Date: Sat, 9 Apr 94 19:39:50 PDT From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #396 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Sat, 9 Apr 94 Volume 94 : Issue 396 Today's Topics: ARLB030 FCC amends packet rule ARLS016 SAREX Mission STS-59 Cell phones in the sky (was Re: Ham radios on planes - Defi...) Delivery Failure Report Ham Club list in Bay Area? Ham radio in Germany HDN Releases how's FM broadcast for freq. standard? How to know if you are a ham. Low cost antenna required (2 msgs) Modem throughput with Analog Cellular STOP SENDING HAMS ON USENET CRAP !!! VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 8 April Wanted: Apr & May QST digest WWV Antennas Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 14:16:38 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!marcbg@network.ucsd.edu Subject: ARLB030 FCC amends packet rule To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB QST @ ARL $ARLB030 ARLB030 FCC amends packet rule ZCZC AG94 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 30 ARLB030 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT April 5, 1994 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB030 ARLB030 FCC amends packet rule FCC Amends Rules Concerning Message Forwarding Systems in the Amateur Service In an April 4 press release, the FCC announced that it has relaxed the amateur service rules to enable contemporary message forwarding systems to operate at hundreds of characters per second while retaining safeguards to prevent misuse. A message forwarding system is a group of amateur stations participating in a voluntary, cooperative, interactive arrangement where communications from the control operator of an originating station are transmitted to one or more destination stations via forwarding stations, which may or may not be automatically controlled. Currently, the control operator of each station is held individually accountable for each message retransmitted, resulting in unnecessary content review and delays. The ARRL, in commenting on PR Docket 93-85, stated that the obligation of the control operator of the first forwarding station should be the establishment of the identity of the station originating the message. Only when this is not done should these control operators be held accountable for improper message content. Also, there is currently no central supervisory authority in an ad hoc amateur service digital network, making these unsupervised systems easy targets for misuse by uncooperative operators and nonhams. Moreover, the Commission said that it could be difficult to establish after the fact that a particular VHF station originated a fleeting high-speed digital transmission. For these reasons, the Commission said there must be on-going oversight of the system and the control operators of the first forwarding stations are in the best position to provide such oversight. Therefore, the Commission will hold accountable only the licensees of the station originating a message and the licensee of the first station forwarding a message in a high-speed message forwarding system. The licensee of the first forwarding station must either authenticate the identity of the station from which it accepts communications on behalf of the system, or accept accountability for the content of the message. The Commission also clarified that the station that receives a communication directly from the originating station and introduces it into the message forwarding system is the first forwarding station. The League and the Colorado Council of Amateur Radio Clubs suggested that the Commission substitute the word ''simultaneously'' for ''instantaneously'' in the redefinition of a repeater. The Commission concurred and adopted this modification. The Commission believes that these rule changes will enable contemporary high-speed message forwarding systems to operate as their designers intended, while retaining the minimum safeguards necessary to prevent misuse. The effective date of the rules change has not yet been announced. NNNN /EX -- ======================================================== Marc B. Grant Voice Mail: 214-246-1150 marcbg@netcom.com Amateur Radio N5MEI marcbg@esy.com Computer & Information Security ======================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 14:18:58 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!marcbg@network.ucsd.edu Subject: ARLS016 SAREX Mission STS-59 To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS016 ARLS016 SAREX Mission STS-59 ZCZC AS60 QST de W1AW Space Bulletin 016 ARLS016 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington, CT April 7, 1994 To all radio amateurs SB SPACE ARL ARLS016 ARLS016 SAREX Mission STS-59 SAREX