With his Presidential duties weighing heavily upon him (according to him), I agreed to do this column for Michael Bean. This agreement was a compromise; He wanted an all-expense-paid, Camp David-like retreat to rest up. Actually, Michael has been pretty busy as I'm sure you'll see from items in this column, and elsewhere.
There have been a number of new users seeking tips for using the BBS. We'll provide some help this month, more later. In the interim there are other sources of information. The following files are in the telecommunications section of the AMUG BBS:
"AMUG-About" - A little introduction to the BBS for beginners only.
"AMUG-TIPs - Some help on how best to navigate around the BBS, including how to get validated, how to keep from getting bumped off, etc.
"AMUG-Posting" - How to post and upload messages, and a few other tips as well. This file needs some updating, but the information is still valid.
"AMUG-D'Loads" - Some tips on dolwnloading files from the BBS, including files you will need such as "Stuffit", and others
The above is known as our "Catch 22" advice. That is, if you had these files they would tell you how to log on the board and download these files. If you really can't get on the BBS, you can get a copy of the "New Member's Disk" at the next meeting. It contains the Tips and Download files referenced above. If you don't want to wait that long, and need help in logging on, the numbers are 495-1713 or 947-0587. The AMUG BBS's operate at 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity bits (sometimes referred to as "8-1-N", or some variation thereof). The BBS operates at speeds of up to 9600 baud.
Although we do not have space this month to offer many tips, here are tips on a couple of things that tend to drive new users nuts. The first is to use CONTROL-C if things seem to just keep scrolling along forever and you want to stop. CONTROL-C means hold down the "cloverleaf-like" key, then press "C". Depending on where you are, you can then type "Q" to quit what you were doing, or in some circumstances you need to press the RETURN key. The only other tip is that if you are going to upload text into a message, make sure the text is plain (ASCII) text, and has no blank lines. It is also best to have no carriage returns in the text, but if you do, make sure there is no line longer than 74 characters. Your text can also not be longer than 75 lines. The same comments apply to pasting in text. Note that we are only talking here about sending text to the message areas. No such restriction apply (of course) if your are uploading a file in any of the file areas.
When you first dial the BBS (495-1713 or 947-0587) you will be asked for your first and last names. You need to be careful that you don't have any typographical errors, and also remember if you use any nickname (i.e. Dick instead of Richard). You will also be asked to select a password of 3-8 characters. Upper and lower case are the same and symbols count
(e.g."*" or "="). A common error both for passwords and names is to let an empty space slip in. Anyone first logging on is allowed 10 minutes to look around a bit. But before doing so you should immediately select the validation choice from the main menu, and send the Sysop your request to be validated. You will need to provide your name and membership number along with your address and telephone number. Aliases or "Handles" are not allowed. You will be validated as soon as the information can be verified.
The AMUG BBS's have incorporated some tremendous enhancements recently. Last fall Michael advised you of the upgrade to Red Ryder Host 2.1. This major upgrade provides a host (pun intended) of improved capabilities which will make the Sysop's life a bit easier. After going through the pain and frustration of the change, Michael is probably gritting his teeth at that statement. There sure are some nice changes for the user. Here are a few of them:
• 1K block downloads are supported. This improves the speed of downloading files. (Note: since this article first appeared, the capability for downloading in the Zmodem protocol was added. Zmodem is the fastest protocol readily available in the microcomputer world. You will need software that supports Zmodem. White Knight and MicroPhone II version 3 support Zmodem as do others I'm sure. If you do not have software that supports Zmodem, consider downloading ZTerm version .85, an excellent shareware program. Note that Zmodem uploads are not yet supported.)
• A download command is available directly from lists or searches for files.
• There are now 10 lines of text description available to describe files. The description can be edited. This will provide the ability to have better file descriptions.
• The message bases now support "threading". That is you can follow a string of messages from beginning to end, including sub-threads. This will ameliorate one of my pet peaves of the past, a message that read in toto (for example): "I agree, John". I'm still peaved, but at least if interested I can back-track to the source.
• Messages can be longer than 40 lines (up to 120 and longer if the Sysop chose to make them so).
• You can read with "search by section", or "scan with search". You can do both using the combined feature.
• You can use a return in the place of "next" when doing multiple reads, and you can use a carriage return in the middle of a message to move to the next.
• The Userlog now remembers the highest message read, so, on subsequent log-ons you can read either new messages (i.e. new since your last log-on) or those you didn't read last time. This is a nice feature since if you get bumped off or just choose not to read all messages, you can pick up where you left off.
• When entering a message you are prompted for a subject. If responding to a message, the subject of the prior message is displayed. A "Return" will accept it. "Control-X" will clear the subject line for a new subject.
