Dale.Amon@FAS.RI.CMU.EDU (10/18/85)
The Pittsburgh chapter of L5 has for some time been working on networking for those interested in space. We now have connections to both UUCP and FIDONET, and have a private subnet within FIDONET. We will have a FIDO-UUCP gateway working sometime before Christmas. We are discussing setting up a name server program so that transfer of mail will take into account the addresses we have collected for our L5Net Directory of users on the academic networks. This is a much longer term project. Since most ARPA sites also have access to UUCP, I suspect the majority of you will have direct access to our network. We also intend to port the uucp side of space digest onto our net. L5Net is a network of privately owned machines. It is currently limited to IBM clones, but a C rewrite of FIDONET is in progress and when available will allow porting to other machines. Any L5 members out there who would like to set up a local L5Net node, please contact us. The minimal requirement is an IBM PC and that you leave your machine attached to the phone line over night. A better arrangement is to have a dedicated phone line so you can have a local user population. If you want more information, or are interested in setting up your own node and having electronic mail delivered to the privacy of your own home (or company, or university office), please contact garbee@cmu-cs-g. There are currently two nodes running (Pgh and LA), a third coming up (Pgh) and 3 or 4 looking into it (mostly Ohio). We have hopes of bringing SSI Princeton into the net. We will also be working with AMSAT packet satellite group on routing some mail packets via the new satellite, giving us free communications to anywhere in the world. (FCC recently cleared them for noncommercial third party digital traffic where both sending and rcving stations are licensed). We have discussed this with both Dr. Champas of AMSAT and with the local CMU Radio Club (the ones who transmitted the slow scan TV to the space shuttle). AMSAT is also going to be distributing space and science related lectures via satellite, some of which may be supplied by L5. The local group is discussing re-transmission of NASA SELECT over an amateur low power TV channel. I might also add that both FIDONET and UUCP are already world wide, so we have hopes of getting better communications with our overseas compatriots in L5. If there are any overseas L5 members listening, PLEASE CONTACT US!!!! Our uucp node is rensys, and there are several L5 members available there. It is currently only accessible via pitt, but may soon be on the host list of several other machines. On UUCP: pitt!rensys!bdale (Bdale Garbee) pitt!rensys!jim (Jim McHale) pitt!rensys!emb (Ed Bosco) On FIDONET: (L5Net Gateway) Phone: 412-687-3984 Notes: 300-1200b autobaud dialup. Hit a couple of CR's then answer questionaire. Private, controlled access mail system. We are also still keeping up an L5Net Directory of L5'ers on the academic networks. Anyone who wants a copy, just send mail to garbee@cmu-cs-g. Join us (or AMSAT) and get in on the fun!!!!!