from history.txt

[snip]

2025-02-07

We're sad to report that Ruben Figueroa has died aged 73 on 27 January 2025. Ruben aka Zazz ran a number of BBS using a mix of software and all under
the shared name of Prison Board BBS. He was also providing a HUB service
for Wildcat systems wanting to connect to fsxNet. RIP Zazz and thank
you for all your contributions to the bbs scene and to fsxNet. :(

A seperate announcement related to NET 5 will be made in the near future.

Removed Node 1/134 Mystic Prison Board BBS (USA)
Removed Node 3/130 PB Renegade BBS (USA)

[snip]

Kerr Avon [Blake's 7] 'I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going' avon[at]bbs.nz | bbs.nz | fsxnet.nz

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

We're sad to report that Ruben Figueroa has died aged 73 on 27 January 2025. Ruben aka Zazz ran a number of BBS using a mix of software and all under
the shared name of Prison Board BBS. He was also providing a HUB service
for Wildcat systems wanting to connect to fsxNet. RIP Zazz and thank
you for all your contributions to the bbs scene and to fsxNet. :(

I saw that on another network. Apparently his systems are still running as
his BBS ads are still posting on FIDO. I got a chance to interact with him some when he was adding a GT Power BBS to the Prison Board family, and I
think he helped me with an issue or two on other subjects.

We've been losing a lot of folks in the wider BBS community lately.

A seperate announcement related to NET 5 will be made in the near future.

Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to connect
to an FTN or QWK network?


* SLMR 2.1a * STICK \'stik\ n. 1: A somewhat nonfunctional boomerang.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)

On 07 Feb 2025 at 10:47a, Dumas Walker pondered and said...

We're sad to report that Ruben Figueroa has died aged 73 on 27 January 2 Ruben aka Zazz ran a number of BBS using a mix of software and all under the shared name of Prison Board BBS. He was also providing a HUB service for Wildcat systems wanting to connect to fsxNet. RIP Zazz and thank
you for all your contributions to the bbs scene and to fsxNet. :(

I saw that on another network. Apparently his systems are still running as his BBS ads are still posting on FIDO. I got a chance to interact
with him some when he was adding a GT Power BBS to the Prison Board family, and I think he helped me with an issue or two on other subjects.

We've been losing a lot of folks in the wider BBS community lately.

Yes there have been some long standing names I'm aware of that have sadly passed away in recent years... :(

A seperate announcement related to NET 5 will be made in the near future

Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to connect to an FTN or QWK network?

I'm not a Wildcat user but that was my understanding but I think that those systems can use something like IREX / BinkP protocol also... or so it seems to me now.

Kerr Avon [Blake's 7] 'I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going' avon[at]bbs.nz | bbs.nz | fsxnet.nz

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: fsxNet HK 7 Feb 25
By: Dumas Walker to AVON on Fri Feb 07 2025 10:47 am

Howdy,

A seperate announcement related to NET 5 will be made in the near future.

Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to connect to an FTN or QWK network?

Never been a Wildcat user, so I'm curious to see it in action.

I have a vague memory that it has a different method of networking right? If so, I'd be happy to add support to clrghouz so Wildcat systems can get mail - if anybody is a) willing to be a test, and b) has some technical details of how it works.

...ëîåï
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 2/7/2025 10:52 AM, Dumas Walker wrote to AVON:

A seperate announcement related to NET 5 will be made in the near future.

Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to connect to an FTN or QWK network?

Winserver uses 3 programs to be able to network. I am using Platinum Express, Winserver and Internet Rex. To begin, you have to first set up the mail conferences with
wcConfig (part of Winserver), then use Platinum Express to add the conference areas to
your network, then iRex to send and receive.

It's a very involved process that is very time consuming. I was so happy to start using
Mystic because of its ease of setting everything up. I still rum Winserver, but made
Mystic my hub for Health and HobbyNet networks.

Winserver does have a task manager built in, so I use that for my bot posts.

Mike Dippel

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (21:4/176)

On 2/8/2025 12:20 PM, deon wrote to Dumas Walker:

Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to connect
to an FTN or QWK network?

Never been a Wildcat user, so I'm curious to see it in action.

I have a vague memory that it has a different method of networking right? If so, I'd be happy to add support to clrghouz so Wildcat systems can get mail -
if anybody is a) willing to be a test, and b) has some technical details of how
it works.

The Hobby Line! Internet runs on Winserver. What do you need?

