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╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ╟─┐ ║ K E E P I N G I N T O U C H ║ │ ║ ═══════════════════════════════ ║ │ ║ SPITFIRE Monthly Support Newsletter ║ │ ║ for registered SPITFIRE Sysops! ║ │ ║ March 1993 ║ │ ║ Compliments of BUFFALO CREEK SOFTWARE ║ │ ║ Buffalo Creek's BBS * 515-225-8496 ║ │ ║ 38400/19200/9600/2400/1200 Baud ║ │ ║ 2 Nodes ║ │ ║ ║ │ ╚═╤══════════════════════════════════════════╝ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Edited by Jacque Shipley The Mother Board BBS - (515) 986-3464 - 19200 Baud Sysop Of The Month by Walt Crede Roam This Fertile Land - (515) 288-8755 - 2400 Baud Newly Registered SPITFIRE BBS List by Ann Woltz Other Contributions As Noted ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Notes from the author of SPITFIRE! ╟─┐ ╚═╤═══════════════════════════════════════╝ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ SPITFIRE v3.3 Released! ----------------------- The SPITFIRE v3.3 was officially released on March 3, 1993, at 3:30 a.m. As of this date (Sunday, March 7, 1993) all shipping orders have been processed and I plan to start compiling copies to be downloaded just as soon as I finish writing this article. Please keep in mind that new shipping orders appear each day when the mail is delivered. We are working to get your copy of SPITFIRE v3.3 to you just as quickly as possible. We are going to try a new approach in regard to the upgrade download process. Mike Dowie (Sysop - Dis iz Dis BBS - 408-227-1583) has volunteered his board to serve as a download site. Here is the way it will work. I will compile licensed copies of SPITFIRE v3.3. I will put these copies on a backup tape and ship them to Mike. Mike will then make the files that are shipped to him available on his board. I will furnish Mike with your Buffalo Creek's BBS caller record so you will be able to log on his board just as if you are logging on Buffalo Creek's BBS. Once you are logged, you may want to change your password so they are different on the 2 boards. Chris Winterscheid (Sysop - Fantasy Gamer's Association BBS - 515-225-1941) has also volunteered his board for the same purpose. So, please be sure to note the phone number to call when you receive your postcard which informs you that your licensed copy of SPITFIRE is ready for download. I believe we have a good, clean, solid SPITFIRE release. I am kind of proud of SPITFIRE v3.3. However, for the bad news. We purchased new floppy disk drives and the diskettes we are using for SPITFIRE v3.3 cost twice as much as the diskettes we used for SPITFIRE v3.2 (we absorbed the additional cost). However, in spite of our efforts, we are getting reports of unreadable diskettes. For this we apologize. We do our best but still have problems. I really wish I knew the answer to this &^(&^ problem. SPITFIRE FREE UPGRADE ELIGIBILITY --------------------------------- A Sysop who has registered SPITFIRE and then changes to another BBS software package is ineligible to participate in the SPITFIRE v3.3 FREE UPGRADE PLAN. Additionally, a Sysop who is no longer operating his/her board is no longer eligible. I would hope that no one would question this long standing policy. It seems to me to be plain ol' common sense. The reason I am telling you this is because there are some former SPITFIRE Sysops in the Chicago area who switched to another BBS software package and at least one of them is making a bunch of noise. I am starting to think that someone is going to have to be taken to task on this type of slander. This individual originally registered SPITFIRE v3.0 and received 2 FREE upgrades (SFv3.1 and SFv3.2). It is kinda of a shame when a firm attempts to try to treat people right (FREE upgrades and FREE support) and then after that still get slandered. It is kinda amazing to me. LAKOTA QWK Mail Door -------------------- In all probability, you will have to use PKZIP (1.10 I think is the old version) with LAKOTA since the new PKZIP requires a tremendous amount of memory. You will know if there is not enough memory available when a packet is to be zipped for download. All you have to do to cure this problem is place a copy of the old PKZIP in your SPITFIRE HOME directory. We have been getting a tremendous amount of positive feedback regarding LAKOTA and SPITFIRE v3.3. It is surely our pleasure to get this kind of feedback. Thank you so very much. Thank