Welcome to TheLitterBox Fidonetsm Information Page

Graphics used with permission

TheLitterBox is a member of Fidonet.
TheLitterBox has been a member of Fidonet since 1986.
Yes, different locations/nets, but always a member.

Space for the search engine interface for searching the
contents of this page and subpages.
Under development.

Origional text of this section courtesy of Santronics.
What is Fidonet?
Fidonet began in San Francisco in the 1980's as a mail system, used by founder Tom Jennings, to pass his new software package, FidoBBS, to beta testers. In the wee hours of the morning, the software would dial these beta testers via Modem and send Jenning's latest correspondence and code updates.

Since those early days, Fidonet has flourished and is now the second largest Electronic Mail Network in the world with over 25,000 systems connected and close to 1000 conferences available. It is the oldest BBS echo network, with lofty ideals, few rules and a loose structure.

Fidonet is broken down into 6 Zones, each with its own Zone Coordinator

Zone 1 USA/Canada
Zone 2 Europe (includes Mid East)
Zone 3 Australia/New Zealand
Zone 4 South America (includes Caribbean)
Zone 5 Africa
Zone 6 Asia

Under each Zone Coordinator is a Regional Coordinator (RC), who presides over a Country or geographic region within that Zone. Some Regions also have a Regional Echomail Coordinator (REC) who presides over all echomail distribution within the Region.

Within each Region, there are Net Coordinators (NC) and Net Echomail Coordinators who preside over what is often a local calling area, otherwise known as a Net. The NC is charged with assigning node numbers to each individual node within the Net, and "reports" to the RC, and the NEC reigns over the distribution of the Net's echomail. Nodes are the individual systems within the Net.

To become a Member (node) in Fidonet, the requirements are simple:
You must be assigned a Node number by the local NC and that number must be added to the Fidonet Nodelist (Master list of all nodes within Fidonet), which is updated weekly.

Your system must be available exclusively for Mailer to Mailer calls during Zone Mail Hour (ZMH), which is determined by Region. No humans can be logged into your nodelisted line(s) during ZMH.

You must have a Fidonet-compatible Frontend Mailer. The only way to apply for a nodelisting and be compliant with Zone Mail Hour is to have a Mailer installed and operational.

How Do Mailers Call One Another?

A Frontend Mail System, such as Santronics Software's Platinum Xpress, is a requirement for Fidonet, or any similar FTS Network, and commonly referred to as a Mailer, which literally sits on top of a BBS program and detects incoming modem calls. If a human calls using a terminal program, the Mailer will pass the call to the BBS, transparent to the User, and a login to your system will occur. If another Mailer is calling for the purposes of sending Fidonet Mail or files, the two Mailers talk to one another (handshake), and transmit mail/files in a secured manner. There is no breach of security with Mailer to Mailer transmission as it's one system directly connecting to another.

Why Fidonet?
With all the Media attention the Internet has garnered in the last few years, and thousands of super slick Web Sites at your fingertips, what earthly reason is there to join Fidonet?


It's FREE!
Fidonet is FREE to join and you can stick around forever at no cost! Some Nets do have Cost Recovery Programs (CRP) in place for mail and file distribution but, if one exists, it's often $5.00/month or less for ALL Fidonet echos (the BACKBONE) and the thousands of files distributed (FILEBONE). No need to go searching for new file updates. There are many File Distribution Systems within Fidonet where new files are automatically sent to all systems which connect to the Filebone.

NETMAIL!
As terrific as Internet Email is, if you HAVE to get a message or file out, and it has to get their NOW, and you wish to eliminate ALL possibilities of anyone intercepting your message or file attachment, Fido Netmail is the most surefire and secure mail transmission method in existence.

There are 2 kinds of Fidonet Netmail:
DIRECT - Mailer to Mailer call. Provides ultimate security where no one can intercept transmissions!
ROUTED - Alternative to Direct, where messages piggyback from one system in the Fidonet chain of command, (generally, node, Net, Region, Zone Coordinator, etc.) to another.

It's SECURE!
Some great concerns with the Internet are security breaches and viruses. Mailers used on Fidonet provide the security you need to ensure unauthorized individuals don't break into your system or obtain mail or files for which they are not designated. They provide complete control, with your directive, over which systems can access yours, and what they can retrieve or send. Viruses are almost unheard of and always have been on Fidonet.

It's MODERATED!
The conference areas on Fidonet have individuals who preside over them, called Moderators, and their "job" is to oversee echo mail discussion and topicality. If your interest is Windows 95, and you join this conference on Fidonet, rest assured, the messages will be generally polite, helpful, on-topic and spam-free. Spam, which often overtakes many of the Internet newgroups, is strictly forbidden in Fidonet echos.