Mission STS-59 The Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club will manage a small dial-in telephone BBS during the upcoming SAREX Shuttle mission. The BBS will have the latest Keplerian element sets available during the flight. The number is 713- 244-5625, 9600 baud or less. Additional Shuttle mission information will be available throughout the flight from the NASA Spacelink computer bulletin board. To reach the bulletin board, dial 205-895-0028, or on internet use the address spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov. The flight is scheduled to launch at 1206 UTC on Friday, April 8. Amateur Radio licensed crewmembers Jay Apt, N5QWL, and Linda Godwin, N5RAX, will operate the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment. Apt is the commander of the Blue Shift and will operate the shuttle systems during the ''night'' shift, while Godwin is responsible for overall operation of three large radars in the shuttle's cargo bay during the ''day'' shift. They will operate both FM voice and packet during the mission. Keep posted to W1AW bulletins for additional SAREX information and updated Keplerian element sets throughout the flight. Thank to Gil Carman, WA5NOM, and the Johnson Space Center Newsroom for the preceding information. NNNN /EX -- ======================================================== Marc B. Grant Voice Mail: 214-246-1150 marcbg@netcom.com Amateur Radio N5MEI marcbg@esy.com Computer & Information Security ======================================================= ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 1994 03:40:02 -0400 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!hp81.prod.aol.net!search01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Cell phones in the sky (was Re: Ham radios on planes - Defi...) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article , linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robert Linley) writes: >Does this mean you shouldn't use a cell phone from moutain tops? :) Notwithstanding the tounge-in-cheek smiley... Depends on where you are. If you're in a rural area, then there's probably a rural cell server that is properly frequency planned so as to pose to problem to anyone. A mountaintop in an urban area would be tough...not only on the system but on YOU! Your poor phone also hears every co-channel co-SAT cell in the valley below and it's doubtful you'd be able to hold a call for very long. Yes it does happen to have mountains in the middle of an urban area--Phoenix AZ! The real skinny on cell phones on A/C: In order to properly allow their use (from the FAA's standpoint), all the A/C avionics would have to be type-accepted against cellular interference in-flight. Which would cost the airlines BIG $ to perform all the testing on their existing equipment. So they simply prohibit them in the interest of safety--maybe they don't affect your plane's systems, but do you want to risk your life on it? But practically, again, in trying to use a cell phone on a plane, you'd receive so much co-channel crap that it's unlikely you'd hear anything intelligible. scott nx7u@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 94 22:14:48 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: Delivery Failure Report To: info-hams@ucsd.edu From: NAME: Mail Postmaster FUNC: TEL: To: net%"Info-Hams@UCSD.EDU"@RCVAX@MRGATE ALL-IN-1 was unable to deliver your message dated to ADAMS,SE - no such ALL-IN-1 account on node ANDV02 The subject of the message was : Info-Hams Digest V94 #395 ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 1994 20:19:11 -0700 From: nntp.crl.com!crl2.crl.com!not-for-mail@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Ham Club list in Bay Area? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Where can I find a list of Ham Radio clubs in the Bay Area, Specifically in Half Moon Bay/Coastside on The SF peninsula. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 94 23:48:48 GMT From: news1.hh.ab.com!iccgcc.cs.hh.ab.com!lieser@uunet.uu.net Subject: Ham radio in Germany To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Is the 2-meter band typically the most used band in Europe also (particularly Germany)? I know that in Europe it only extends from 144-146MHz, while the 70cm band is much wider. I had thoughts of taking a small rig while vacationing. Does anyone have any experience with this? (I could only hope that I'd pass the test and receive my license before September.) I've looked on various ftp sites in Finland and Germany and can't seem to find much info. Also, we don't get 'de' groups here. Thanks, Ed Lieser Allen-Bradley Co., Cleveland, Ohio ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 06 Apr 1994 20:21:09 