you for your continued support and promotion of SPITFIRE. We honestly appreciate it. May the peace provided by God's grace be with all of you. Until next time.... Mike Woltz ╒══════════════════════════╕ │ SPITFIRE SYSOP'S REQUEST │ ╘══════════════════════════╛ ╒════════════════════════════════════════╕ │ SPITFIRE TO JOIN THE FIDONET FILEBONE! │ ╘════════════════════════════════════════╛ Well, what the heck is filebone? If we're going to find out about Filebone we should begin by explaining Fidonet. Fidonet is an international message network. Over 18,000 BBS's participate on line world wide. Fidonet carries on its backbone (Main areas) over 500 conferences with a wide range of topics. It has been reported that conferences that are available on and off the backbone total over 2,000. On a average day I can expect 2,000 to 4,000 messages coming in to my 80 some odd conferences! The mail packet that comes in carries only messages from conferences that I actually carry. And with fidonet, the hub for your area calls you, sending new mail packets all day long. With Fidonet you can carry a conversation in your local area, sending and receiving messages, to and from your BBS with only a small delay! I Also carry 84 file areas that are connected to the Filebone. These files are hatched at specific areas around the nation and are transferred with the mail. The files are processed as they come in, together with a Tick file (.TIC). The Tick Program then runs and reads the .TIC file and gets a description of the program received places the program in the proper directory, and updates the description in SFFILES.BBS for all directories that have received new programs! Here in Las Vegas our network has grown by 2 fold in the past year. We have a Fidonet association that pays for the mail and file transfers. Since the beginning of the year I have received over 100,000 Megs of mail and files, and this is only the 4th of February! And now for the costs!! With cost sharing of our 30 +- members it cost us 10.00 per month for the Long distance calls! It saves me about 50.00 to 80.00 per month in long distance charges, and I get all the mail and files I can handle! How the mail is transferred. Mail is transferred through a program that is called a Front Door. The Front Door (Binkley, D'bridge, Frontdoor, etc.) sits active and handles all BBS, Mail, and File Transfers. When a human (BBS) caller connects to a front door system, it will display a message that states "Press escape to access the BBS"). This will then load your Spitfire. By using command line options "Spitfire %1", Spitfire will accept the baud rate sent by the Front end program, and your caller will now be in your BBS. When another front door program calls you, your system will detect that another front door is calling you and allow mail and file transfers. Freq's Freq's, short for File Requests, are a way of transmitting or receiving files from another system that is running with another front door program. To request a file from another system, you enter the address of the node you are calling and enter the file you are requesting. The frontend host you are calling will send the file without ever having to log on to the BBS. You configure the directories you want others to have access to, and only files in these areas will be sent. Okay, so what about Spitfire joining the Filebone? What does that mean to me? We are setting up a file hatch site for Spitfire programs and utilities. We have full support from Mr. Woltz on this and will be sending out his latest and greatest programming! Also this is a invitation to all Spitfire specific program authors to get there programs directly to the BBS's that will be using them. Please send me your new updates with a program file description, and I will hatch these out to the Spitfire BBSes that are on-line. My BBS number is 702-293-1099 and 702-293-0760 14.4. If you are already on-line with Fidonet you can transmit your programs to 1:209/236. A second site that is on the East Coast that you can send to is at 912-888-0656 16.8K DS. The Fidonet address is 1:3617/4. We will only hatch programs that are written for Spitfire at this time. Filebone areas will be: SF-BCS = Spitfire Programs From Buffalo Creek. SF-UTIL = Spitfire 3rd Party Utilities. SF-OTHER = Other Programs For Spitfire. Hatch Conference Message area: SF-ANNOUNCE Questions About Spitfire and Fidonet can be Directed to: West Coast