It's CONTENT!
You've heard the adage, "Quality versus Quantity," and few examples ring more true than the content contained within the Fidonet Network. Even newbie users are indoctrinated with the requisite "Netiquette" techniques so that their initial forays into messaging on Fidonet are positive ones. And they stick around because of the high quality content of the message areas. The knowledge base is formidable and readily available for those who ask.

It's COMMUNITY!
Unlike the Internet, Fidonet is not a free-for-all where individuals wander around, unguided, in a vast expanse. It's a Global Community, comprised of bigger and smaller subdivisions, where members join together and regularly assist one another across the street and around the world.

Fidonet....A Neighborhood for the World!
copyright (c) 1997-1998, Santronics Software, Inc.

Annual Fidonews downloadable master sets:
FNEWS01.ZIP 1984 FNEWS02.ZIP 1985 FNEWS03.ZIP 1986
FNEWS04.ZIP 1987 FNEWS05.ZIP 1988 FNEWS06.ZIP 1989
FNEWS07.ZIP 1990 FNEWS08.ZIP 1991 FNEWS09.ZIP 1992
FNEWS10.ZIP 1993 FNEWS11.ZIP 1994 FNEWS12.ZIP 1995
FNEWS13.ZIP 1996 FNEWS14.ZIP 1997 FNEWS14.ZIP 1998


The Historical Section
Tom's Fidonet History 1
Tom's Fidonet History 2
Wynn Wagner's Fidonet Echomail History
Randy Bush's Fidonet History
Fidonet Policy 1, Policy 1
Fidonet Policy 2,Policy 2
Fidonet Policy 3,Policy 3
Fidonet Policy 4,Policy 4
Finister and Sabol's resignation, and TJ's comment.
FRONTDOOR history. A JoHo bash!
IFNA Articles
IFNA Bylaws
Policy complaint against Steve Winter, 9/95


The Photo Album
The Fidonet Bumper Sticker, in GIF format.
The Fidonet Bumper Sticker, in JPG format.
The Fidonet Doggy at the Keyboard, in GIF format.
The Fidonet Doggy at the Keyboard, in JPG format.
Advert for Fido BBS, in GIF format.
Advert for Fido BBS, in JPG format.
Cover of Early Seadog Manual JPG format
Cover of Early Seadog Manual GIF format
The November 1984 NODELIST
Pate was assistant at #2, Micronet in Atlanta.
Tom Jennings' News Photo
Tom Jennings' trademark registration Page #1
Tom Jennings' trademarkregistration Page #2
IFNA Incorporation Document #1
IFNA Incorporation Document #2
IFNA Incorporation Document #3
Copyright agreement between Tom J and K Kaplan
Tom J demands IFNA stop using trademark #1
Tom J demands IFNA stop using trademark #2


Present
Current Fidonet Policy, Policy 4.07a

Future Shock
Proposed Fidonet Policy, Policy 4.5 Rev 1
Proposed Fidonet Policy, Policy 5 Draft 008
Proposed Fidonet Policy, Policy 41d.txt
Proposed Zone2 Echomail Policy, Zone 2 Proposed Echo Policy
Proposed R13 Echomail Policy, Region 13 Proposed Echo Policy

Fidonews
1984 0101 0102 0103 0104 0105 TOC
1985 0201 0202 0203 0204 0205 0206 0207
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1986 0301
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1987 0401
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1998 0501
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1989 0601
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1990 0701
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1991 0801
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1992 0901
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1993 1001
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1994 1101
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1995 1201
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1996 1301
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1997 1401
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1998 1501
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The Nodelist Archive Project
Thanks to Ruth Argust for many of the below!
This is an attempt to salvage some nodelist history.
Hope you enjoy it...
And if you have one we do not, please donate...
And yes, that included nodediffs...
1984 314 328 342 363
1985 004
1986 276
1987
1988 008
1989 167
1990 026 089 145 229
1991
1992 248
1993
1994 035 364
1994
Nodediffs
007 014 021 028 035 042 049 056 063 070 077 084 091 098 105 112 119 126 133
140 147 154 161 168 175 182 189 193 203 210 217 224 231 238 245 252 259 266
273 289 287 294 301 308 315 322 329 336 343 350 357 364
1995 363
1995
Nodediffs
006 013 020 027 034 041 048 055 062 069 076 083 090 097 104 111 118 125 132
139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 223 230 237 244 251 258 265
272 288 286 293 300 307 314 321 328 335 342 349 356 363
1996 362
1996
Nodediffs
005 012 019 026 033 040 047 054 061 068 075 082 089 096 103 110 117 124 131
138 145 152 159 166 173 180 187 194 201 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 257 264
271 288 285 292 299 306 313 320 327 334 341 348 355 362
1997 360
1997
Nodediffs
003 010 017 024 031 038 045 052 069 066 073 080 087 094 101 108 115 122 129
136 143 150 157 164 171 178 185 192 199 206 213 220 227 234 241 248 255 262
269 276 283 290 297 304 311 318 325 332 339 346 353 360
1998 177 359
1998
Nodediffs
002 009 016 023 030 037 044 051 058 065 072 079 086 093 100 107 114 121 128
135 142 149 156 163 170 177 184 191 198 205 212 219 226 233 240 247 254 261
268 275 282 289 296 303 310 317 324 331 338 345 352 359
1999 302
1999
Nodediffs
001 008 015 022 029 036 043 050 057 064 071 078 085 092 099 106 113 120 127
134 141 148 155 162 168 176 183 190 197 204 211 218 225 232 239 246 253 260
267 274 281 288 295 302 309 316 323 330 337 344 351 357 364

