The Australian Amiga BBS Scene  by Mario Nicotra Sysop Amiga Connection BBS BBS:(02) 970-6444 (3 Lines) Fido:3:714/909 AmigaNet: 128:20/909 NSW Net Coordinator ADS/SAN Gateway Voice:(02) 970-6025 Ed: This is required reading for anyone interested in communications, as it covers all that's going on in the local scene, and clarifies many terms and issues that are often confused. Mario's been a sysop and Amiga guru for years now, and is the man who brings in all the ADS/SAN material to Australia (see below for what that means).  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 29 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> For many years the BBS scene has been dominated by IBM/Clone/MSDos based computers. Not because they are a superior computer but because they have been around ever since Pontius was a Programmer! Given the lower purchase price of some of these computers and the large selection of BBS software available for it, it was an obvious choice for the task of running a BBS. Enter the Amiga. It took what seemed an eternity for some really serious BBS software to evolve for the Amiga. The evolutionary path started from a simple PD/Shareware program. Next came the program BBS-PC, which was ported over from an MSDos version. This, in my opinion, was and still is the best Single line, non-network BBS program developed for the Amiga. Unfortunately MSS stopped any further development of the software and so it remains in its original form still today. It was only the dedicated Amiga users that pressed ahead and built their BBS using the Amiga even though they could have put together a far cheaper and at time more stable system, if they had gone out and purchased an MSDos system and BBS software.  Local and other Programs A locally produced program called Max's BBS follows in the tradition of BBS-PC and has been evolving over a period of 3 years to include such features of multiline and now networking. Much work has also been going on overseas and multiline, multi-network BBS software for the Amiga has been produced. Three programs that rate mention are DLG Professional. Paragon BBS (now upgraded and renamed StarNet) and the newcomer Xenolink. They all have basically the same features, with some programs doing things better or faster than others. These programs continue to evolve and other third party software programmers continue to write utilities that both simplify and greatly enhance the basic programs. Some of the latest additions include AREXX script and multiple net capability.  Local Modems The modem industry has also been very dynamic over the past few years and the latest state of the art modems offer v32bis (14400 baud) MNP/REL connections plus fax capability. You can even buy a v32 - 9600 baud modem for as low as $599. The Netcomm and Maestro modems get a mention here because of their local production and the excellent quality of product. I have had a Maestro Super Executive v32 modem running faultlessly for over 2 months and I must say it was the easiest modem I ever had to set up for a BBS! It takes a quantum leap over their earlier 2400ZXR modem.  The joys of multi-tasking Ok, so now the Amiga is in a better position to take on the PCs in this once closed private club. I am still amazed how the others still have to shut down the BBS to run any other non-related utility! Not all of the PC BBS Software however need to be shut down because the programmers have built in pseudo dos commands to help them around it all! We of course take multi-tasking Amiga for granted. It is not unusual for me to have my Amiga StarNet BBS program running with 3 lines open (and users online) plus Disk Master, 2 or 3 TxEd screens, a couple of shells, a clock and GPFax software in sleep mode with Arexx ports between the BBS and GPFax in the background. Sometime I even have the Fish Aquarium screen open for good measure! It often irratates me to speak to an IBMer who has obviously never seen or wanted to learn about the Amiga, denigrates the Amiga and calling it a glorified games machine. I have even heard stories of certain coordinators making it difficult or near impossible for some Amiga BBS systems to join a network because of the bias against the Amiga. Oh how close-minded we can be. Enough of this digression. As every day passes the software gets much more powerful and more Amiga BBSs get off the ground. So what is there to offer both BBS Users and Sysops alike? Enter Amiga Echos, ADS/SAN and AmigaNet.  What are Amiga Echos? An ECHO is a general discussion mail area on a BBS where users can read and enter mail that is circulated internationally around the particular network. There is a very large list of Amiga related Echos covering a whole range of topics and I have included this list at the end of this article.  