Other Nets
----------
   FidoNet technology is used for lots of networks other than FidoNet.
Over the years there have been many splinter groups which charge off
to start their own network, either because they have a topic they want
to explore in more depth, or because they're mad at FidoNet politics.
There are lots of reasons. When they do this they choose a new zone
number and make up their own Nodelist and their own set of conferences
and their own set of rules and bylaws.
   Here are a few of the Fido-compatible networks: TrekNet is for the
Starfleet fan club organization. MufoNet is part of the Mutual UFO
Network. SBBSNet is for the users of Super BBS. SLNet is for users of
SearchLight software. WorldNet is a FidoNet offshoot which, if memory
serves, comes out of the remnants of EggNet. There are over a hundred
Fido-compatible networks out there. You may want to join one of them.
Somewhere around here is a file of "Other Nets" with contact
addresses. As a matter of fact, Fido even has an echo conference
devoted to other nets.
   You can usually merge the Nodelists from other networks into the
FidoNet Nodelist via the Nodelist Compiler, if they are done according
to FidoNet specifications. That way your board can send mail to
addresses in these other zones. It really depends a lot on the
software you use. Being "Zone Aware" in FidoNet is a concept that not
all software handles very well. It will probably take some work on
your part to handle more than one network smoothly.
   I'm a member of four supposedly FidoNet compatible networks, but
only one of them uses its own addressing scheme. All the others use
FidoNet node numbers to arrange transfer of EchoMail. It's as if I
have several different "FidoNet" hubs. One just happens to be in
Colorado, and another in Tennessee.
   There are also lots of networks that are NOT FidoNet compatible.
The biggest example is RelayNet International (RIME). These folks do
not use FidoNet technology. There are no front-end mailers. There are
no Nodelists. Instead, they operate very much like offline mail
readers to transfer conference information. Sports Complex is the
NorthWest Hub for RelayNet, so we have some expertise and lots of
activity right here in Kitsap County. There's some more information on
RelayNet at the end of this document.
   Now, the reason Fido versus non-Fido is important is because it
might affect the type of software you use to start your BBS.