Data Systems BBS, Craig Castleberry, Voice 702-293-1737 BBS, 702-293-1099 14.4, 702-294-1099 2400, 702-293-0760 14.4. Via Fidonet 1:209/236 East Coast The Omega One BBS, Richard McDuffie, Voice 912-436-0997 BBS, 912-888-0656 16.8K DS Via Fidonet 1:3617/4 Article Contributed By: Craig Castleberry, Data Systems BBS. ╒══════════════════════════╕ │ SPITFIRE UTILITY REVIEWS │ ╘══════════════════════════╛ MAILTIME -------- MAILTIME is a SPITFIRE/JNET utility which generates a bulletin letting the Sysop and callers know when the last successful mail transfer occurred. MAILTIME's configuration allows the Sysop to enter the name of their BBS, which is displayed in the bulletin. Through MAILTIME's command line options the Sysop specifies which bulletin (BULLET5 for example) will be used. MAILTIME creates both an ASCII and ANSI (.BBS/.CLR) bulletin. MAILTIME is written by Paul Staton of The Bread Board BBS (214 617-8259) and require no registration fee, although contributions will be welcomed. COPYHLDY -------- Most Sysops have specific holiday screens which are displayed to callers on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc. The unfortunate fact is that occasionally, the holiday slips past before we realize we forgot to copy the screen over so it would display. COPYHLDY allows the Sysop to set up their holiday screens in their display directory. The holiday screens are then copied over to SPITFIRE display files (WELCOME9.BBS/CLR) automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention by the Sysop. The screens are simply placed in the display directory and named using the format of xx-xx where xx-xx is the numerical value for the month and date. For instance, a St. Patrick's Day screen would be named 03-17. The file extension of .HA is used for the holiday ASCII (.BBS) and .HC is used for the holiday color (.CLR) file. Follow the documentation instructions for setting COPYHLDY to run as a SPITFIRE nightly event (one which executes shortly after midnight). When COPYHLDY runs, it will erase WELCOME9.BBS/CLR if it exists. If the system date corresponds to the date of a *.HA/*.HC, the *.HA and *.HC are copied to WELCOME9.BBS and WELCOME9.CLR respectively. If no holiday file is found which corresponds to the system date, COPYHLDY does nothing. COPYHLDY is written by John Alan Elson, Sysop of Stereo World. The registration for COPYHLDY is $5.00. ╒═════════════════════════════╕ │ SPITFIRE BOARD-OF-THE-MONTH │ ╘═════════════════════════════╛ ╔═╦═╗ ╔══╗ ╦══╗ ╦══╗ ╔══╗ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╔═╗ ╔═╗ ═╦═ ╠══╝ ╔═╗ ═╦═ ═╦═ ╔═╗ ╔═╗ ╔═╗ ╠══╣ ╠══╣ ╚══╗ ║ ╠═╝ ╚═╗ ║ ║ ╠═╣ ║ ║ ╠═╝ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╩ ╚═╝ ╚═╝ ╩ ╩ ╩ ╩ ╩ ╩ ╚═╝ ╩ ╩ ╩ ╩══╝ ╩══╝ ╚══╝ Sysop: Jay Jackson Node Information: Node 1 - (416)890-2531 - 14400 V32.bis/V42.bis Node 2 - (416)890-4545 - 2400 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada It all started innocently enough when I became the proud owner of my first computer in April of 1991. I had wanted one for as long as I could remember, and the dream had finally come true.... The only question now was what to do with it. I loaded my new 386SX/16 with all the things that your normal home user would.... A spreadsheet program, a word processor, and a bunch of games.... Then all ready to go it sat there, and was lucky to be turned on once a week. I was given the use of a laptop at the office, and as most laptops do, this one had a modem. I found the number to a local BBS, and got hooked on my very first call. It didn't take long before I had my own modem, and was using my computer several hours a day. Of course, as happens to all BBSers, I got the urge to run one of my own, and obtained several BBS programs to review as I considered if this was just a passing fancy, or something I really wanted to do. One of the BBS I had been calling was running Spitfire, and it had quickly become one of my favorites due to the simplicity of finding my way around the board, and the hot keys. Of course, this was one of the programs I had obtained, and obviously the one I ended up with. Test Pattern has been operating since September of 1991, and has been a registered Spitfire Bulletin Board since June of 1992. The BBS is of a fairly general nature, in that I have not specialized in any one thing. I have Files, Netmail, and Doors, and try to make the board one where all kinds of callers will feel welcome. The