Hey Cem!

On Fri, 26 Dec 2025 03:14:10 -0800, you wrote:

I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

The main thing here is I don't know if there is a way to sync my
down/reply packets without going through the login process of a BBS.

* Origin: 4d2 dot org // bbs.4d2.org // +1 541 442 4422 (1:105/45)

Using the above address, it looks like they have their Synchronet FTP server open to the public, which is a good thing for QWK users:

$ ftp bbs.4d2.org
Connected to bbs.4d2.org.
220-4d2 dot org (bbs.4d2.org)
Synchronet FTP Server 3.20a-Linux Ready
220 Please enter your user name.
Name (bbs.4d2.org:):

Login with your username/password, and the QWK packet will be sitting in the main directory waiting for you to download (get BBSID.qwk). Then, when you have a reply packet, you can use 'put BBSID.rep' the same way. You can write a couple bash scripts to automate the process, if you wish.. but this will skip the steps needed to go through an entire login process to a BBS in order to download/upload your offline mail packets.

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/10)

Maurice Kinal wrote to Cem Uzunoglu <=-

MK> I am guessing whatever way you posted the above question.
I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

MK> I sure hope not ... QWK sucks ... always has.
The main thing here is I don't know if there is a way to sync my down/reply packets without going through the login process of a BBS.


... Direct from the Ministry of Silly Walks
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: 4d2 dot org // bbs.4d2.org // +1 541 442 4422 (1:105/45)

Hello Cem!

26 Dec 25 03:14, you wrote to Maurice Kinal:

I am guessing whatever way you posted the above question.

I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

I sure hope not ... QWK sucks ... always has.

The main thing here is I don't know if there is a way to sync my down/reply packets without going through the login process of a BBS.

Hi. I can only speak about the servers I know that use Synchronet. I don't know how others do it.

If you have FTP access, you don't need to connect to the BBS. You can do it with curl, FTP, or LFTP.

Once you connect with your username and password, the BBS prepares the qwk package, and then you download it. You can create a simple script to automate the whole process.


--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Citrick BBS citlmbbs.synchro.net (2:341/207.1)

Hey Cem!

I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

Excellent choice. nvim should have no issues with utf-8 but I can't say the same for either QWK or Bluewave honouring utf-8 characters. I honestly believe a new offline format is required.

Дуже груви,
Maurice

o- o- -o o- o- o- o- o- -o -o o- -o
/) /) (\ /) /) /) /) /) (\ (\ /) (\
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
... Scyle monna gehwylc mid gemete healdan a wiþ leofne ond wið laþne.
Every man should act with moderation both to friends and foes.
--- GNU bash, version 5.3.9(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: Little Mikey's Brain - Ladysmith BC, Canada (1:153/7001)

Hi all,
It's been a very long time away from the BBS scene. What is the fastest/user friendliest way to participate in FidoNet nowadays? Is downloading QWK packages still the way to go? Any other more practical methods you use?

I still use QWK and also reading messages on the actually BBS in question.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * I am a Baudaholic.
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)

MK> I am guessing whatever way you posted the above question.
I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

MK> I sure hope not ... QWK sucks ... always has.
The main thing here is I don't know if there is a way to sync my down/reply packets without going through the login process of a BBS.

--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux

Looks like you are on a Synchronet BBS. You can log into the BBS to up/download packets but, if your sysop allows ftp access, you can also set
up ftp scripts to up/download your packets.

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * Make like Marilyn Chambers and blow!
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
* Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)

Mike Powell wrote to CEM UZUNOGLU <=-

MK> I am guessing whatever way you posted the above question.
I used MultiMail with nvim editor on the linux terminal.

MK> I sure hope not ... QWK sucks ... always has.
The main thing here is I don't know if there is a way to sync my down/reply packets without going through the login process of a BBS.

--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux

Looks like you are on a Synchronet BBS. You can log into the BBS to up/download packets but, if your sysop allows ftp access, you can also
set up ftp scripts to up/download your packets.

I, for example, use these when I can't access them with Golded.
As someone else already mentioned, there are a lot of uses and it's all a matter of taste.

======================
======================
#!/bin/sh

ftp -n server_ip server_port <<EOF
user "user_name" password
get YOUR_BBS_ID.qwk
bye
EOF

======================
======================

#!/bin/sh

ftp -n server_ip server_port <<EOF
user "user_name" password
put YOUR_RESPONSE.rep
bye
EOF

======================
======================

Get:
curl -u USERNAME:PASSWORD -O ftp://server_ip:server_port/YOUR_BBS_ID.qwk

Put:
curl --ftp-pasv -u USERNAME:PASSWORD -T RESPONSE.rep ftp://server_ip:server_port/

Citrick BBS citlmbbs.synchro.net telnet 2300 ssh 2424
Dedicated to all retro hardware.

=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.33-FreeBSD
* Origin: Citrick BBS citlmbbs.synchro.net tel 2300 ssh 2424 (2:341/207)

Hello Maurice!

** On Friday 26.12.25 - 15:59, Maurice Kinal wrote to Cem Uzunoglu:

Excellent choice. nvim should have no issues with utf-8
but I can't say the same for either QWK or Bluewave
honouring utf-8 characters. I honestly believe a new
offline format is required.

No one seems to be interested in building a new offline packet
system.

Maybe a new packet system that supports some utf-8 and
integrated with a local message management database system
would be quite nice for people who are primarily interested in
just the echomail from any FTN-based system. Oh wait.. it
already exists - it's called OpenXP! :D

As for "supports some utf-8", it's primarily limited what the
DOS terminal [char sets or font seletion] system can do or not.

Oh.. another system that *does* claim to support a broader
implementation for utf-8 is WinPoint.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (2:221/1.58)

Hey August!

No one seems to be interested in building a new offline packet
system.

I've known that for decades now which is why I built my own without ANY abandoware and/or obsolete protocols. That is the main reason I can claim to be the best there is, and ever was, in all of fidonet, present and past. The future? I don't expect to live forever.

Дуже груви,
Maurice

-o o- o- o- o- -o -o o- o- o- o- o-
(\ /) /) /) /) (\ (\ /) /) /) /) /)
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
... Druncen beorg þe ond dollic word.
Guard against drunkenness and foolish words.
--- GNU bash, version 5.3.9(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: Little Mikey's Brain - Ladysmith BC, Canada (1:153/7001)

Nick Boel wrote to Cem Uzunoglu <=-

Hey Cem!

Using the above address, it looks like they have their Synchronet FTP server open to the public, which is a good thing for QWK users:

$ ftp bbs.4d2.org
Connected to bbs.4d2.org.
220-4d2 dot org (bbs.4d2.org)
Synchronet FTP Server 3.20a-Linux Ready
220 Please enter your user name.
Name (bbs.4d2.org:):

Login with your username/password, and the QWK packet will be sitting
in the main directory waiting for you to download (get BBSID.qwk).
Then, when you have a reply packet, you can use 'put BBSID.rep' the
same way. You can write a couple bash scripts to automate the process,
if you wish.. but this will skip the steps needed to go through an
entire login process to a BBS in order to download/upload your offline mail packets.

Wow! That's great! Thank you. I'll go write a script.

... Direct from the Ministry of Silly Walks
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: 4d2 dot org // bbs.4d2.org // +1 541 442 4422 (1:105/45)