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!convex!seas.smu.edu!rwsys!ocitor!FredGate@network.ucsd.edu Subject: HDN Releases To: info-hams@ucsd.edu The following files were processed Wednesday 4-6-94: HAMNEWS [ HAM: Bulletins and Newsletters ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ANART802.ZIP ( 5820 bytes) ANART Bulletin #802 03/27/94. ARLB029.ZIP ( 1897 bytes) 03/30/94 - Tornadoe brings out hams. ARLD018.ZIP ( 2496 bytes) ARRL DX Bulletin 03/31/94. ARLP013.ZIP ( 1977 bytes) ARRL Propagation Bulletin 04/02/94. ARLX014.ZIP ( 1474 bytes) 03/29/94 - RSGB Meeting Scheduled. ARRL0324.ZIP ( 6936 bytes) ARRL Newsletter Vol 13 No 6 03/24/94. IRTS0327.ZIP ( 3462 bytes) IRTS Bulletin 03/27/94. NEWS0401.ZIP ( 8447 bytes) News Line #868 04/01/94. OPDX153.ZIP ( 4145 bytes) Oh/Pa DX Bulletin #153 04/04/94. RACES319.ZIP ( 2368 bytes) RACES Bulletin #319 03/28/94. RSGB0403.ZIP ( 6437 bytes) RSGB Bulletin 04/03/94. RTDX0401.ZIP ( 2876 bytes) RTTY DX Bulletin 04/01/94. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 48335 bytes in 12 file(s) HAMPACK [ HAM: Packet Communications programs ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NPFPMS.ZIP ( 335354 bytes) PMS V2.16 - Multi-user application program for BPQ4.05 or greater by Ted Harrison, G8NPF. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 335354 bytes in 1 file(s) HAMSAT [ HAM: Satellite tracking and finding programs ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT085.ZIP ( 2335 bytes) AmSat Bulletin #085 03/26/94. AMSAT092.ZIP ( 5828 bytes) AmSat Bulletin #092 04/02/94. ARLK012.ZIP ( 2806 bytes) Keps 03/26/94. OBS091.ZIP ( 5996 bytes) Amsat Orbital elements #091 04/01/94. PCTRK30A.ZIP ( 283579 bytes) PC-Track V3.0 - track 200 satellites in 3D or flat mercator projection (1 of 2). PCTRK30B.ZIP ( 324720 bytes) PC-Track V3.0 - track 200 satellites in 3D or flat mercator projection (2 of 2). SPC0404.ZIP ( 3937 bytes) Space Bulletin 04/04/94. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 629201 bytes in 7 file(s) HAMSWL [ Shortwave Schedules and programs ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DWELLE.ZIP ( 2419 bytes) Deutsche Welle SWBC Sked - effective 04/01/94. KBS.ZIP ( 1690 bytes) KBS, Seoul - SWBC Summer 1994 Sked. KOL.ZIP ( 3089 bytes) KOL SWBC Sked 04/01/94 - 08/27/94. RDANMARK.ZIP ( 1735 bytes) Radio Danmark SWBC Sked - 03/27/94 to 09/24/94. RFE.ZIP ( 6830 bytes) Radio Free Europe SWBC Sked 03/31/94 - 09/25/94. TEXAS_AM.ZIP ( 20320 bytes) Texas AM/FM Broadcast Stations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 36083 bytes in 6 file(s) Total of 1048973 bytes in 26 file(s) Files are available via Anonymous-FTP from ftp.fidonet.org IP NET address 140.98.2.1 for seven days. They are mirrored to ftp.halcyon.com and are available for 60-90 days. Directories are: pub/fidonet/ham/hamnews (Bulletins) /hamant (Antennas) /hamsat (Sat. prg/Amsat Bulletins) /hampack (Packet) /hamelec (Formulas) /hamtrain (Training Material) /hamlog (Logging Programs) /hamcomm (APLink/JvFax/Rtty/etc) /hammods (Equip modification) /hamswl (SWBC Skeds/Frequencies) /hamscan (Scanner Frequencies) /hamutil (Operating aids/utils) /hamsrc (Source code to programs) /hamdemo (Demos of new ham software) /hamnos (TCP/IP and NOS related software) Files may be downloaded via land-line at (214) 226-1181 or (214) 226-1182. 1.2 to 16.8K, 23 hours a day . When ask for Full Name, enter: Guest;guest lee - ab5sm Ham Distribution Net * Origin: Ham Distribution Net Coordinator / Node 1 (1:124/7009) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 09 Apr 1994 08:05:02 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!news.ysu.edu!malgudi.oar.net!witch!ted!mjsilva@network.ucsd.edu Subject: how's FM broadcast for freq. standard? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <2o4h56$ijo@agate.berkeley.edu>, Ken A. Nishimura (kennish@kabuki.EECS.Berkeley.EDU) writes: > ...stuff deleted... >Most FM stations use a FLL to keep their transmitters on frequency by >dividing their output frequency by some factor and comparing that >with a known accurate lower frequency reference. Note that dividing >a FM signal also divides the deviation index by the division ratio. >Thus, by dividing by 5 or so, the FM signal can be guaranteed not >to exceed a deviation of 2.405, and the carrier never disappears and >will always be of proper phase, assuming that the signal corresponds... > You're not saying they use their *modulated* signal as the input to their frequency comparator, are you? That would cause the carrier to to re-modulate itself to cancel out it's original modulation as it tried to stay on center frequency! If you tried to pick out just the carrier in a divided-by-five signal you'd need a bandwidth of less than 10Hz (at approx. 