Frank's Column

End of an Era
The Death of "TEM"
By Frank Vest

No, no one has died, but, something has died.

I guess I should explain. :)

Net124 has had a computer that handled all of the Echomail for the Net since before I was a Node in Fidonet. We, in Net124, lovingly called this machine "The Echo Machine", or "TEM" for short. I might be a little off on my history since TEM was around way before I even became a Node in Net124, or Fidonet, but I believe that the computer we called "TEM" was bought by the Net. It was maintained by an "Echo Fund" via donations. One person in the Net, "The Keeper of TEM" kept the machine at their home and maintained it out of those funds. No, this wasn't a CRP. The donations were voluntary and even if you didn't donate, you still got the benefits of TEM. No, this wasn't just a Node number in the Nodelist. This was a machine that was passed from "Keeper" to "Keeper" through time. This was a physical transfer of hardware. The new "Keeper" picked up the computer from the former "Keeper" and took it to his/her home. It was set up and configured and a separate phone line connected to it. A lot more than a simple Nodelist change was involved here.

As of Nodelist.096, TEM, 1:124/1 is no more in Net124. :(

This might not sound like much and you might think "So what? What's this got to do with Fidonet as a whole??". Well, I'd like to think that our little Net124 "TEM" wasn't/isn't the only TEM that was/is around.

Back in the days when all mail was sent via direct modem connection, a Net benefited from a "TEM" greatly. Think of it. A Net with 100+ Nodes and each one had to have or make it's own connection to another Node or feed, sometimes by long distance telephone calls, to get Netmail and Echomail. An Echo Machine could connect to one feed for one LD cost and then feed the local Nodes via local calls. Cost to the Nodes was cut dramatically. "TEM" was a "God Send" and made a lot of Fidonet happen. Without these machines, can you imagine what Fidonet wouldn't have been?

So, what has this to do with the end of an era? Just this. As Fidonet has grown and declined, so has the technology grown and declined. Fido technology was the thing back when the Internet was little more than a file transfer system for those that could afford it or were part of some organization that had it. Fidonet had the graphics and the ability for the "common" person to use it. The person off the street could connect to a BBS and communicate with others from around the world. As we, Fidonet, decline, we are now using the technology that was once below us to keep Fidonet alive.

Maybe we should think on this and think of all the "little TEMs" that were, and might still be out there.... sitting in some person's home and churning out the mail that comes into it. Maintained by some person that does this just for the fun of it. Maybe we should thank these little machines and the persons who run them.

Yes, it's the end of an era in Net124, but not the end. Fidonet might not have these little machines for much longer, but Fidonet will go on. The end of one era is just the beginning of another. Keep the faith and keep Fidonet going. Use the technology of today just like the little TEMs of the past used the technology of their day. Keep it going and grow.

In final thought, I'd like to say a thanks to Paul Lentz, the last "Keeper of TEM" in Net124. Kudos to you and my thanks for your efforts. TEM may be gone, but I know you will still be there to feed those of us in Net124 that seldom thank you for the effort.

Thanks TEM!, and Thanks Paul!

Kind regards,

Frank