original 40 megabyte hard drive filled up pretty fast, (surprise surprise) and was supplemented by the addition of a second drive, in March of 1992, with 120 megabytes of capacity. When installing the new drive I found out there was no room in the case for the new arrival.... I didn't let that stop me; the new drive went in the case, and I ran the cables for the original out through one of the expansion slots, and had it on top of the case. I don't recommend it, but it worked for me. The next hardware changes came in November of 1992, when I went a little nuts. I decided to open a second node, and to that end I built myself a 386DX/40 with a 211 megabyte hard drive, bought a USR Sportster 14400, an old XT with no hard drive, a tape drive, and the cards and software for a 3 node Lantastic 2Mbps network. I ended up with my original 386SX/16 as Node 1 with its original 40 megabyte hard drive, and the high speed modem. The XT became Node 2 with no hard drive, and the 2400 baud modem. The 386DX/40 has two hard drives with a total of 330 megabytes, and acts as a server for the two BBS nodes, as well as running a local node that I use for maintenance. Test Pattern belongs to 5 different mail networks. They are AccNet which is a small local net of which I am one of the founding members, CircuitNet, NaNet, City2City, and EchoNet. I had a terrible time finding out what software I needed in order to participate in a QWK style mail network, and owe many thanks to Jon Vidler of Late Nite DIVERSIONS in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada for getting me on the right track, and providing the programs to make it work. Four of the mail networks I am in are of the QWK type, the other is CircuitNet. Of all of the mail networks that I presently participate in, I find it to be the most interesting.... Perhaps this is because it is restricted to Spitfire Bulletin Boards. Greg Cazabon of Northern BBS in Brampton, Ontario, Canada is my hub for CircuitNet, and helped me tremendously in getting going with it. Plans for the future? You bet I've got them. I'm working on setting up to join FidoNet, and plan to upgrade the network to the 10Mbps Lantastic ethernet cards in the near future. Further down the road I see adding a CD-ROM unit to the system, and who knows.... maybe even another node or two. I'm really looking forward to working with Spitfire 3.3, as I am sure everyone else is. I must say that Spitfire is one of the most reliable programs I have come across in the time I have been computing, but I'm sure there is no need to convince anyone who might be reading this. ╒════════════════════╕ │ SYSOP-OF-THE-MONTH │ ╘════════════════════╛ Bernard King NEWS CARRIER BBS Scarborough, Ontario, Canada My first encounter with the PC was back in the early 80's at a firm where I was employed in the accounting department. One day my boss said, come have a look at this, Bernard. There is was, a heavy weight in its time: the Columbia 10meg system equipped with a 300 baud acoustic coupler modem. They were installing this system to do a little bit of every thing. I was fascinated by what that little box could do. Soon, we were on-line to places like Dun & Bradstreet for customer checks. As my appreciation for the little grey box grew, I decided it was time for a career change. So, back to school I went to pursue what at the time I felt was the field of the future; PC computing. During that time I managed to purchase my first PC equipped with a 1200 baud modem. After many sleepless hours pursuing local BBSes, I started dabbling with several BBS packages with the intent of setting up my own. A lot of frustrated hours went by until a friend recommend SPITFIRE. I downloaded the shareware version 2.5 and began the setup process. It was truly a breeze. Subsequently, News Carrier was born. If I am not mistaken, this was the first SPITFIRE board in the Toronto area. My first contact with other SPITFIRE sysops came as a surprise. Relaxing after supper one evening, I got a call from Armand Michaud of Cambridge Micro BBS. He wanted to know if I was interested in the disk exchange program that was circulating amongst the various SPITFIRE boards. Yes, was my answer and that started what I normally call a long distance friendship that has grown over the years. Together, although we have not met in the flesh, we are constantly scrutinizing SPITFIRE's additions and revisions. I have also made several other