20MHz), and, dividing or not, you'd end up with a uselessly small capture range. Mike, KK6GM ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 94 01:06:00 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: How to know if you are a ham. To: info-hams@ucsd.edu This test is for ham radio operators: 1. Do you say QSL on voice?_________ 2. Do you say "For ID" after your call?________ 3. Is it rare for you to have a contact longer than 20 minutes?_______ 4. Do you check into traffic nets to up the "body count?"_________ 5. Do you check into traffic nets for any reason?__________ 6. Do you participate in contests and like it?________ 7. Are you overweight and hold an Extra Class license?________ 8. Have your worked more countries than the number of sexual encounters with your spouse?____________ 9. Are you a regular on a two meter repeater?___________ 10. Do you dislike children in general?______________ 11. Do you ask for help and when received from a number of hams send out a general thank you to everyone in the world?___________ 12. Do you think it is wrong to talk about politics or other interesting topics on ham radio?_______________ How to Score: Number of Yes answers: 2 or less- are you sure you are a ham? 4 to 6- you are on the edge of being human or ham. 6 to 8-you are a typical ham-very boring. 8 to 1O-check your pulse, if you find one re-take test. 1O or more. Call the funeral home, send your name into QST as a Silent Key. Burt Fisher South Dennis (Cape Cod), Mass. Teacher of, Video, Broadcasting, Electronics Cape Cod Regional Vocational High School (Home of WCCT-FM 9O.3 MHZ) FISHERB@A1.mec.mass.edu Amateur Radio Call K1OIK K1OIK@KQ1K.ma ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 06:55:19 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ee.und.ac.za!csir.co.za!hippo.ru.ac.za!caesar.wits.ac.za!dlab164.ee.wits.ac.za!budhia@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Low cost antenna required To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I require some info on designing a low cost antenna to rural communities where signal levels are fairly low. Thus a low cost outdoor antenna is required. Any help on design procedures or even examples of existing antennas would be appreciated. Thanks Harshik ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Apr 1994 06:54:35 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ee.und.ac.za!csir.co.za!hippo.ru.ac.za!caesar.wits.ac.za!dlab164.ee.wits.ac.za!budhia@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Low cost Antenna required To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I require some info on designing a low cost antenna to rural communities where signal levels are fairly low. Thus a low cost outdoor antenna is required. Any help on design procedures or even examples of existing antennas would be appreciated. Thanks Harshik ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 1994 03:46:02 -0400 From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!gatech!news.ans.net!hp81.prod.aol.net!search01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Modem throughput with Analog Cellular To: info-hams@ucsd.edu In article <1994Apr8.185640.3382@mixcom.mixcom.com>, kevin jessup writes: >I am considering a PCMCIA 14,400 baud modem for my palmtop >that will then connect to my analog cellular phone. I don't >want to waste money on the high speed modem if effective >throughput is 2400 baud or less. Thanks. A relatively uneducated observation: On my analog cellular system, it's pulling teeth just to have the system recognize a few relatively long (0.1sec) DTMF tones to access my voicemail or home answering machine! I can't imagine that anyone actually realizes anywhere near 14.4kbps throughput! ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 1994 10:07:41 GMT From: yale.edu!noc.near.net!news.delphi.com!gilbaronw0mn@yale.arpa Subject: STOP SENDING HAMS ON USENET CRAP !!! To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >In article , >Brett Miller - N7OLQ wrote: >>I think that is the main problem. Cross-posting such lengthy articles is just >>a pure waste of bandwidth. > >Actually, a properly cross-posted article does not use any more bandwidth >than an article posted to only one newsgroup. That is why crossposting >is different from posting many times. Please explain why crossposting does not use more bandwidth. Inquiring minds would like to know. 10k x 2 lists is 20k of data. How can that not be a waste. It lets more people see it but many people see it more than once and that is an obvious waste of bandwidth. Think about it for a minute. >The exception is when someone has a feed that gets one of the groups and >not the other. Then I agree, he might have a valid point if he says >that it is a waste of bandwidth _on that link_. Huhhhhhhhhh if it gets only one then you have less data going across. It jsut does not make sense to me. Gil Baron, El Baron Rojo, W0MN Rochester,MN "Bailar es Vivir" PGP2.3 key at key servers or upon request ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 09 Apr 94 05:51:17 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!eff!neoucom.edu!news.ysu.edu!malgudi.oar.net!infinet!n8emr!bulletin@network.ucsd.edu Subject: VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 8 April To: info-hams@ucsd.edu ============================================================== | Automatic relayed from packet radio via | | N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553 | ============================================================== SB DX @ WW $RTDX0408 VK2SG RTTY DX Notes, 8 April VK2SG RTTY DX Notes for week ending 8 April 1994 (BID RTDX0408) Our information this week came from 9X5LJ, DJ3IW and the Central Europe DX Cluster Node DB0SPC, I5FLN, IK5AAX and the IK5PWJ Packet Cluster, N2DBI, VK2SG, W2JGR and the NJ0M node of the Twin Cities DX Packet Cluster, W5KSI and ZS5S. Thank you all for your assistance. Bandpass Friday 1 1129-14082 VD2STN Jesus Island 1232-14088 UT5DZ 1336-21086 J88JJ 1646-21085 OD5PL 1747-21080 9I2M 2006-14084 J88BS 2010-14087 Z21KD 2036-14082 GW3YDX 2342-14086 VP8EOS 2347-14090 TF3US Saturday 2 0025-14088 KG4CW 0123-14088 S92ZM 0128-14085 RX9US QSL Box 7990, Polysaevo-3, Obl. Kemerovskaya, 652563 Russia 0321-14087 VP9MZ 0720-14083 HV4NAC 1140-21087 UN5GY 1151-21087 4X6CN 1302-21083 UN7M 1324-14087 RK3DYW 1332-14088 UT5DZ 1804-14087 CN8NP 1940-14083 9I2M 2011-14084 S92ZM 2012-14084 TZ6FIC QSL F6FEQ 2026-14078 9I2M 2029-14087 CN8NP 2055-14086 EA8ATE 2315-14085 FG5FI FEC Sunday 3 0034-14083 VP8CIL 0657-14084 S92ZM 1025-21080 4X/OK1FGC 1301-14088 SV5TS 1411-14087 HP1XVI 1449-14083 FR5ZU/E 1545-21083 9I2M 1509-14083 UT5DX 1513-14081 UY0IO 1652-14088 5B4VX 1732-14086 CN8NP 1803-14087 4X6UO 1843-14087 TZ6FIC 1932-14082 S92ZM 2011-14085 9I2M Monday 4 1313-14081 YI1AL 1540-21083 9I2M 1552-21083 V51A 1601-14085 T9/OH6XY 1620-14085 S51DX 1623-14086 UR7VF 1714-21086 VP8CIL 1801-14090 S59F Tuesday 5 0410-14076 H44MS 1945-14090 SV2KF 2023-14085 5B4ABU Wednesday 6 1509-14090 LZ1KBB 2044-14091 J88BS 2047-14091 ON4AOH 2130-14064 TY1PS CLOVER Thursday 7 0200-14089 ZP6DN 1840-14088 EA8AMV 1850-14083 SU1ER Notes of Interest. The only good note for this week is a report from Syd, VK2SG. Syd states that he is improving and seems to be getting better each day. Nice to hear from you Syd and keep up the good health. The sad note is the DXpedition from Spratly. Propagation was poor, and from what we saw, were calling only on nets and little split operation SSB on 20 meters. No digital, what a pity. For next week's bulletin, send your Bandpass and Notes of Interest to Jules, W2JGR @ W2TKU.#SRQ.FL.USA.NA REMEMBER, DX DON'T SLEEP. GL DE BOB, WB2CJL @ W5KSI.#NOLA.LA.USA.NA /EX SP KT7H @ N7DUO.WA.USA.NA ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 94 12:04:48 GMT From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uknet!comlab.ox.ac.uk!oxuniv!laczik@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Wanted: Apr & May QST digest To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Hi, I have missed some of 'Digest of Articles - QST' postings (April & May). Are they archived somewhere and accessable by ftp, or could someone please e-mail me copy? Many thanks... ------------------------------ Date: 9 Apr 94 21:00:22 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: WWV Antennas To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Text item: Text_1 >...there certainly are antennas with more gain which would >give the same radiation patterns. Jeff NH6IL Jeff, would you please explain how a different antenna could have "more gain" *AND*, at the same time, "give the same radiation patterns"? I want to build one. 73, KG7BK, Cecil_A_Moore@ccm.hf.intel.com (I don't speak for Intel) ------------------------------ Date: 8 Apr 1994 21:55:13 GMT From: juniper.almaden.ibm.com!enge.almaden.ibm.com!enge@uunet.uu.net To: info-hams@ucsd.edu References <$arlz05.1994@ampr.org>, <2nr3qv$t21@crcnis1.unl.edu>, <2nvc5n$ppb@hpbab.mentorg.com>den Subject : Re: Amateur Forwarding Rules Ammended I would like to point out that the AA4RE BBS system has an authentication system and I have published the specs. The system is based on a variation of RFC 1334. Please take a look at them first before you "invent" something else. Roy Engehausen, AA4RE enge@almaden.ibm.com ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #396 ******************************