

                         The WWIV Support Network
                         ========================


    WWIV is rapidly growing in popularity and many people are considering 
 using it for their BBS.  Unfortunately, there isn't enough established 
 support.  There are BBS's which offer help for WWIV Sysops, but these aren't 
 advertised.  The only way to get help with WWIV was to look hard for it.  
 That is why the concept of the 'WWIV Support Board' came into being.  The 
 basic idea is to establish a group of BBS's nationwide which are capable of 
 helping other Sysops and prospective Sysops with WWIV installation, program 
 files, help and hints.


    In the original documentation which came with WWIV, there was only one 
 BBS mentioned where users could call for help.  That was of course Wayne 
 Bell's, the author of WWIV.  But consider this: over the weekend Wayne could 
 receive as many as 90 pieces of feedback.  His board averages at least 70% 
 activity per day.  Very recently Wayne had 171 pieces of feedback waiting 
 when he got back from a 5 day trip.  80% of these questions could be 
 answered by someone else.   And most WWIV-related files may also be found on 
 other BBS's as well.  


    Enter the WWIV Support Board.  There are many WWIV Sysops who are eager 
 to help other people set up their own BBS.  They are very knowledgable about 
 the inner workings of WWIV, and often have megabytes worth of WWIV-related 
 files available.  If you run such a system, you can help!


    As an the Sysop of an Official WWIV Support Board, you would be qualified 
 to offer other WWIV Sysops help for their BBS.  A Sysop in need could ask 
 you for help and you would be able to respond to his questions.  Help could 
 range anywhere from installation problems to the most complex problems.  If 
 one Support Board Sysop doesn't know how to help you, then that Sysop can 
 ask other Support Sysops if they can help.  If not, then the problem can be 
 brought to Wayne Bell's attention.


    Also, as a WWIV Support BBS, you would have the very latest in WWIV 
 Support Files, such as Games, Modifications, and other miscellaneous files 
 that WWIV Sysops might look for.  Remember, the idea of the Support Network 
 is to give WWIV Sysops alternate places to find things for their boards 
 other then Wayne Bell's System.  Thus, reducing the traffic flow on his 
 system and increasing the total WWIV Support available.  


    In order to be effective, there should be some standard features that 
 WWIV Sysops may find on all the boards in the Support Network. Due to this 
 fact, there are some certain requirements that a potential Support Board 
 must fulfill. 


                     WWIV Support Board Requirements
                     ===============================


    The requirements for becoming an official WWIV Support Board are as 
 follows:

     1.  You must be a registered WWIV Sysop.

         You must be a WWIV Expert.  You should know WWIV like the back 
         of your hand.  You should know all of WWIV's commands, and how 
         to use them.  You also should have the knowledge to help another 
         Sysop put up a WWIV System from the ground up.  More importantly 
         you should be prepared to answer questions from sysops across 
         the United States.  


     2.  Your BBS must have been running for a minimum of 3 months.  You 
         must promise to continue the BBS for at least 3 months into the 
         future.  It is imperative that your system remain OPEN for 
         obvious reasons.


     3.  You must offer at least one WWIV-Related message base.  The more 
         WWIV-Related message bases you offer, the better your WWIV 
         Support Board will be.  Some good examples of these Message 
         Bases that you could have would be WWIV Modifications, WWIV 
         Sysop Boards, And maybe some Technical Help Boards.  



     4.  You must offer at least one WWIV-Related file transfer 
         directory.  As with the message bases, the more files you have 
         to offer, the better.  You must not enforce an Upload/Download 
         ratio for WWIV Sysops either, as most of them would be calling 
         Long Distance.


     5.  Your must be familiar with WWIVnet.  It would be helpful if 
         your BBS were a part of WWIVnet, but this is not absolutely 
         necessary.  However, you should know how it works and how to 
         help someone get started in the Net.  If you are an Area 
         Coordinator, it is a good chance that you already fulfill most 
         of these requirements.


     6.  You should know how to work with WWIV Source Code.  Since you 
         have registered and have the WWIV Source Code, it would be quite 
         helpful if you were knowledgable enough about C to help someone 
         else get started.  How to compile WWIV, how to add 
         modifications, etc.



    The rest is up to you.  Having 10 megs of WWIV files, 7 WWIV-related 
 message bases, and a staff of competent assistant sysops would greatly 
 increase your total support.  Handing out your phone number, keeping in 
 touch with authors of WWIV games, mastering Turbo C, it all depends on how 
 much you are willing to put into it.  But the best qualification is that you 
 are willing to help in whatever way you can.  Helping at least one person 
 set up WWIV from the ground up should give you plenty of satisfaction.  
 Whether you meet or EXCEED these requirements, you are there to help.


    Once you have fulfilled the previous obligations, you must complete the 
 following form and send it to Wayne Bell through the U.S. Mail.  He will 
 send you a letter in reply.  Once you receive notification that you are now 
 an Official WWIV Support Board, you may start to announce it on your BBS and 
 in BBS lists!  You may also decide to put that in your Welcome Message and 
 on WWIVnet Sub-Boards.


    Remember, that as the Sysop of a WWIV Support Board, you have become an 
 Official WWIV Representative.  You will have the responsibility of providing 
 accurate information to other WWIV Sysops.  Any help you offer to those in 
 need will reflect on you, your board, and WWIV as a whole.


    The concept of the WWIV Support Network was conceived by Eric Golden with 
 the initial inspiration of Bill Curran, Doug Fields, Sam Kerns, and Michael 
 Coyne.  Special Thanks go to Mike Bateman, Joseph Rybaczek, and Jason Bittle
 for helping with the final drafts.  The Support Network is still alive, thanks
 to the persistance of Joseph Rybaczek for trying to keep it going.  I would
 like to extend extreme gratitude to anyone who is willing to run a Support
 Board.



                    WWIV Support Board Registration Form 
                    ====================================


  Name:  ___________________________________________  (____) ____________
                                                         (Voice Phone)

  Address: ______________________________________________________________
           (Street name and number)

           ______________________________________________________________
           (City)                                (State)     (Zip Code)


  BBS Name: _______________________________________  (____) _____________
                                                       (BBS phone no.)

  Name of Sysop: ______________________________  WWIV version: __________


  WWIVnet Node: ______  BPS: ______  MB On-Line: ______   Users: ________


  Month/Year you registered WWIV: _____________   WWIV Reg # ____________


  My BBS has been up since: ____________   Number of Callers: ___________


  [  ]  My Board is PCPursuitable through Pursuit Node: _________________

  [  ]  My Board is Starlinkable through Starlink Node: _________________


  Describe the activity level of your BBS: ______________________________

  _______________________________________________________________________



  ( You may include a separate sheet to describe some of the features 
    you offer, and any comments you may have about this file. )





     I certify that my BBS meets or exceeds the above requirements to
  become an official WWIV Support Board.  If I do not meet up with the
  Standards of "The WWIV Support Network" I understand that my system
  may be removed from the Support list.


  ____________________________________________________    _______________
                 (Your Signature)                             (Date)


  Please send completed form to:        Wayne Bell
                                        904 Silver Spur Road #636
                                        Rolling Hills Est, CA  90274

