Subj : FTS-0001
To   : Steve Quarrella
From : Werner Dworak
Date : Sat Feb 03 2001 10:32 pm

Hello Steve!

 SQ> Personally, I think the FTS-1 thing we've been discussing is more of an
 SQ> attempt to police our current ranks and scare off existing sysops

Indeed. On the one hand, there must be a common denominater to bring about 
communication. But practically, this is EMSI nowadays, with YOOHOO and FTS-1 
still permitted.

 SQ> come on, when's the last time you dealt with a rash of systems using a
 SQ> proprietary protocol with which hardly anybody could connect?

If they run an common protocol, too, there is no problem. Real incompatible 
systems didn't show up the last time.

 SQ> when I think we should spend our time on the ISDN/IP side of things,
 SQ> luring THOSE hobbyists into Fidonet like we lured sysops of the good ol'
 SQ> POTS systems during Fidonet's heyday.

Indeed. And done the right way, ist is real enrichment and no danger.

 SQ> It may be facile for me to say this, but we sure don't get a whole lot of
 SQ> publicity. :-/

Sad to say.

 WD>> ISDN was exotic, it was not a good idea to be only reachable by ISDN.
 WD>> Now in western Europe, it is no problem.

 SQ> It's so cost-prohibitive, at least in my area, that it's uncommon.

Here it's the opposite. An ISDN basic access (two channels) is considerably 
cheaper than two POTS lines.

 SQ> Today, it's DSL, where available (and not where I live :-/).

DSL is coming here too, but it's only in ther beginning ans only avaliabble in 
a few big towns. To the worse, the German Telekom is the only provider, it had 
made much advertising and cannot deviver, even where it is principally 
available.

 SQ> I started an IP-only net here in Region 19

Are all nodes IP-only or are enough nodes with both POTS and IP?

 SQ> with his comment that we should be spending more time working on who CAN
 SQ> connect instead of who cannot.

True, that's most important.

 SQ> [ZMH] The only time I think it's critical is when you're a coordinator
 SQ> and you're trying to determine if someone is on the air or off the air.

Indeeed, But I cann check at other time too if he tells me. Is the nodelist 
flag for online hours common in Z1?

 SQ> It's only fair to be able to say "Well, I tried you during ZMH for the
 SQ> past ten days, and got nothing, so Down you go.  But I'll be happy to
 SQ> remove Down from your nodelisting for the next nodelist."

That's a way to go.

 SQ> It's unfair to anybody that they should have to chase you down and dial
 SQ> you 24/7 to see whether you're still around.

Indeed.

greetings, Werner

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