FTS documents
NumberRevTitleAuthor(s)
FTS-0001016 Packet and *.msg format R.Bush
FTS-0004001 Basic Echomail format B.Hartman
FTS-0005003 The distribution nodelist B.Baker, R.Moore, D.Nugent
FTS-0006002 YOOHOO and YOOHOO/2U2 V.Perriello
FTS-0007003 SEAlink protocol extension P.Becker
FTS-0008003 Bark file-request protocol extension P.Becker
FTS-0009001 MSGID format j.nutt


FSC documents
NumberRevTitleAuthor(s)
FSC-0001- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0001n/a
FSC-0002- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0005n/a
FSC-0003001 FidoNet Route Files Explained B.Baker
FSC-0004001 Zones and Zonegates explained primitively R.Bush
FSC-0005001 Opus 1.01 Netmail passwording scheme W.Wagner
FSC-0006- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0006n/a
FSC-0007002 RFC-822-style msg header proposal R.Heller
FSC-0008- ** Obsoleted by FSC-0015n/a
FSC-0009001 Nodelist Flag Draft Document R.Gwinn, D.Dodell
FSC-0010001 Dutchie 2.80 SEAlink File Resynch H.Wevers
FSC-0011001 Experiences/corrections to FSC-0001 B.Hartman
FSC-0012- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0004n/a
FSC-0013- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0008n/a
FSC-0014001 Binary-style msg proposal W.Wagner
FSC-0015001 FOSSIL 5.0 Documentation R.Moore
FSC-0016001 FidoNet Mail Session Startup R.Hartman
FSC-0017001 Archive Philosophy and Document Naming R.Bush
FSC-0018- ** Obsoleted by FTSCLISTn/a
FSC-0019- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0007n/a
FSC-0020001 Alternate Nodelist Flag Proposal M.Presnell
FSC-0021001 VFOSSIL, OS/2 Video FOSSIL Appendage R.Moore
FSC-0022- ** Obsoleted by FSC-0090n/a
FSC-0023001 Bundle naming convention proposal R.Meyer
FSC-0024001 Binary bundle proposal O.McDonald
FSC-0025001 AVATAR Video Spec G.Stanislav
FSC-0026- ** Obsoleted by FTSCLISTn/a
FSC-0027- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0005n/a
FSC-0028001 Proposed file-forwarding standard H.Lee
FSC-0029- ** Not usedn/a
FSC-0030001 Proposal for message identification J.Cowan
FSC-0031001 Proposed message id/linkage standard M.Ratledge
FSC-0032001 Proposed message quoting standard M.Ratledge
FSC-0033001 Proposal for message identification T.Kover
FSC-0034002 Gateways to and from FidoNet R.Bush
FSC-0035001 Transparent gateways to/from FidoNet M.Shiels
FSC-0036001 Group Mail specification D.Lovell
FSC-0037001 AVATAR 0+ Video Spec G.Stanislav
FSC-0038001 Proposed domain gating protocol j.nutt
FSC-0039004 A type-2 packet extension proposal M.Howard
FSC-0040001 Proposed modem handling extension M.Shiels
FSC-0041- ** Obsoleted by FTS-0009n/a
FSC-0042001 A modified gateway agreement S.Furber
FSC-0043002 Some hints on recognizing control lines in FidoNet(r) message text R.Bush
FSC-0044002 Improved duplicate detection J.Decker
FSC-0045001 Proposed new packet header T.Henderson
FSC-0046005 Proposed product identifier J.Homrighausen
FSC-0047001 The ^ASPLIT kludge line P.Terry
FSC-0048002 Proposed type-2 packet extension J.Vroonhof
FSC-0049001 A proposal for passing domain information during FTS-0006 sessions B.Hartman
FSC-0050001 A character set identifier for FidoNet message editors T.Sundblom
FSC-0051003 A system-independent way of transferring special characters T.Gradin
FSC-0052001 A proposal for making the PATH zone aware G.van der Land
