ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º Special ÒÄ¿ ÒÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ Ò Ò Â ÖÄ¿ PRAEDO º º Edition ÇÄÁ¿ ÇÄÁ¿ ÓÄ¿ º ³ ÇÄ º º ³ ÓÄ¿ PUBLICATIONS º º * * * * * ÐÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÐÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Medford, NJ º ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ º September 1993 Issue 3 º ÓÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĽ In this issue: Introduction The Gofer Door, A Review NJ BBS Winners INTRODUCTION TO NJBBS NEWS This is the third issue of NJBBS NEWS. You'll find this issue rather brief. The listings part of NJBBS was very time consuming this month and I just did not have that much time for this portion. I had really hoped you the reader would be more active in submitting material for this newsletter. If you have the time, just jot down a paragraph or so, about your favorite BBS. Tell us why you call it what makes it different from the other 500 boards in NJ. I'll be happy to include it in next months edition. From the feedback I get on NJBBS, this is what people want to know. Our listings are so big, people don't know where to begin, they want to know more about the boards that are listed. You can post your information as a comment to the SysOp on The Praedo BBS (609) 953-0769. You can get immediate access by logging in as "GUEST" at the prompt asking for your full name. In your message be sure to include information telling me your name, address & phone number. "Unsigned" messages can't be used. Or send it to me on GEnie, W.MORTON. I spend a lot of time doing the listings and hope you, the callers of BBSs, will help in both letting me know of new boards, boards that are no longer in service and now of interesting stories for this supplement. Please support the New Jersey BBS commUNITY by sharing information. By doing so, everyone benefits. As with the listings, SysOps are permitted to post this file as a bulletin provided no alterations are made. Thank You! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE GOFER DOOR For BBS SysOps that are part of the FidoNet there's a new door called "GOFER" that you may want to check out. It allows you to add the files your users want to your file collection, and increase the number of callers to your BBS. It's also good for boards with limited disk space that still want to offer a large file section to your callers. The GOFER programs are designed to allow both sysops and users to make file requests (FREQs) from other BBS systems listed in the FidoNet nodelist. DFREQ technology allows routing of file requests from the originating system along a user-configurable "chain" of systems, ending at the target node. This method cuts down on the time it takes for the target node to receive the request, and shortens the return time. GOFER uses predefined subscription lists maintained by each subscribing node and allows the flexibility of being able to distribute ANY file(s) to ANY ONE system at ANY time, without needing to reference predefined subscription lists, and without saddling other system operators with files they don't want or need. Several "file request database" programs are currently enjoying popularity among FidoNet system operators. Most of these programs are simple FREQ doors that build databases of available files from participating systems. The main difference between these ordinary FREQ doors and the GOFER system is one of decreased maintenance. Using GOFER method the information travels -with- the requested files, instead of being maintained at the originating system. This eliminates the burden of maintaining large, elaborate transaction files at each node, and performing periodic updates on these files. Am I losing you? It is complicated, but basically your caller asks for a file and it's transmitted from the closest BBS that has the file. The installation is actually easier then the explanation of how it works. Boards using this software have formed The GOFER Network of Distributed File Request Systems. To become part of this (and it started in New England and is traveling down the Eastcoast) contact 1:141/545 in Naugatuck CT. GOFER is a shareware product of XANSOFT. Registration is $15. The most current version of the software I've seen is GOFR100.ZIP, dated 7/28/93. Author: Bill Auclair, 13-1 Ridge Rd., Naugatuck, CT 06770 ------------------------------------------------------------------- BOARDWATCH WINNERS OF NJ During this year's Online Networking Exposition and BBS Convention, held August 25th through 29th in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Boardwatch magazine announced the winners of the "Top 100 Bulletin Boards" in the US, as rated by your votes. New Jersey Sysops took only two awards, placing 18 and 44th. From what I've seen, this does not mean our boards don't stack up to the rest of the country (New Jersey ranks second in number of BBSs per capita) but rather the lack of support NJ BBSs get from their callers (this has to be the reason my board didn't even get mentioned). Placing 18 in the "TOP 100" is Microfone Infoservice of Metuchen NJ. A BBS very popular with the students at Rutgers University in nearby New Brunswick. The board offers several affordable patron plans that include short term plans that are popular with students that go home during the summer months. Phone: 908-494-8666 Sysop: John Kelly Software: TBBS Location: Metuchen, NJ Microfone carries Fidonet, 14 CD-ROMs, online games, 9 nodes (no busy signals!) and is New Jersey's oldest BBS in operation since 1982. Placing 44th is The Radio Wave BBS of Delran NJ. This board is operated by Tyler Myers who started the board when he was just 14 years old (now 17). It was an almost immediate success as there were very few quality boards that could be called toll free from this highly populous area. Tyler runs his board on PCBoard software and operates a first class BBS that includes a registered ASP software distribution site, RIME network mail, now up to 4 gigabytes of files, 2 nodes and 4000+ newsgroups. Phone: 609-764-0812 NJBBS NEWS salutes these two boards for their service to the BBS commUNITY, and to their loyal users who took the time to vote for them. Next year let's all work together and make a NJ BBS #1 !!