make the
mistake of thinking this will be limited to Western Europe. The Telcos
in other parts of the world will soon follow if they see how much they
can save by dumping classic POTS technololy and replacing it with
VOIP.
The future of POTS? POTS has no future, it will soon be history. We'd
better prepare for the situation that within five years Fidonet will
for all intents and purposes be IP only. Like it or not.
Michiel van der Vlist
2:280/5555
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FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 4 8 Sep 2008
=================================================================
ROBERT COUTURE'S FIDONET SOFTWARE LISTING
=================================================================
-=:{ FidoNet Software Reference }:=-
Type: M=Mailer T=Tosser B=BBS D=Door C=Comm/Terminal
P=Points E=Editor I=Internet U=Utility ?=Info
.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.
|Software: Author |Type |URL, Contact, Ver, Notes Help Node|
`- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'
Argus |MI |http://www.ritlabs.com/argus/ 2:469/84
| | argus@ritlabs.com Tel: 373-2-246889
| | v3.210 on Mar 20th 2001
BinkleyTerm XE |M |http://btxe.sourceforge.net 1:1/102
| | v2.60XE/Gamma-6 on Nov 11th 1998
BinkD |MI |http://2f.ru/binkd/
| | maloff@corbina.net
| | v0.94 on Jul 24th 2000 (Outdated)
FIDO-Deluxe IP |MPUI |http://www.fido-deluxe.de.vu 2:2432/280
Michael Haase | | m.haase@gmx.net
| | v2.4 on Sep 26th 2003
FrontDoor, FD/APX: |MTPC |http://www.defsol.se 2:201/330
Definite Solutions | | sales@defsol.se 1:1/101
| | v2.26SW & v2.33ml FD, v1.15 APX
Husky Project |MTPUI|http://sf.net/projects/husky/
| | v1.4 RC2 on Sep 22nd 2003
Radius |MI |http://radius.pp.ru 2:5012/38
(based on Argus) | | fido5012@zaural.net Tel: 7-3522-469463
| | Last Release: v4.010 on Jan 3nd 2005
Taurus |MI |http://taurus.rinet.ru (Russian) 2:461/70
| |http://www.fidotel.com/taurus (English)
(based on Radius) | | E-mail: taurus@rinet.ru
| | v5.000 alpha on Oct 11th 2004
Tmail |MI |http://www.tmail.spb.ru v2608
| | Website is in Russian only
WildCat! Interactive |MTBEI|http://www.santronics.com
Net Server, Platinum| | sales@santronics.com
Xpress: Santronics | | Tel: (305) 248-3204
Software, Inc. | | AUP 451.1 on April 26th 2004
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Fidogate |TUI |http://www.fidogate.org
| | Martin_Junius@m-j-s.net v4.4.10
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 5 8 Sep 2008
FMail |T |http://fmail.nl.eu.org
| | support@fmail.nl.eu.org v1.60
JetMail: JetSys |TU |http://www.jetsys.de js@jetsys.de
(ATARI ST only) | | v1.01 on Jan 1st 2000
Squish |T |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/
| | Lanuis site redirects to above
| | Squish is part of Maximus.
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
BBBS |BI |http://www.bbbs.net b@bbbs.net
| | v4.00MP on Oct 25th 1999 2:22/222
ELEBBS: The Elevator |B |http://www.elebbs.com
Software Production | | elebbs@elebbs.com
| | v0.10.RC1 on Jun 9th 2002
EZYCom BBS |BT |http://ezycom.sytes.net
| |http://members.westnet.com.au/centuryp/
| | ezycom@westnet.com.au 3:690/682
| | v2.0 on 3 May 2003
Hermes II Project |B |http://www.hermesii.org
| | info@HermesII.org v3.5.9 Beta Final
Maximus BBS |B |http://maximus.sourceforge.net/
| | v3.03
| |Archives back online at:
| |http://maximus.outpostbbs.net/
MBSE BBS: |BI |http://mbse.sourceforge.net 2:280/2802
Michiel Broek | | mbroek@users.sourceforge.net
| | v0.60.0 on June 5th 2004
Mystic BBS |B |http://www.mysticbbs.com
| | v1.07.3 on May 13th 2001
Nexus BBS |B |http://www.nexusbbs.net
| | groberts@nexusbbs.net
| | v0.99.41-Beta on Oct 16th 2002
| | [Note: No Longer under active
| | development.]