friends as a result of the BBS. News Carrier has come a long way. The board now consists of a 386sx-25 clone equipped with 8 megs of memory, a US Robotics HST (soon to be 16,800 dual) and 465 megs of files, bulletins and on-line games. Future plans includes net-mail services and of course more disk space. I think the key to any successful BBS software lies in its ease of use and its automated processing features. SPITFIRE is surely on that road. Recently, I was granted the privilege of being one of Mikes' beta testers for v3.3. For me, I am quite an easy going fellow who greets each day with enthusiasm. I am "married with children" so to speak. I live in Ajax, Ontario with my children Karen, Andrew and wife Fay who are sometimes driven bonkers by the long hours I spend in front of the "grey box" as t hey call it. I like it! That's my hobby. It's nice to find a hobby in your field of work. I am now employed by Bull Information Systems with their operations support group in Toronto. In closing, I would like congratulate Mike Woltz for a job well done and to wish him continued success with the SPITFIRE project. I would also like to acknowledge my long distance fellow Sysop Armand, as a buddy in the true sense of the word and to all other SPITFIRE Sysops and utility writers, let's keep the project at the head of the class. Bernard King Sysop - News Carrier BBS Ajax, Ont. 416-428-2213 ╒════════════════════════════════════╕ │ NEWLY REGISTERED SPITFIRE SYSTEMS │ ╘════════════════════════════════════╛ A hearty welcome is extended to the following, who have recently become public registered SPITFIRE Bulletin Board Systems: The Last Resort..............................403-488-8236...14400 Baud Darryl Stein, Sysop..........................Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Night Wolves BBS.............................803-766-6789...14400 Baud James Polk, Sysop...........................Charleston, South Carolina The Tank.....................................813-327-8177....2400 Baud Joseph Bishop, Sysop...........................St. Petersburg, Florida The Basement BBS.............................914-337-3021....2400 Baud Adam Greenwald, Sysop................................Yonkers, New York Any Thing Goes...............................909-780-3466....2400 Baud John E. Holland, Sysop...........................Woodcrest, California Warped Perspectives..........................703-764-5358...14400 Baud Jeff Coffman, Sysop...........................Fairfax Station, Virginia Johnny Boy's PC -Mania.......................914-733-5697...14400 Baud John Gady, Sysop................................Bloomingburg, New York The Night Owl................................602-385-9377...14400 Baud Richard Tissaw, Sysop..............................San Manuel, Arizona Talk Time....................................519-734-1216....2400 Baud Gerry Aussant, Sysop..........................Lasalle, Ontario, Canada Ben's BBS....................................814-899-7299...14400 Baud Ben & Clarence Smith, Sysops........................Erie, Pennsylvania The King's Corner............................713-550-2661...14400 Baud Justin King, Sysop......................................Houston, Texas Wayne's World BBS............................217-446-0245....9600 Baud Wayne Henk, Sysop...................................Danville, Illinois Games- N -More...............................713-277-2328....2400 Baud James Cordani, Sysop.................................Sugar Land, Texas GALAXY BBS...................................817-526-5176....9600 Baud Darreld Studie, Sysop............................Harker Heights, Texas Cat Byte BBS.................................817-922-0067....9600 Baud Mark Stevens, Sysop...................................Ft. Worth, Texas Vision.......................................705-983-9219....2400 Baud Marc Methe, Sysop..............................Azilda, Ontario, Canada The Falcon's Den.............................417-865-4289...14400 Baud Hal Boyer, Sysop.................................Springfield, Missouri The Short Line BBS...........................602-992-1531....2400 Baud Ed Sprankle, Sysop....................................Phoenix, Arizona <BBS Name Unknown>...........................515-752-4059....2400 Baud Dave Hala Jr., Sysop................................Marshalltown, Iowa Red River BBS................................405-252-3405....2400 Baud Gilbert Riley, Sysop..................................Duncan, Oklahoma Marine Environment...........................214-625-2709....9600 Baud Michael Lawrence, Sysop..............................The Colony, Texas Symposium.................................