GE0013@SIUCVMB.BITNET (Roy Miller) (09/03/90)
Index Number: 10036
[Note from Bill McGarry: See the next article]
I am interested in "getting on Fidonet," but I know little of what
that entails. Accordingly, could some of you provide me with the
information necessary to accomplish that goal (are you listening Ann,
Jack, Wayne?)?
Roy Miller
The Professor Who Never Listens
But Whose Eyes Hear A Lotwtm@bunker.uucp (Bill McGarry) (09/03/90)
Index Number: 10037 Roy Miller asks: >I am interested in "getting on Fidonet," but I know little of what >that entails. Accordingly, could some of you provide me with the >information necessary to accomplish that goal (are you listening Ann, >Jack, Wayne?)? Getting on Fidonet means getting a modem (almost any speed although the most common is probably 2400 baud) and a terminal (either a stand alone terminal or a terminal as part of a PC). In most cases, there is no fee for using a Fidonet BBS or for posting messages in conferences (there is usually a small fee if you want to send mail directly to other people). You usually register on your first call by giving your name, address and phone number. The operator of the BBS (the sysop) will then verify you and then allow you access to the various conferences and other features that the BBS offers. There are over 6,000 Fidonet BBS's throughout the world and about 600 of these carry ABLED (about 130 carry Silent Talk). Unfortunately, Roy, I could not find any BBS's in your area code (618) which carry ABLED or Silent Talk. There are only a half dozen or so Fidonet BBS's at all in area code 618. You could check with some of these to ask if they carry (or could carry) any of these conferences. Here are the phone numbers, etc: INFO_QUEST_RBBS Carbondale_IL Tom_Hazel 1-618-529-3724 9600 USS_HEXUM_BBS O'Fallon_IL Barry_Basselgia 1-618-624-6578 2400 EchoMania Belleville_IL Peter_Cervasio 1-618-233-1659 9600 Mac_UnderGround_HeadQuarters Carbondale_IL Mike_Harrell 1-618-549-1129 9600 Mac_UnderGround Carbondale_IL Mike_Harrell 1-618-549-6918 9600 Mac_UnderGround Carbondale_IL Mike_Harrell 1-618-549-2005 2400 The_Emerald_Keep Fairview_Hts_IL Michael_Whitney 1-618-394-0065 9600 (Check one of the BBS's that Mike Harrell runs since he also heads up this net of Fidonet.) You could also go outside your area code and use one of the off-line readers that many BBS's now support. These readers allow an user to pack up all of the messages in the various conferences that the user wishes to read. The user then downloads this packet of messages (in compressed format), disconnects with the BBS and then uses the off-line reader to read and reply to the messages. Any replies are then packed and compressed. The user then calls the BBS again and uploads the replies. This is a lot easier on the wallet. PC Pursuit also has a discount rate where the handicapped can use up to 90 hours a month of their services for only $ 30.00 (I hope I have those numbers right -- it's late and my mind is a bit fuzzy.) PC Pursuit allows you to call any of the cities that they service at night for only the monthly fee. In fact, you have already been on Fidonet, Roy, since you logged onto my BBS at least once (over a year ago). I posted this reply instead of just mailing it to you since there may be other people who have the same question. Bill (203) 337-1518 UUCP: {oliveb, philabs, decvax, yale}!bunker!wtm INTERNET: l-hcap@vm1.nodak.edu BITNET: l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours) Compuserve: 73170,1064