Proboard BBS |B |http://www.proboard.be
| | v2.17 on Jun 9th 2002
RemoteAccess BBS: |B |http://www.rapro.com 1:1/120
Bruce Morse | | bfmorse@rapro.com
| | v2.62.2SW
Spitfire BBS: Buffalo|B |http://www.angelfire.com/ia/buffalo/
Creek Software | | MDWoltz@aol.com 1:1/150
| | v3.6 on Aug 20th 1999
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 6 8 Sep 2008
Synchronet BBS |BT |http://www.synchro.net
| | sysop(at)vert(dot)synchro(dot)net
| | v3.10L Beta
Telegard BBS |B |http://www.telegard.net
| | support@telegard.net
| | v3.09g2 SP4
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Atlantis Software |D |http://www.jimmyrose.com/atlantis/
| | Last Update: August 2004
Cheepware |DU |http://outpostbbs.net
Sean Dennis | | sean@outpostbbs.net 1:18/200
DDS (Doorware |D |http://www.doorgames.org 1:2404/201
Distribution System)| | ruth@doorgames.org
Ruth Argust | |
DoorMUD |D |http://doormud.com
| | v0.98 Jun 1st 2002
| | Website is down after
| | past the splash page.
Jibben Software |D |http://www.jibbensoftware.com
| | scott@jibben.com
| | 1995-99 Release dates
John Dailey Software |D |http://www.johndaileysoftware.com
| | support@johndaileysoftware.com
Shining Star |D |http://www.shiningstar.net/bbsdoors/
| | nannette@shiningstar.net
Sunrise Doors: |D |http://www.sunrisedoors.com
Al Lawrence | | al@sunrisedoors.com
| | Tel: (404) 256-9518
The Brainex System |D |http://www.brainex.com/brainex_system/
| | stanley@brainex.com 1994-99 Releases
Trade Wars |D |http://www.eisonline.com/tradewars/
| | jpritch@eisonline.com
| | v3.09 (DOS-32) in 2002
Vagabond Software: |D |http://www.vbsoft.org 1:124/7013
Bryan Turner | | vagabond@vbsoft.org
| | last update: Jul 17th 2002
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
APoint |PI |http://www.apoint-mail.de
| |http://www.apoint-mail.de/indexe.htm
| | (English Version)
| | dirk.pokorny@apoint-mail.de
| | v1.25 2:2426/1210.13
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 7 8 Sep 2008
CrossPoint (XP) |P |http://www.crosspoint.de (German Only)
| | pm@crosspoint.de v3.12d Dec 22nd 1999
FreeXP |P |http://www.freexp.de 2:2433/460
| | support@freexp.de
| | v3.40 RC3 Aug 31st 2003 (Snapshot)
OpenXP/32 |PI |http://www.openxp.com 2:248/2004
| | (Site is in German Only)
| | mk@openxp.de v3.8.15 Beta Feb 10th 2004
| | Download Page comes back 404 not found.
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
GoldEd+ |E |http://mik.nu/golded-plus/ 2:203/6600
| | v1.1.5 Snapshot on Feb 28th 2003
SqEd32 |E |http://www.sqed.de
| | v1.15 on Dec 15th 1999
TimEd |E |http://blizzard.dnsalias.org/fidonet
| | mail@ozzmosis.com /timed
| | v1.11.a5 in March 2003 3:633/267
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
GiGo |UI |http://www.gigo.com
| | v0109 on Jan 9th 1997
Internet Rex: |UI |http://members.shaw.ca/InternetRex/
Charles Cruden | | telnet://xanadubbs.ca 1:342/806
(Khan Software) | | v2.29 on Oct 21st 2001
TransNet |UI |http://www.ressl.com.ar/transnet/
| | transnet@ressl.com.ar
| | v2.11 on Jul 18th 1998
TransX: Multiboard |UI |http://www.start.ca/software/multiboard
Communications, Inc.| | Unsure about support now but Free Keys
| | are now available. Donations accepted.
| | v3.5 (Note: KeyGen is a Windows Program)
Ifmail |UI |http://ifmail.sourceforge.net
| | crosser@average.org 2:5020/230
| | Ifmail is a FTN <-> E-Mail/News Gateway
| | Program.
Meltdown-BBS |UI |http://meltdown-bbs.sourceforge.net/
| | meltdown-bbs.project.petkan
| | @spamgourmet.com
| | Fido: 2:350/5
| | Meltdown-BBS is an FTN <->
| | Web/PHP/MySQL BBS forum system.
