10/20/96

******************************************************************************
    Instructions for Using the QWK Mail Packet Routine for Echo-Mail Nets
******************************************************************************

Mail can be passed between SigNet member boards using RoboComm communications
and QWK mail packets.  RoboComm is not absolutely necessary.  Any comm program
which is capable of downloading a QWK mail packet from a BBS system which is
capable of providing "Net Status" may be used.  However, RoboComm is easy to
set up, provides reliable unattended operation, is available as shareware and
can be found on most public access bulletin boards.

The beauty of a QWK mail network is simplicity of operation.  ANY bulletin
board which can run a QWK mail door may use this method to echo their mail
to other systems.  Mailing schedules are usually whatever is convenient to
both the sender and receiver.  We usually try to pass the mail sometime in
the "wee-hours" of the morning, but it's not absolutely necessary.  YOU are
in control of this!  You can collect and drop off the mail at any time which
is agreeable to both systems.


The following proceedure is an EXAMPLE of how to configure RoboComm for QWK
echo-mail between two bulletin boards.  I will use ALPHA BASE BBS as an
example.  This example is for PCBoard software.  Modify to suit.

SOME IMPORTANT PRELIMINARY ITEMS WHICH ARE NEEDED DURING CONFIGURATION:

1. The QWK packet name for this board is ABBBS.  The Network name is SIGNET.
2. The origin/tag line is: "SigNET þ Alpha Base, Anytown, USA þ 555-555-5555".
3. You must echo ALL the SigNet conferences, you cannot "pick and choose."
4. Make ADMIN a private conference.  This conf. is for SigNet Sysops only.
4. Private messages are allowed in PERSONAL only.  All other SigNet conf-
   erences must be configured for public messages only.
5. If your BBS configuration allows it, force echo ON in all conferences.


Start Robocomm (ROBOCOMM.EXE)

  select D for directory
  select B for bbs systems
  select A for add
  enter new system id: ABBBS
  select PCBOARD 14.5 (OR LATER)

Enter the following info at the BBS screen

  system name:      ALPHA BASE BBS
  phone number 1:   555-555-5555
  phone number 2:   
  logon id name:    Your Logon Name
  password:         Your Logon Password
  baud rate:        (locked baud rate of your modem, usually 38400 or 57600)
  mail door:        QMAIL         conference:  0
  ansi graphics:    NO
  dl mail protocol: ZMODEM
  ul mail protocol: ZMODEM
  language to use:  2

Hit <Escape>

  select P for prompts
  select D for defaults
  answer YES to "reset prompt definitions to default"

Hit <Escape> 2 or 3 times until you arrive back at the main screen

  select A for agenda
  select C for create
  enter name for new agenda:  ABBBS
  select G to get QWK packet
  enter from which system:    ABBBS
  select S for send REP packet
  enter to which system:      ABBBS

Hit <Escape> to go back to the main menu

  select Q for quit
  select N for now    <---- Finished, will exit to DOS.


In addition to RoboComm you will also need a mail tosser.  QNET or RNET will
both work with a variety of BBSs.  I recommend QNET if you are running PCBoard
because it follows the PCBoard setup routine.  RoboComm, QNET and RNET are
shareware programs and are available on most public access BBS's.

Refer to the SigNet screen below so you will be able to match the numbers of
my conferences with yours.  This is required by the your mail tosser so it
know where to toss the incoming messages.  You must have your mail tosser
completely configured BEFORE you make your first mail run.

Setting up QNet is not a complicated process.  The configuration is all menu
driven and can be set up easily AFTER you have configured every one of your
conferences.  QNet follows the CNAMES file in PCBoard, so it automatically
picks up the conference names when you start your configuration.

The only thing left to do is to configure a Batch file to start QNet, and then
run RoboComm. You will have to read the Docs for QNet and RoboComm to find out
what the "/switches" mean.  Here is a sample batch file which can be used in
your event to automatically start QNet, scan the conferences for outgoing mail,
start RoboComm and pass mail back and forth, then have QNet toss any incoming
packets into the proper conferences (ABBBS is the agenda name):

@echo off
cd \qnet
qnet.exe SIGNET /s  <-----Scans for outgoing mail
cd \robo
robocomm.exe /aABBBS /r /o  <---- Note the "a" in front of the agenda name
cd \qnet
qnet.exe SIGNET /i  <-----Tosses incoming mail
cd \pcb
board    <------reloads pcboard


Listed below are all the SigNet Conference names.  Log on to the board you are
going to Hub with and find out the corresponding conferences numbers which are
needed to configure your mail tosser.  

       xx - Peeves           xx - Games            xx - BBS Ads
       xx - The Inkwell      xx - Teen Talk        xx - For Sale
       xx - PC Virus         xx - Wheels           xx - Personals
       xx - Graphics         xx - Sports           xx - Help Me!
       xx - Scams            xx - Comm Prgms       xx - Hardware
       xx - Home Owner       xx - Music            xx - BBSing
       xx - Hobbies          xx - Science          xx - Software
       xx - Paintball        xx - Politics         xx - TV/Movies
       xx - Modems           xx - Trivia           xx - Humor
       xx - Alt Rock         xx - Pets             xx - The Hangout
       xx - Internet Info    xx - Outdoors         xx - Sysops
       xx - Websites/FTP     xx - Admin (Pvt)      xx - Headlines