<Phone Unknown>....2400 Baud Michael Grace, Sysop..................................Cincinnati, Ohio Bob's Basement...............................915-550-4614....2400 Baud Bob Nichols, Sysop.......................................Odessa, Texas Our World BBS................................916-368-1806....2400 Baud Bobby Gwynn, Sysop..............................Sacramento, California Ladmo's Last Resort..........................513-797-8636....2400 Baud Scott Ladrigan, Sysop.....................................Amelia, Ohio Computer Connection..........................618-964-1090....2400 Baud Ryan Diederich, Sysop.................................Marion, Illinois Sir Charles's Arcade.........................602-843-4310....9600 Baud Charles Donat, Sysop.................................Glendale, Arizona The PC Connection.............................06-158-5009...14400 Baud Michael Clary, Sysop.......................................APO Address TECH ONE Support Line........................605-361-4666....2400 Baud Earl Buckalew, Sysop.........................Sioux Falls, South Dakota The Fantasy Line........................011-49-661-241534...14400 Baud David Hedtke, Sysop........................................APO Address Shadow Warrior...............................302-475-9196...14400 Baud Nathaniel Cosgrove, Sysop.........................Wilmington, Delaware Shazam BBS...................................517-263-6313...14400 Baud Tom McCurdy, Sysop....................................Adrian, Michigan Holden Hollow BBS............................519-683-6661....2400 Baud Dave Anderson, Sysop..........................Dresden, Ontario, Canada The Dungeon's Basement.......................203-739-2344....2400 Baud James Ducharme, Sysop.............................Niantic, Connecticut The Pentecostal BBS..........................713-641-3058....2400 Baud Milton Stephens, Sysop..................................Houston, Texas Unnamed BBS..................................403-538-2882....2400 Baud Chris Frey, Sysop......................Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada The Dark Side................................307-632-2742...57600 Baud Jeffrey Arney, Sysop.................................Cheyenne, Wyoming The satellite TV Network BBS.................416-821-4927...38400 Baud Brian Higgins, Sysop.......................Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Electronic Encounters........................409-294-9166...14400 Baud Bob Wilson, Sysop....................................Huntsville, Texas In addition, there were 11 new private SPITFIRE BBS Systems registered. These private SPITFIRE BBS's included registrations from: Los Angeles, California; Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada; Bossier City, Louisiana; Provo, Utah; Waterloo, Iowa; Denver, Colorado; Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom; Ingleside, Illinois; Highland, Indiana; Rolling Meadows, Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio. There were 31 registrations for whom registration information was incomplete. These included BBS's in: Omaha, Nebraska; Crestline, California; Landisville, Pennsylvania; Lawton, Oklahoma; Davenport, Iowa; Concord, California; Chicago, Illinois; Sunnyvale, California; Hudson, Wisconsin; Crystal Lake, Illinois; Everett, Massachusetts; Glendale, Arizona; Horseheads, New York; Sacramento, California; Denham Springs, Louisiana; Margate, Florida; Vernon, Connecticut; Newark, California; Ft. Stewart, Georgia; Duncanville, Texas; Keystine Heights, Florida; Hopkinton, Massachusetts; Little Rock, Arkansas; Downsville, Louisiana; Richmond, Michigan; Fort Hood, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cambridge, Ontario, Canada; London, Ontario, Canada; Yucca Valley, California and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The increase in registrations where information is incomplete is largely due to Buffalo Creek's Software's policy of accepting on-line Mastercard and Visa credit card registrations. JUST A REMINDER...the newsletter is always looking for contributions! Please forward any articles in ASCII text to either Buffalo Creek's BBS or The Mother Board BBS.