🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi Brian, you said in part.................

BL>  I'm kinda new to this world of echos and such.

   Welcome to the wonderful world of telecommunications via computer and
   modem. I'm sure you will get lots of response to your questions, but
   thought I would give it a stab<g>. AND, I know that others will be
   quick to correct my errors<BG>. So you can't lose!

BL>  I was wondering if someone like me could direct his message by
BL>  giving it an address?  I have noticed that fido net gives
BL>  addresses (x/xxx/xx) which I understand to be continent, local
BL>  hub, specific bbs.

   Yeppers, the first digit is the Zone (usually continent), the next is
   the Net and, the last is the specific Fido address or BBS. Sometimes
   the last digits can be something like 540.2. The 2 means that the
   specific BBS is a "Point" off of the main BBS but can be contacted
   with that address.

BL>  I know people around the world that are on internet (or something like
BL>  that).  Is that something I can link into somehow as an individual?

   Here are some terms that you will want to learn.

    1. "Echomail". Your original message and this reply is Echomail.
       It is routed by your local BBS up the Hub and then back down to
       local BBS's that carry the K12 conference that you placed the
       Echo mail message in. If there are toll costs for the BBS's that
       route the Echo mail, it is normally absorbed by that BBS. All
       Echo mail messages are "public" meaning that everyone can read
       them. I know of no circumstances that the originator of the
       message must pay the toll charge.

     2. "Netmail". This is private mail between you and the addressee of
        the message. It can however, be read by the SYSOP's of the BBS
        that carries the Netmail message. Not all BBS's provide Netmail
        privileges to their users. The Netmail conference on the local
        BBS is indicated, in most circumstances, as Netmail. You need
        to make sure that you AND the addressee of the message have
        Netmail privileges, if available.

        There are two types of Netmail:

           a) "Crash mail" This type of Netmail message is sent directly
           from the originating BBS to the addressed BBS without any
           intervention. Depending upon the location of the addressee,
           there will be toll charges. It still can be read by the
           originating BBS's SYSOP and the addressed BBS's SYSOP.
           Usually the local BBS will not offer this privilege because
           it is difficult for that BBS to control Toll charges. It is
           somewhat like extending credit to an unknown user of your
           long distance phone calls.

           b) "Routed Netmail" This type of Netmail goes up and down the
           Zones and, Nets, just like Echomail. It can be still private
           but can be read by every SYSOP that carries the message in
           the routed Zone..Net. But there are no direct toll charges
           for this particular type of message.

   "Internet and other types of Nets." There are Sysop's in FidoNet that
   provide, so called GATES to the other Nets from FidoNet. Each Net, or
   network, that is not FidoNet have different methods of addressing the
   message into the non-FidoNet. As an example, with Internet you need
   to determine the nearest GATE, address your Netmail message to that
   GATE, and then on the first line of the body of the message place the
   addressee's Internet address after the words 'TO:'. (Normal Echomail
   messages are addressed in the normal fashion as Echomail. The GATES
   echo these messages to the non-FidoNet.)

   Brian, normal Echomail messages and responses are usually very
   simple. The complication comes in when you want to send Netmail or
   messages to another Net, from within FidoNet. You will find that many
   of the goings on are AMAZING! But, you will also find that this
   technology is well worth the learning and using. There are amazing
   experiences that you can encounter now, and more to come as you
   explore this means of communication.

Good luck and Peace....................................Ed

 * SLMR 2.1a #1852 * Plant a tree that you will never sit under.



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uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!226!540!Edward.Dunagin
Internet: Edward.Dunagin@f540.n226.z1.fidonet.org