general faq

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Q: what is Z-modem, X-modem and Y-modem?

A: they are old time file transfer protocols, Z-modem is usually the best of the bunch
 
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Q: What is Ansi?

A: ansi is a kind of light bandwidth (fast to download) bbs graphics
  it's pretty blocky and chunky and only has 16 or so colors
  but has it's own little charm
  in fact it's a standard
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Q: why won't my z-modem downloads work? why haven't you got synchronet ftp
  server on?

A: well put simply, the box running the bbs just can't do it, it has not got
  the processor power, nor the memory, i'm working to solve this problem
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Q: why don't you put the bbs on a bigger better machine?

A: well i could but the few bigger better ones (and they aren't that much
  bigger or better) i need for other things, now if you send me a puter
  ...say a PIII with 128 megs of ram, 8 gig hdd, network card (bnc)
  i'd be happy to set up bbs on it...still wouldn't help too much
  the connection i use is 56 k modem (and a dynamic domain)
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Q: why can i sometimes not connect to this bbs?

A: well could well be i'm not online, and if i'm not online, neither is the bbs
  since i host it myself, dynamic ip and dynamic domain, through a 56k modem
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Q: why don't you get broadband/dsl/cable
  or leave computer (bbs) online all the time?

A: well first of all broadband/dsl/cable isn't offered here.
  Second, here, broadband/dsl/cable providers usually don't allow own server
  hosting and thirdly i don't leave my modem/bbs online all the
  time because i pay for the time
  i spend online (to the phone company) if you want it online all the time
  send me money to cover my costs for another phone line and the traffic
  otherwise..*shrug* i do this, my way!
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Q: why don't you...?

A: if it involves spending money, answer is simple, i ain't got it to spend
  if you go "gosh 15 bucks for hosting is just so little" good  cough up the
  doe and i'll host it there...
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Q: what terminal programs do you use?

A: i use every thing from telnet.exe to qmodempro 2.0
  list as follows in no particular order
  telnet.exe (win9x)
  dostelnet (win32 console)
  qmodem pro 2.0 (win9x)
  secure crt 3.01 (win 9x)
  hyper terminal 5.x (win 9x)
  teraterm pro (win9x)

  term95+fossil driver (rlfossil)+packet driver (dos)
  qmodemtd for dos(see term 95)
  telix for dos (see term 95)
  terminate 2 for dos (see term 95) OUTSTANDING PROGRAM!!!
  assorted other dos terminals

  mtelnet (linux minicom as telnet client)
  telnet

i've probably forgotten a few

i'd say go with hyperterminal till you know if you like bbs'ing
it does most of the job and does it free and sorta well
it also exists on most win9x cd's, me and win2k users...sorry
i dunno if ya got it, but you can always go to

http://www.hilgraeve.com/htpe/

and get the free personal edition of hyper terminal
(good idea anyway)

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Q: why don't you allow netmail?  

A: cause i'm on a dynamic domain and also the internal mailserver of
  synchronet takes more power, besides it's not needed, use internal mail
  and put your internet email into text if you want internet email contact
  and ppl that have interest can and will contact you
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Q: can you install "this door" for me?

A: well most likely not, i have some doors installed, but, send me
  an internal bbs email containing the download site url, the company site
  (or failing that a bbs site with review of it) and i'll take a look at it
  if I like it and there is a great call for it..i might install it
  sending me the doorway, or uploading it with demands like "install this"
  will not only not make me install it, most likely it will make you
  get banned or at least seriously unpopular with me
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Q: are these FAQ's boring to write?

A: well no, the fun part is trying to translate geekish into
  english, and the helping someone who wants to be helped
 
  in my opinion (highly personal) i will try help anyone who tries, tries
  hard and honestly and listens, and i'll be patient with them.
  however if they ask a question only to flitter onto something else
  or do not bother about the reply..then i'll have no patience at all
  (i do believe most ppl are somewhat like that..patience and all)

  what's boring is knowing that i could write up every question in here
  answer everything and despite that someone will not be bothered to read it
  and mail me going "tell me exactly step by step how to send mail"
  ummm first of all...use "PLEASE"....no please=no magic word=no help
  until you pay me, i'm helping outta kindness of my heart
  *hears my fiance laughing at that*
  second of all..should i help you write your letter too?
  sure no prob..how about walk ya dog and pump ya wife?..no?
  so where is the line? Can you zip ya own fly?

  you gotta TRY, then i'll be nice, polite and patient
  if you don't, then i'll be nasty, rude, insulting and impatient

  so here as in all others, the golden rule applies

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Q: i got a question about a term or word i found in a FAQ here but reading previous
  answer i'm nervous about asking

A: first of all...don't be, second have you looked on the web? altavista.com
  google.com and neither gives a clue? well then ask me, i probably won't bite
  ya head off (unless i skipped lunch that day hehe), no seriously
  if you've done proper searches, read all the faq's and doc's for this
  then of course you can ask me, and i'll do my best to explain it :-))

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Q: why do i need a whole new vocabulary for this bbs stuff?

A: you don't, just like you can go down to the puter store and say you want a
  b@d @$$ puter, you can try to speak it in plain english. HOWEVER!!! just like
  the computer store example, It does help to have a slight clue as to either
  what you want to do or what you want to say, and a slight clue as to the
  vocabulary needed

  for instance when the example said bad ass puter, my line would have been
  (at time of writing 2001-12-10) along the lines of
  dual P-IV 1.2Ghz w/ 256Mb Ram per processor, scsi 160 raid (0+1)
  solidstate hdd (5 gig), and pretty much anything outta quantums
  server hdd line for scsi160 *g*
  the bad ass is shorter, mine is more specific

  and it's not a vocabulary as much as a sociolect btw and you already
  have 2 other computer related to draw upon *wink*
  internet and computers, you xxxx a file when you place it on hard drive?
  you xxxxxx when you remove a file or text portion from a file?
  heh see...already you know 2 of words needed *wink*

  for the rully rully slow the words were "save" and "delete" *i wrote this
  sentence really slowly so you could keep up* *heh*

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Q: why isn't this FAQ signed like the rest

A: cause this will be added to continously :-)
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If your question wasn't answered by this page, consider putting a message on the old puter forum. If it was answered or you found these pages useful, please drop a message in my guestbook. or go into my bbs w0nderer's DeLiGhT (use hyper terminal, be different, be geekily nostalgic)