[FADCA] Older 16/32bit Windows BBS / MBO software no longer supported

[bud Thompson]

Deltona, FL
Saturday June 29 1010EST

cc by Ham Radio: W0RLI, KN6KB, W0RLI, N8PGR, KE6RK, N3PPC

DOS FBB, WINFBB16, WINFBB32, and Classic Winlink are no longer
being actively supported by the authors/development teams. WL2K
is not, nor was intended, to be an "upgrade" to Classic Winlink,
therefore does not offer all the full-featured BBS/MBO functions
we need.

FBBLINUX and some serious in-depth work being done by W0RLI are
the only actively supported systematic BBS/MBO software I know
of.  W0RLI doesn't yet support the multi-port PTC-II data controllers
which is a must as we go into the 21st Century.  If Hank had the
loan of two PTC-IIs for several months, he would probably welcome
the opportunity to add the SCS controller to his arsenal.

One of the problems, THE MAJOR problem, is that few of us want
to learn yet another OS (LINUX or any other).. no matter how good
the proponents' claims. That said, the quickest solution may be
for a real LINUX guru to provide us with an FBBLINUX install set
that we can use plug-'n-play while learning LINUX.  Many of us
would move to that if we could do it initially blindly, then learn
enough LINUX along the way to keep it running!

Perhaps Hans N8PGR would release source code for Classic Winlink
so some interested programmer(s) could take it over.  However,
that might be a step in promoting status quo, if not backwards.

I  have a lot of respect and hope for the AirMail software (e-mail
client), but it may need significant work to bring it into a
full-featured BBS/MBO program as we have all known it.  I have
planted some seeds with Jim Coreman KE6RK, the author, but have
not approached him with anything definite yet as I've not yet
learned enough about the program.  That said, I have termed AirMail
as  the "Great White Hope" for early 21st century BBS/MBO software.
 With Jim's help, it could "do it all" as a DOSFBB, WINFBB or
Classic Winlink update.  It will presently run HF PacTOR on almost
any TNC2 clone, MFJs, PK232, Kantronics KAMs, and the SCS series
of PTC- controllers. It has internet port support.  It does not at this time
support packet mode nor "conventional" addressing/routing to the extent
needed for Classic BBS/MBO mode. (Jim, I hope I've not misstated that
information - I still have a lot of investigation to make with AirMail.)

As always - looking for some hope.
73,
bud N0IA


----- Original Message -----
From: "n4xeo" <n4xeo@bellsouth.net>
To: "bud Thompson" <budt@cfl.rr.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [fbb] Re: fbb digest, Vol 1 #729 - 1 msg


> At 07:56 AM 6/29/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> >Deltona, FL
> >Saturday June 29 0755EST
> >
> >Does this mean that support for WinFBB 16/32 has gone away?
> >
> >bud N0IA
>
>
> The way I see it bud is that all their energy went into working on the
> Lenux version.
> When was the last time you saw a release for win15 other than a small bug
> fix? When are we going to see a FULL version of win32 that works out of
the
> install? I gave up on working on getting win32 to work... I have better
> things to do with the time. I relies that linux is a better operating
> program, but I don't have the time to learn it...so that leaves that
out...
>
> 73, Bill N4XEO
>
>
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <fbb-admin@f6fbb.org>
> >To: <fbb@f6fbb.org>
> >Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 6:12 AM
> >Subject: fbb digest, Vol 1 #729 - 1 msg
> >
> >
> ><snip>
> > > Today's Topics:
> > >
> > >   1. Re: WINFBB AND WINDOWS XP (n4xeo)
> > >
> > > --__--__--
> > >
> > > Message: 1
> > > Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2002 00:22:44 +0000
> > > To: fbb@f6fbb.org
> > > From: n4xeo <n4xeo@bellsouth.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [fbb] WINFBB AND WINDOWS XP
> > >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > Has anyone been able to get winfbb16 to run on windows XP using a kiss
> > > driver like tfkiss or anything else? I can get fbb installed without
any
> > > problems, but I'm using bpq as a simple kiss driver to the serial port
> >that
> > > connects to my FPAC computer. This is where and why I need to use a
kiss
> > > driver.  Does anyone know of any updated win kiss drivers out there?
> > >
> > > I gave up on trying to get Win32 running....It is a shame that the
support
> > > for it has for the most part gone away!!
> > >
> > >
> > > 73, Bill N4XEO
> > >
> ><snip>