Mike Dippel

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (21:4/176)

BY: Dumas Walker (21:1/175)

|11DW|09> |10Is there something special that Wildcat systems require in order to|07
|11DW|09> |10connect|07
|11DW|09> |10to an FTN or QWK network?|07

I think he got the feed thru a bbs doing it the regular way and then he gated it via qwk.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

BY: Avon (21:1/101)

|11A|09> |10I'm not a Wildcat user but that was my understanding but I think that|07
|11A|09> |10those systems can use something like IREX / BinkP protocol also... or so|07
|11A|09> |10it seems to me now.|07
I have set up fsxnet as a FTN based feed on Winserver before. But the problem is you need to use real name or make a 2nd account for handles.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

BY: deon (21:2/116)

|11d|09> |10I have a vague memory that it has a different method of networking|07
|11d|09> |10right? If so, I'd be happy to add support to clrghouz so Wildcat systems|07
|11d|09> |10can get mail - if anybody is a) willing to be a test, and b) has some|07
|11d|09> |10technical details of how it works.|07
It would be like recieving dovenet.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Hey Mike!

On Sat, Feb 08 2025 03:13:10 -0600, you wrote:

Winserver uses 3 programs to be able to network. I am using Platinum Express,
Winserver and Internet Rex. To begin, you have to first set up the mail conferences with
wcConfig (part of Winserver), then use Platinum Express to add the conference areas to
your network, then iRex to send and receive.

So, are you just using Internet Rex as the mailer? If so, then I'd imagine you could replace it with just about any other mailer other than Irex?

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

Never been a Wildcat user, so I'm curious to see it in action.

I have a vague memory that it has a different method of networking right? If so, I'd be happy to add support to clrghouz so Wildcat systems can get mail - if anybody is a) willing to be a test, and b) has some technical details of ho
it works.

I was thinking the same thing, if someone knew how it worked. From what
people have said, it inolves IREX or compatable... i.e. binkp... which sounds
a lot like how the rest of us do it. ;)


* SLMR 2.1a * "Ummm, trouble with grammar have I? Yes!" --Yoda
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)

BY: Accession (21:1/200)

|11A|09> |10So, are you just using Internet Rex as the mailer? If so, then I'd|07
|11A|09> |10imagine you could replace it with just about any other mailer other than|07
|11A|09> |10Irex?|07
Its the platinum xpress outbound which makes it pissy, you either need to use irex, do it via ftp or virtual modem with netserial.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Hey Utopian!

On Sat, Feb 08 2025 17:44:34 -0600, you wrote:

Its the platinum xpress outbound which makes it pissy, you either
need to use irex, do it via ftp or virtual modem with netserial.

What does Irex do that other mailers don't? Just seems Irex can't be the only possible solution (since it's probably one of the worst mailers still in use today). Is Irex used in binkp or Frontdoor/Attach mode? There's plenty of other mailers out there that do both, so I'm just wondering what it is that's forcing Irex to be used here..

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

BY: Accession (21:1/200)

|11A|09> |10What does Irex do that other mailers don't? Just seems Irex can't be the|07
|11A|09> |10only possible solution (since it's probably one of the worst mailers|07
|11A|09> |10still in use today). Is Irex used in binkp or Frontdoor/Attach mode?|07
|11A|09> |10There's plenty of other mailers out there that do both, so I'm just|07
|11A|09> |10wondering what it is that's forcing Irex to be used here..|07
Its the platinum xpress outbound!



--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Hey Utopian!

On Sat, Feb 08 2025 19:43:06 -0600, you wrote:

Its the platinum xpress outbound!

Not really. Irex is a 3rd party mailer that can be used with basically any BBS software. The question I'm trying to get at here is, can ANY mailer be used as that 3rd party mailer (like D'Bridge, for instance)?

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

BY: Accession (21:1/200)

|11A|09> |10Not really. Irex is a 3rd party mailer that can be used with basically|07
|11A|09> |10any BBS software. The question I'm trying to get at here is, can ANY|07
|11A|09> |10mailer be used as that 3rd party mailer (like D'Bridge, for instance)?|07

You only able to use Irex or PXW.

Ive been begging for someone to make an internet rex clone that could do pxw outbounds.



--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

You only able to use Irex or PXW.

That explains what happens on the node end. If the node is using IREX, are they free to use any of the mailer flavors available in IREX, i.e. can they send/receive the packets via the IREX binkp option to/from their hub? Or
are they restricted to the ftp IREX option?


* SLMR 2.1a * War is God's way of teaching us geography.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)

Accession wrote to Utopian Galt <=-

What does Irex do that other mailers don't? Just seems Irex can't be
the only possible solution

Irex supports TransX, FTP, email attachments and bink. Not well, mind
you, since it's hasn't been updated this century, but it was pretty
cool. I had a TransX link back when I took over R10 and used Irex for
it.