What is ADS/SAN? ADS stands for Amiga Distribution Software and SAN stands for Skylink Amiga Network. ADS originate from the USA while SAN originates from Europe. Both these networks distribute internationally a collection of Public Domain and Shareware software files in a compressed archive form such as LHarc (.LZh or .LHA format). Local hubs can hatch new programs into the network and within the week they would have reached every system linked into the network! It is the fastest way (other than call ing the programmer direct) to receive the latest updates and PD releases. Currently these Amiga echos and ADS/SAN files are imported/exported by the Australian gateway, the Amiga Connection BBS, and transfers direct with the USA Hub occur 3 times per week. Once in Australia these echos and files are distributed to Amiga systems via hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Tasmania and South Australia. Recently even New Zealand has joined the network. The cost of running the Australian part of this network is currently being borne by the contributions from the sysops of the Amiga BBSs that are connected to the ADS/SAN network. Fees range between $5 to $10 per month, however we are in the process of negotiating with Commodore Australia for sponsorship so as to make this service available to all Amiga users free of charge. I hope by the time you read this article we would have received a favorable reply.  What is AmigaNet? It is a Amiga BBS Network formed to connect all Australian Amiga BBS's together with the aim of distributing Amiga Specific electronic mail, echos, programs and files. Eventually we would like to see this form into an international Amiga Network similar to the FidoNet. Ideally we prefer members of AmigaNet to be members of Fidonet as well. This would insure a global connection of email and non Amiga specific echos to be available to all members of the network. x---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Amiga Connection BBS ECHOMail Listing and ADS/SAN File Area Listing as of 20 May 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fido 3:714/909 AmigaNET 128:200/909 ADS HUB 22 ADS/SAN Gateway ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echos DIRECT from the USA ------------------------- AMIGA ................. Amiga & ADS_ANNOUNCE........... Amiga Software Distribution System Announcements # ADS_COORD.............. Amiga Distribution System Coordinator Discussion ADS_CHAT .............. Amiga Distribution System Chatter AMIGA_BBS ............. Amiga Generic BBS Discussions AMIGA_BRIDGE .......... Amiga BridgeBoard AMIGA_CANDO ........... Amiga CanDo AMIGA_COMMS ........... Amiga Communications AMIGA_DESKTOP ......... Amiga Desktop Publishing AMIGA_DOOR ............ Amiga Door Programming AMIGA_GRAPHICS ........ Amiga Graphics AMIGA_INFO ............ Amiga Information Echo AMIGA_LC .............. Amiga Lattice (SAS) C Programming AMIGA_MEDIA ........... Amiga Multi-Media Echo AMIGA_NET_DEV ......... Amiga Network Developer AMIGA_OS .............. Amiga Operating Systems AMIGA_PDREVIEW ........ Amiga PD Review & File Requests AMIGA_PERFECT ......... Amiga Word Processing AMIGATALK ............. Amiga Talk Discussions AMY_POINT ............. Amiga Point Software AMY_TECH .............. Amiga Technical Echo AREXX ................. Amiga ARexx Programming * DLG_INFO .............. DLG Professional BB/OS Information * DLGMAIL ............... General Purpose Discussion on DLGMail * DLG_BETA .............. DLG Professional BB/OS Beta Testers (Restricted) * DLG_CHAT .............. DLG Professional BB/OS Chat (Restricted) * DLG_DEV ............... DLG Professional Developers (Restricted) * DLG_PR ................ DLG Professional BB/OS Pre-Release (Restricted) * FOOZLE ................ Foozle Amiga Mailer Support Echo GVP_ECHO .............. Great Valley Products Support JRCOMM ................ JRCOMM Communications WELMAT ................ Welmat XENOLINK_INFO ......... Xenolink BBS Information # AMIGA_SYSOP ........... Amiga SysOps (Restricted) HST ................... US Robotics Courier Modems MAILSTORM ............. MailStorm # MEBBS ................. Mechanical Engineers BBS Support (Restricted) # PARAGON_SYSOP ......... Paragon SysOps (Restricted) # PARALPHA .............. Paragon/StarNet Alpha Testers (Restricted) PARA_PROG ............. Paragon Programming SAN ................... SkyLink Amiga Network Information STAR-NET .............. Star-Net BBS Information # STAR-NET_OWN .......... Star-Net BBS Owners (Restricted) # STARNET_BETA .......... StarNet BBS Beta Testers (Restricted) # STAR_NET_PROG ......... Star-Net Programming (Restricted) # TRANSAMIGA ............ TransAmiga BBS SysOps (Restricted) TRAPDOOR .............. TrapDoor Amiga Mailer Support Echo TRAPDOOR.BETA ......... TrapDoor Beta Testers (Restricted) XENOLINK_SYSOP ........ XenoLink BBS SysOps (Restricted) XENOLINK_UTIL ......... XenoLink BBS Utilities (Restricted) FIDONET Echos Sourced in Australia ---------------------------------- AMY_4SALE ............. Amiga Goodies for sale AMIGA_DEV ............. Amiga Developers Conference AMIGA_MUSIC ........... International Amiga Music Conference AMIGA_PROG ............ International Amiga Programming Conference AMIGA_VIDEO ........... International Amiga Video Conference * AUST_MEBBS ............ Australian MEBBS Support * AUST_STARNET........... Australian StarNET Support AUST_TRADING .......... Australian Trading Post AUST_MODEM ............ Australian Modem Conference HDCONF................. International Hard Disk Conference GRAND_ROUNDS .......... Medical Conference ANESTHESIA ............ Medical Conference FIRENET ............... International ParaMedic Conference FASTPOINT ............. Amiga FidoNet Mailer Conference GRAND_PRIX ............ Only Active during Grand Prix Season OZAMYBASIC ............ Australian Amiga BASIC Echo OZAMYINFO ............. Australian Amiga Information Conference PHOENIX ............... Phoenix Technologies South Australia Echo PHOENIX_TECH .......... Phoenix Technologies Technical Support Echo AUST_AMIGA ............ Australian Amiga Conference VIRUS_INFO ............ International Virus Conference CHAMELEON ............. CDROM ................. International CDROM Conference THAT .................. Sysops Only # OZ_ADS ................ Australian ADS News & Info (Co-ordinators only) # OZXENOLINK ............ Australian Xenolink BBS Support (Restricted) AmigaNET Echos Sourced in Australia ----------------------------------- AMIGANET_INFO ......... AmigaNET Australia Information Echo # AMIGANET_HUB........... AmigaNET HUB News & Info (Restricted) TREKKIE ............... AmigaNET StarTrek Echo AMI-MAIL .............. AmigaNET General Discussion OZ_TRADE .............. AmigaNET Australian Trading Post * OZ_ANIM ............... AmigaNET Australian Animation Echo E-MAIL ................ AmigaNET Make a Pen Pal Echo Z128_SYSOP ............ AmigaNET Zone 128 (Australia) Sysop Echo * = New Echo Area R = Restricted Access Echo area ============================================================================ Internationally Sourced ADS FILES (Amiga Distribution Software) --------------------------------------------------------------- These files are Amiga General and BBS Support Programs and Utilities originating worldwide & distributed from Intuitive Computers BBS in the USA. - ADSARTG Amiga Art Gallery (IFF/ILBM Pics) ADSANIMS Amiga Animation Files & Utilities * ADSAREXX Amiga AREXX Scripts and Utilities ADSBBUTL 'Non-Specific' BBS Doors & Utilities ADSCANDO CanDo Related Programs, Decks & Utilities ADSCBNWS Amiga User Group Newsletters ADSCOMM Communication (Terms/BBS's/etc) & ADSFIDO Amiga Networking and Point Files ADSGAMES Games ADSINFO OFFICIAL ADS Information & News ADSMISC Non-Developer Submitted Files ADSMUSIC Music Files * ADSSTMOD ADS Soundtracker Modules ADSNETDV Network Developer Source/Documentation ADSTEXT Text Files * ADSUNET ADS UseNet Releases ADSVIDEO Amiga Video & Graphic Programs !& ADSWORK Workbench 1.3 Utilities ADSWORK2 WorkBench 2.0 Utilities (BBS Related File Echos) &# ADSDLG DLG Professional BB/OS Support Files # ADSPARAG Paragon BBS Support Files # ADSSTARN StarNet BBS Support Files *# ADSSKYLI SkyLine BBS Support Files # ADSTRANS TransAmiga BBS Support Files # ADSXENOL XenoLink BBS Support Files * = New Area & = Changed Tagname since last release of rules ! = Formerly ADSUTILS # = Restricted Access - = Not attached due lack of demand for this file area --------------------------------------------------------------------- ADS (Amiga Distribution System) Message Echos (ECHOmail) -------------------------------------------------------- TAGNAME DESCRIPTION MODERATOR ------- ----------------------------- ------------------ AMIGATALK .......... General Amiga Discussion AMIGA_BBS .......... Amiga BBS Discussion AMIGA_BRIDGE ....... Amiga BridgeBoard Discussion AMIGA_CANDO ........ Amiga CanDo Support AMIGA_INFO ......... Amiga Information AMIGA_OS ........... Amiga Operating Systems AMIGA_UG ........... Amiga User Group Discussion PM ................. Point Manager Support XENOLINK_INFO ...... XenoLink BBS Information # XENOLINL_SYSOP ..... XenoLink BBS Sysops Support # XENOLINK_UTIL ...... XenoLink BBS Utilities MAILSTORM .......... MailStorm Support SKYLINE ............ SkyLine BBS Discussion SKYLINE_INFO ....... SkyLine BBS Information # TRANSAMIGA ......... TransAmiga BBS SysOps Support # = Requires Special Access More may be added at a later date. ============================================================================ Internationally Sourced SAN FILES (SKYLINK Amiga Network) --------------------------------------------------------- These files are mainly Amiga Utilities and Programs originating from Europe via the SkyLink BBS (Luca Spada) in Italy. Coordination exists between ADS and SAN to avoid the possibility of duplicated File areas SKYCOMMS Amiga DataComm Progs SKYUTILS Amiga Utilities SKYPROGS Amiga Graphic/Audio Programs SKYTEXT Amiga Text/Information/Documentation SKYINFO Amiga SAN Nodelist & Policy SKYMOD Amiga NoiseTraker Modules SKYUNET Amiga UseNet Files SKYGAMES Amiga Games SKYDLG Amiga DLG Professional BB/OS Utilities * SKYFIDO Amiga FidoNet Networking & Pointing ============================================================================ Should you wish to know more about ADS/SAN or would like to become part of the network, please contact Mario Nicotra of the Amiga Connection BBS. Contact numbers can be found at the beginning of the article.  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 29 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>