>> Fidonet works on multiple paths.

 >  NP> From looking at origin lines, it would seem that most mail in
 >  NP> Australian echos goes through 808-809. I know there are other
 >  NP> feeds but the 808-809, 50/99, and possibly others, make up the
 >  NP> "backbone"

 >   I actually meant that Fidonet "ought" to work on multiple paths.

Aaah   Now I get your point.

 > The way it is set up here is all wrong. As you say, if someone knocks
 > out a few nodes, it falls apart.

As we discovered.  And Mail was lost in the drought.  Have a look at the
spreadsheet for April when I upload it.


 >  NP> There doesn't appear to be a lot spreading the load. I'm happy
 >  NP> to be corrected on that by anyone involved in moving & routing
 >  NP> mail.

 >   This is a terrible weakness in Australian Fido,

Maybe the mail movers don't see it as a weakness.
They may see it as a source of power ????

 > It puts too much cost pressure on just a few nodes, and
 > they end up paying for shit like AVT that none of them wants.

The volume load on the backbone is very heavy, I'd hate to have their phone bills.

 >   It will be a terrible shame if Fido falls apart.

I agree. I'm told that internet is just so.... big.  And the time involved
online wih a slow service provider is astronomical.
I can afford a local call a day to get all the mail I can read.

Cheers
Niels Petersen

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