--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

Hey poindexter!

On Sun, Feb 09 2025 17:36:02 -0600, you wrote:

Irex supports TransX, FTP, email attachments and bink. Not well, mind
you, since it's hasn't been updated this century, but it was pretty
cool. I had a TransX link back when I took over R10 and used Irex for
it.

I know what it does (not well). I just don't really understand why it's the _only_ solution for Platinum Express, and haven't really gotten a good answer to that question besides basically "it just is".

If it's only being used as a binkp (or even FD/Attach style) mailer, then any other mailer with the same capability should be able to handle that same job (and probably do it better/more reliably). *shrug*

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

BY: Dumas Walker (21:1/175)

|11DW|09> |10That explains what happens on the node end. If the node is using IREX,|07
|11DW|09> |10are|07
|11DW|09> |10they free to use any of the mailer flavors available in IREX, i.e. can|07
|11DW|09> |10they|07
|11DW|09> |10send/receive the packets via the IREX binkp option to/from their hub? |07
|11DW|09> |10Or|07
|11DW|09> |10are they restricted to the ftp IREX option?|07
Yes, on irex you can use binkp or whatever other flavor it has.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

BY: Accession (21:1/200)

|11A|09> |10I know what it does (not well). I just don't really understand why it's|07
|11A|09> |10the _only_ solution for Platinum Express, and haven't really gotten a|07
|11A|09> |10good answer to that question besides basically "it just is".|07
Its because it handles PX outbounds. That is the problem!


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Re: fsxNet HK 7 Feb 25
By: Accession to poindexter FORTRAN on Sun Feb 09 2025 12:13 pm

If it's only being used as a binkp (or even FD/Attach style) mailer, then an other mailer with the same capability should be able to handle that same job (and probably do it better/more reliably). *shrug*

Agreed. I've seen other applications all working well together, as long as they are pointing to the same directories.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

BY: poindexter FORTRAN (21:4/122)

|11pF|09> |10Agreed. I've seen other applications all working well together, as long|07
|11pF|09> |10as they are pointing to the same directories.|07
I was using an alternative mailer Trapgate, and the packets were never sent because trapgate doesnt read the outbound packets from PXW.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Hey Utopian!

On Sun, Feb 09 2025 21:15:52 -0600, you wrote:

Its because it handles PX outbounds. That is the problem!

If PX outbounds are just directories, any binkp mailer should work just fine. That's the point I'm trying make here. There is absolutely nothing special about Irex that does anything differently in regards to binkp (as a matter of fact, it's worse than most other mailers out there).

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

On 09 Feb 2025 at 06:34p, Accession pondered and said...

If PX outbounds are just directories, any binkp mailer should work just fine. That's the point I'm trying make here. There is absolutely nothing special about Irex that does anything differently in regards to binkp
(as a matter of fact, it's worse than most other mailers out there).

I'm not familiar with PX but I agree with you Nick, unless there's something special in the way of the files being created by PX for outbound dir being different from most mailers you would think it should play nice with something like BinkD or similar.... but I don't know enough to be dangerous :)

Kerr Avon [Blake's 7] 'I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going' avon[at]bbs.nz | bbs.nz | fsxnet.nz

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

BY: Accession (21:1/200)


|11A|09> |10If PX outbounds are just directories, any binkp mailer should work just|07
|11A|09> |10fine. That's the point I'm trying make here. There is absolutely nothing|07
|11A|09> |10special about Irex that does anything differently in regards to binkp|07
|11A|09> |10(as a matter of fact, it's worse than most other mailers out there).|07
I dont know the magic, but i think charles reverse engineered the outbound to make sure packets to be sent.


--- WWIV 5.9.03748[Windows]
* Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)

Yes, on irex you can use binkp or whatever other flavor it has.

So as long as the hub provides a connection flavor that irex supports, a Wildcat! board should be able to connect to them?


* SLMR 2.1a * This message written with recycled electrons.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (21:1/175)

Hey Utopian!

On Mon, Feb 10 2025 03:10:22 -0600, you wrote:

I dont know the magic, but i think charles reverse engineered the
outbound to make sure packets to be sent.

Doubtful, but I haven't used Platinum Express either, so maybe I'm not understanding you all the way. Either way, any binkp mailer can also use fileboxes which basically forces a specified directory to be used on a per-link basis. So there's probably multiple ways to make things work in your situation, even if you had to copy the message packets/bundles out of the PX outbound directory into another (which I highly doubt would be necessary).

All that said, what matters in the end is that it works for you.

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- slrn/pre1.0.4-9 (Linux)
* Origin: The Pharcyde ~ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)