PL>> One thing I've noticed of new potential nodes is that they -never-
 PL>> ask in the echoes. (???). They are trying to contact -this one- or
 PL>> -that one- by other means.  I would think if somebody were seriously
 PL>> interested in being a member node, that they would utilize the very
 PL>> network they're interested in to find out how.

 RW> That's why they stick to the internet...plug and play vs config,
 RW> config,
 RW> config, test, test, test, config, etc..

That's where non-node access comes in.

 RW>>> Years ago, I wrote an instruction article called Frontdoor for
 RW>>> Idiots.
 RW>>> Even Jack Yates used it to make his first Fidonet setup...

 PL>> I would be VERY interested in seeing that... still have it?

 RW> Yeup...It's for FD202, the freeware version only. I'll dump it in
 RW> your
 RW> inbound next ZMH...

Okay... be looking for it. Would really like to see that.

Unfortunately, even if updated, it would be mostly useless today.  FD
2.26sw will -not- run on newer computers, and there is no sort of patch
that will make it do so.  DefSol is aware of this and has stated they may
or may not release a patch for it, but that was a couple of years ago so I
guess not... they actually made Greg Deyss (1:267/150) pay an upgrade fee
to the 2.33ml commercial version so he could continue to run
FD.

Why 2.33ml will work, and 2.26sw will not, I dunno, both being the current
(and final it seems) releases.


 RW> But there are places that nodes go and talk about in other echoes
 RW> that a
 RW> user or point can't go...that's what I'm talking about. Our buddy,
 RW> Frank,
 RW> for instance, would probably be delighted to have access to
 RW> FN_SYSOP.

Yea... I bet he would ;>

Anyway... there are other echoes one can go to.  Today, for those not using
software they've become accustomed to over the years, I would recommend
Taurus, and the TAURUS echo, for new nodes.  For non-win users, I dunno,
but for win users that's my suggestion.  All the help needed for that is
available, and they don't need access to node only nodes to get it.

Phil

--- FMail/Win32 1.60
Netwo (1:267/169)