Those are a few of the options that make things easier and better for the AMUG BBS user.
Last month Michael noted the AMUG BBS is connected to FidoNet. This essentially allows us to receive messages from all over the country, and even foreign countries (I haven't seen that yet, but have on other system, so it's just a matter of time). We are networked with many other user groups including BMUG (the Berkeley MUG), one of the largest groups around. Here are just a few of the different MUGs (or other groups) I noted just in one session:
* CRABBS -Annapolis Apple Slice U. G. in Maryland (301)-974-0221
* Mac Network- MACVIRUS Origin - 703-860-1427 - Reston,VA
* NEO Apple Corps * Cleveland, OH * (216)942-3389
* Macintosh^2 at The Border Connection { NM <=*=> TX } (505) 678-1318
* Conus BBS*St. Paul, MN*(612)642-4629*<HST><RRH>
* Cleburne BBS - "Cleburne Texas (817)-641-4842
* Metro Area M.U.G. (HST/RRH) Bronx, NY 212-597-9083
* SCORPION - Colorado Springs, CO <RRH> (719) 637-145
* Waiting for Baudot - Grand Rapids, MI
* Flower City Central HST, Rochester,NY
* Show Me More Stacks, (314) 997-6912, St. Louis, M
* Gold Coast Mac/Westlake Village, Ca.HST/(805)494-9221
There are also many special purpose Echoes, ranging from music to comic book collectors, to programmers, hypercard users, desktop publishing, etc., etc. You can use the combine section feature in the main bulletin board message section to pick the ones you are interested in, or just leave yourself set for local sections. Give this some thought, because if you combine for all the Echoes, and do not sign on for a while you will be in for a ton of new messages!!!
Also keep in mind that messages you post in some areas will be going out all over the country. If you don't want this to happen, make the first line of a message: "NOECHO" (all caps), then start your text on the next line. Note also that if you post your address or telephone number you could get a call from New York or somewhere (probably at 4 AM our time!!). At least if you are really anxious to sell something (or buy something) the effective market is somewhat enlarged. The fact that our post will be attached, identifying the group (AMUG) and the city will get us better known
around and about.
The potential "ton" of messages cited above could cause the BBS to become even harder to log on as users are reading the messages. This makes it even more necessary for us to read messages offline, so as to allow others to be able to get on the BBS. But there are some other things that will improve the situation. Michael mentioned the formation of the AMUG II BBS operated by Alan Heflich. The number of this board is 947-0587. Messages received on AMUG I are transmitted to AMUG II and vice versa. This should help a lot to reduce the "busy" frustration. True, you will not have access to the AMUG I file library for downloads. However, AMUG II has its own special file goodies available. One of them is "NewsBytes", an electronic "newspaper" (the one that was on the Source and is now on GEnie). This file is published weekly (placed on AMUG II on Sunday) and contains over 100K of computer news
(all computers, not just the Mac) from all over the world. Alan also regularly makes available Info Net Macintosh files and other net files. We also hope the regular file section will grow, with user uploads. Let's all vow to upload files there often.
You say you're not satisfied? You say you want more? Well hang in there. There are also arrangements to transfer (local) messages to and from the Tiger BBS, a nice BBS located here in the valley Although we have described it before in the newsletter, the Tiger BBS is another Red Ryder Host BBS run by John Gillett. John formerly worked for Apple (still does on occasion, I think) and is a Co-Sysop on the Apple section of MacNet. John is co-owner of Cactus Computer. The Tiger BBS is also on FidoNet, and carries some echoes we don't (you can't do them all; the list of available echoes is itself over 100K!!!). The local message section and FidoNet sections on Tiger are open to the public. You can just start calling at 996-0078, to check local messages, including AMUG messages as well as the FidoNet messages. This will also take some of the pressure off of AMUG I, so that AMUG members can access messages with fewer busy signals.
The Tiger BBS also has a file download section for which there is normally a yearly charge of $25.00. AMUG has arranged with John a 40% discount for AMUG members to have access to the Tiger Board download sections for $15.00 per year . The Tiger BBS doesn't have as many files as AMUG, but it has some very high quality files. It also seems to get some files from different sources, so it has some files AMUG doesn't have. I have found it nice to have a second source when you need a certain file, and AMUG seems forever busy. I recommend you take advantage of this offer. To do so you will need to make out a check payable to AMUG in care of Alan Heflich, either at a meeting or send it to P.O. Box 10593, Scottsdale, AZ 85271. The fees will be forwarded to John Gillett and you will be granted access for one year. This may also be done at the time of your membership renewal. Now you can join several great BBS's with one check of $45!
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