MakeNL |U | http://hub2000.darktech.org/makenl
| | fidonet.hub2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 8 8 Sep 2008
| | Fido: 1:229/2000
| | FidoNet Nodelist Processor
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
National BBS List |? | http://www.usbbs.org
Hispanic FIDO/BBS's |? | http://www.conecta2.org/pucela_bbs/
(in Spanish only) | | (Extensive software & BBS Listings)
+- - - - - - - - - - -+- - -+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
File Archives:
http://archives.thebbs.org http://www.filegate.net
http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org http://www.juge.com
http://www.dmine.com/bbscorner/ http://garbo.uwasa.fi
http://www.simtel.net http://wuarchive.wustl.edu
http://www.bbsfiles.com http://hobbes.nmsu.edu
Note: most also provide FTP access
(use ftp:// instead of http:// above)
*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*=.=*=-=*
Please send corrections & additions to: Robert Couture, 1:229/2000
E-Mail: rpa4email (at) rogers (dot) com
Telnet: runekeep.darktech.org
(Leave Feedback as Guest or create an account)
Emeritus: Ben Ritchey, Todd Cochrane, Frank Vest, Peter Popovich
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FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 9 8 Sep 2008
=================================================================
FIDONEWS INFORMATION
=================================================================
How to Submit an Article
If you wish to submit an article for inclusion in the Fidonews, here
are some guidelines, if you send it as an attached file; the preferred
method if you want reasonable control over how the published article
will appear in the Fidonews:
a) Plain ASCII text. If you could type it on your keyboard, it's
probably quite OK. No line may be longer than 70 characters.
b) Put a title to the article. Put the title in two times. The first
time, on the first line, with an * before it. The second time, on
the second line, without the * and centered. This will help in the
format since the title with the * is removed and used in the index,
the second line will become the headline. On the third line, put
your name and FidoNet address, present or former. If former, you
may want to add some other address where you can be reached for
personal comments.
c) Deadline for article submission is Sunday, 22:00 UTC.
Help the Editor by following the above guides. Below are some subjects
and the file extension for the article as set in the configuration
file for the making of the Fidonews. Please help by putting the file
extension of the correct subject on the file name if known.
Ideas for Subject areas:
Subject File | Subject File
----------------------------------|----------------------------------
From the *C's *.css | Rebuttals to articles *.reb
Fidonet Regional News *.reg | Fidonet Net News *.net
Retractions *.rtx | General Fidonet Articles *.art
Guest Editorial *.gue | Fidonet Current Events *.cur
Fidonet Interviews *.inv | Fidonet Software Reviews *.rev
Fidonet Web Page Reviews *.web | Fidonet Notices *.not
Getting Fidonet Technical *.ftc | Question Of The Week *.que
Humor in a Fido Vein *.hfv | Comix in ASCII *.cmx
Fidonet's Int. Kitchen *.rec | Poet's Corner *.poe
Clean Humor & Jokes *.jok | Other Stuff *.oth
Fidonet Classified Ads *.ads | Corrections *.cor
Best of Fidonet *.bof | Letters to the Editor *.let
If you don't know or are not sure, send the article anyway. Put a .TXT
on it and I'll try to figure out where it should be in the Fidonews.
If you follow these simple guidelines, there should be little problem
in getting your article published. If your submission is too far out
of specs for the Fidonews, it will be returned to you and/or a message
sent informing you of the problem. This DOES NOT mean that your
article is not accepted. It means that there is something in it that I
can not fix and I need your help on it.
FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 10 8 Sep 2008
Send articles via e-mail or netmail, file attach or message to:
Björn Felten
Fidonet 2:2/2 or 2:203/0
E-Mail bfelten @ telia dot com
Skype file bfelten
IMPORTANT! If you send the article via e-mail, make sure you put the
word "fidonews" somewhere in the subject line! That way it
will always pass the spam filter, ending up in the proper
folder.
Please include a message, telling me that you have sent an article.
That way I will know to look for it.
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FIDONEWS 25-36 Page 11 8 Sep 2008
Credits, Legal Infomation, Availability
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- FIDONEWS STAFF - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Editor: Björn Felten, 2:2/2 |
| Columnists: Frank Vest - Frank's Column |
| Robert Couture - Fidonet Software Listing |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - EDITORS EMERITI - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince |
| Perriello, Tim Pozar, Sylvia Maxwell, Donald Tees, |
| Christopher Baker, Zorch Frezberg, Henk Wolsink, |
| Doug Meyers, Warren D. Bonner, Frank L. Vest |
| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of Fidonet.
There is no copyright attached to Fidonews, though authors
retain rights to their contributed articles. Opinions expressed
by the authors is strictly their own. Noncommercial duplication
and distribution within Fidonet is encouraged. Authors are
encouraged to send their articles in ASCII text to the Editor
at one of the addresses above.
The weekly edition of Fidonews is distributed through the file
area FIDONEWS, and is published as echomail in the echo FIDONEWS.
These sources are normally available through your Network
Coordinator. The current and past issues are also available from
the following sources:
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- - FIDONEWS AVAILABILITY - -- -- -- -- -- -- +
| |
| File request from 2:2/2 or 2:203/0: |
| current issue FIDONEWS |
| back issue, volume v, issue ii FNEWSvii.ZIP |
| |
| On the web: |
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| http://www.fidonews.net |
| |
| The Snooze *and* the FIDONEWS echo in your newsreader: |
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| |
+ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +
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