Subj : FTS-0001
To   : Steve Quarrella
From : Werner Dworak
Date : Thu Jan 18 2001 02:58 pm

Hello Steve!

 SQ> Maybe it wasn't back in 1985 or whenever it was that Fido-compatible
 SQ> (meaning "compatible with the Fido written by Tom Jennings") software
 SQ> began to arise. I can understand and respect a need for a common protocol

Agree.

 SQ> but IMHO, the de facto standards are more telling than the de jure
 SQ> standards.

Indeed.

 SQ> The "problem" is that not everybody does FTS-1, not everybody does EMSI,
 SQ> not everybody does FTS-6, so it's hard to just "upgrade" the standard, so
 SQ> it's back to where we started:  As long as the connectivity is there, I'm
 SQ> happy,

I see it similar with ISDN-only and IP-only nodes. As long as ISDN was exotic, 
it was not a good idea to be only reachable by ISDN. Now in western Europe, it 
is no problem. The same holds true for IP (binkp). At present I would advise 
strongly against IP-only, but soon it can be common.

 SQ> and I'd like to think that if connectivity fails, we'll fall back to the
 SQ> spirit on which the net was founded and find a workaround.

Yes. A total interconnectivity never existed. I say only Bell-103 and V.21. But 
with a litte good will, most problems can be circumvented in some way.

 SQ> If the guy's system won't speak FTS-1, FTS-6, or EMSI, for example, THEN
 SQ> I'd say we've got a problem.

Indeed. I think, normally every system should at least do two of that 
protocols. But at last, if it cannot be done, I'm satified with one protocol.

 SQ> Otherwise, it's more important to me as a coordinator to push to keep
 SQ> interested sysops IN the net, rather than seeking a clean inbox and
 SQ> making certain that everybody is in line with the letter of the law.

The sense of the law is more important than the letter.

 SQ> Hell, how many people do you think we could kick out of Fidonet for
 SQ> failing to observe ZMH, even though we connect with them regularly? :-)

A great many! 8-)  In the beginning the ZMH was indispensable. But now it is no 
longer that important.

 WD>> Do you know if his distribution settlement (rather rigid or even
 WD>> suppressive) with Ron still exists?

 SQ> You'd have to ask Ron Dwight,

Hmmm. That I don't want directly.

 SQ> although I'll try to dig up my contact information for Andy Elkin and
 SQ> drop him a note.

Not so important.

 WD>> Even after the fall of the iron curtain, it was not easy to transfer
 WD>> money between western counties and the former Soviet Union.

 SQ> I use the barter system:  Let me buy you a t-shirt or a CD, and you send
 SQ> me a registration code. :-)

There you have the even bigger problem to transfer goods.

The best solution would be to exchange immaterial goods like keys: "I buy a key 
for you locally and transfer it to you" and vice versa.

 WD>> The main problems are, that in Germany most sysops run a multiline
 WD>> system, so that the "sysop version" will not suffice and you need for
 WD>> Fido the "commercial version".

 SQ> I agree that the software is a little pricey in this day and age.

It's not so much the price per se but the gradation of licence classes. They 
would'nt fit the real demand and character.

greetings, Werner

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