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1993-08-02
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ░░░░ Becoming a point in fidonet ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
There is really no need to become a point in fidonet. It is of course a
VERY good thing to have a computer and a modem. It is not necessary that you
have a PC, many points are using various other machines like Amiga, Mac etc.
But it is no secret that, on the PC, the amount of mailling software is
higher, better, more secure and more reliable than on any other machine -
because the software has had more time to develop.
A reason for becoming a fidonet point (or a point in another network) is
that you like to read conference mail (echomail). Reading all this online
is very expensive and by choosing at home which conferences you want, you
will spend less money calling up systems. You will also be able to
filerequest files - which means you can call your Boss and download
without getting online.
To become a point in fidonet, contact a fidonode anywhere in fidonet and
simply just ask if the node takes in new points. If the node does not
take in new points, simple just ask another. At the current moment fidonet
has around 25000 systems connected in the entire world, so it should not
really be a problem finding a system that takes points. It's best to choose
a local site so your phonebill will be kept as the low as possible.
Keeping the phonebill as low as possible is one of the main rules in fidonet!
You should NEVER be charged for being a point of your Boss. You may never
be charged for getting mail, unless you ask your Boss to get down a special
conference. The ground rule in fidonet is that points don't pay. If someone
forces you to pay for mail, just change to a system where you can get the mail
for free. Normally only nodes (your Boss) will maybe pay for the mail in some
kind of costshare agreement. It is my opinion that noone should make money
on 'selling' mail to points. Just remember you can change Boss as you please,
if you are not satisfied. Remember that since you are not paying anything
for the mail, you cannot demand anything from your Boss. The basic rule is:
be nice to your Boss and he will be nice to you. And follow the rules in the
conferences.
The main rule for fidonet:
1) Thou shalt not excessively annoy others.
2) Thou shalt not be too easily annoyed.
For more information try requesting POLICY4E.* at DAN BBS.
To setup a point system you will need 3 important things:
Program Suggestions:
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
A mailer Terminate point system
A tosser/scanner/packer Gecho (Hudson, *.MSG) / BNP
A Message editor Golded
The mailer is the program that takes care of actually calling your
Boss (some call it your uplink). A Boss is a fidonode who has points.
The transfer is fully automatic, you just start the call then the rest
will be taken care of by Terminate. You can also request files or send
files with Terminate.
The tosser/scanner/packer is a program that will unpack your mail and
toss it into the right conferences, then it will scan for outgoing mail
and pack it for next time you call your Boss. Gecho is a good example
for doing this. Remember to set Gecho to BINKLEY-style, which is a format
Terminate uses for knowing which files that are to be sent. You must also
tell Gecho to pack the netmail. BNP is a program to pack netmail into
binkley style.
The message editor is where you switch between conferences and read/write
your messages. Golded is a message editor developed in Denmark, which is
able to read most of the current messagebase formats (databases,
containing messages).
Please get some help setting up these programs, normally your Boss will
help you do this, because as a new member of fidonet you will have to
learn so many new words and terms. Do NEVER let yourself get confused,
by all the systems and new programs you will learn. Many programs are
impossible to use without a little experience.
Well, you obviously have Terminate, so if you want to try out the other
software you can try to filerequest GOLDED and GECHO at DAN BBS.
By the way: DAN BBS is not taking in new points, because of all the work
right now.
To request with Terminate quickly:
Start Terminate
Press Alt-F7, you are now in the point system
Choose file requests
The default address is 2:231/111 (DAN BBS), Press Return and say Yes.
You are now in the Tagmenu. Press M (for magic names). press return
on GECHO. Press cursor down, press M, press on GOLDED, press return.
You have now created a request file for DAN BBS, which will show up in
the outbound window. Try calling up and request the files and see the
show. You will be surprised if you have never seen a mail system work
before. No entering names, password and watching bulletins.
Bo Bendtsen, Author of Terminate