FSC-0053002 Specifications for the ^aFLAGS field J.Homrighausen
FSC-0054004 A system independant way of transferring special characters D.McNutt
FSC-0055001 Security passwords in nodelist updates L.Kolin
FSC-0056001 EMSI/IEMSI Protocol Definition J.Homrighausen
FSC-0057003 Echo Area Managers - Specifications For Requests F.Fabris, J.Homrighausen
FSC-0058002 A New Way Of Addressing In FidoNet W.Van Sebroeck, J.Spooren
FSC-0059001 Newsgroup Interchange within FidoNet J.Decker
FSC-0060001 Calculation and Usage of CRC's F.van der Loos
FSC-0061001 Proposed Guidelines for the FileBone E.VanRiper
FSC-0062003 Proposal for a Nodelist Flag Indicating Online Times D.Thomas
FSC-0063001 Proposal For FidoNet Messages J.Miller
FSC-0064007 InterDomain Message ID, Gating, Linking and Addressing J.Penner
FSC-0065001 Type 3 ASCII: A Proposal M.Kimes
FSC-0066002 Type 3 Binary: A Proposal M.Kimes
FSC-0067001 A Proposal For Sensible Kludge Lines M.Kimes
FSC-0068001 A Proposed Replacement For FTS-0004 M.Kimes
FSC-0069001 A FidoNet (FTN) Domain Name Service R.Heller, F.Arnaud
FSC-0070002 Improving FidoNet/UseNet Gating and Dupe Checking F.Arnaud
FSC-0071001 Distributed FREQ (DFREQ) Specifications B.Auclair
FSC-0072001 The HYDRA file transfer protocol J.Homrighausen, A.Lentz
FSC-0073001 Encrypted message identification for FidoNet J.Mudge
FSC-0074001 Proposed echomail specificationJ.Souvestre, D.Troendle,
B.Davis, G.Peace
FSC-0075001 Proposal for ISDN capability flags in the nodelist J.Ceuleers
FSC-0076001 Proposal for netmail areatags S.Gove
FSC-0077001 Proposed type-10 packet format J.Steck
FSC-0078001 Gateway between FidoNet compatible networks C.Lacerda
FSC-0079002 RTF mail: proposal for message formatting in the type-2 message packet K.Axon
FSC-0080002 Describing FidoNet with a layered model M.Staldal
FSC-0081001 A type-3 packet proposal M.Staldal
FSC-0082001 A proposed new packet type S.Slabihoud
FSC-0083001 A proposed standard for message IDs on FTN systems J.de.Boyne.Pollard
FSC-0084001 EDX1: Electronic Data Exchange standard level 1 D.Bider
FSC-0085001 Proposal for the "NOZIP" and "ERX" nodelist flags D.Bider
FSC-0086001 SRIF: Description of a new Standard Requestion Information File M.Mucko
FSC-0087001 File forwarding in FidoNet technology networks R.Williamson
FSC-0088001 Compatibility and Link Qualifier Extensions for EMSI sessions R.Williamson
FSC-0089001 The INTL: netmail addressing control line R.Williamson
FSC-0090001 FTSC Product Codes and Application Formn/a
FSC-0091001 Proposal for ISDN nodelist flags A.Lentz
FSC-0092001 New control lines for forwarded messages M.Hohner
FSC-0093002 Reduced seen-by lines F.Ellermann


FSP documents
NumberRevTitleAuthor(s)
FSP-1001002 Timezone information in FTN messages O.Sorensen
FSP-1002002 Reply indication in FTN subject lines O.Sorensen
FSP-1003001 Suggested use of Nodelist Fields L.Kindness
FSP-1004001 Standard Fidonet Addressing L.Kindness
FSP-1005006 Zone 2 nodelist flags F.Ellermann
FSP-1006001 Kludge for specifying addition e-mail reply addresses R.v.d.Winkel
FSP-1007001 Multiple recipient address specification to gateway R.v.d.Winkel
FSP-1008002 New control lines for forwarded messages M.Hohner
FSP-1009001 Year 2000 issues in FTN software M.Hohner


Some links of Interest
net-109
Fidonews.org
Fidonet.org.
The Echo List