The following is a continuing compilation of the most-asked
questions about VBBS.

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Q: My system beeps at users, and sometimes boots them off.

A: Check a setting in VCONFIG, Main Configuration called Timeout.
It specifies the amount of time VBBS waits before it determines that
the online user is idle (ie... just sitting there, not typing anything),
and they should be disconnected. The beeps are what VBBS sends to warn
the user that they are about to be logged off for inactivity.

On most hardware this setting calibrates in seconds .. a setting of 300
equals 300 seconds, which is 5 minutes. A few systems, however, need
a much higher setting, like 10000 or 30000. If this is the case with
your installation, you may need to experiment a bit to find the right
value for you.

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Q: VBBS seems to be reinitializing the modem every 5 minutes.

A: VBBS checks to see if it need to dial out for network transfers
every so often. The interval is defined under VCONFIG, Main
configuration. The default is 300, which is 5 minutes. You may wish
to adjust this option to better suit your needs.

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Q: I've added new networked subs, but they don't seem to be getting out,
or anything coming in.

A: Make sure you run "Compile Network Info" from the VCONFIG Database
Menu everytime you make changed to the way your subs are networked.

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Q: I have trouble getting VBBS to answer the phone; The modem picks up
for 2 seconds, and then hangs back up before a connection can be made.

A: Make sure S0=0 and E0 are part of your VBBS modem init string.

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Q: I have trouble getting VBBS to answer the phone; The modem picks up,
but when the connection is made, and the modem passes the result back
to VBBS, VBBS hangs up.

A: This problem tends to be more frequent with some of the newer, low-cost
V32/V32bis modems, but it can be easily fixed through proper configuration
of the modem.

Some of the newer, low-cost V.32/V.32bis modems have different ways
of returning result codes. The key is telling the modem to report
the correct format which is compatible with VBBS.

For example, one of the modems I have here can be told to report the
connect results 3 different ways:

1) CONNECT

In this format, VBBS connects OK, but the modem reports the wrong
baud rate back to the computer. The DTE rate is the rate at which
the computer talks to the modem, and in most cases, this never
varies.

2) Super Extended Result Codes

This format isn't compatible with anything.
In this format, 3 or 4 separate lines are displayed, in a format like:
CARRIER
CONNECT
PROTOCOL

3) CONNECT

This is the one we want. The DCE rate is the speed of the modem-to-modem
connection, which is what we want. When this format is used, VBBS
will work just fine.

To configure my modem to use the correct format (#3), I send it ATW2.
The proper command for your modem may vary. Check the modem manual.

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Q: I've added new Topics, but they don't show up when I try to list them
from the BBS.

A: Line 2 of every FB file (Function Block) controls what Topics
(Database Groups) are enabled at the current FB prompt.

For example, line 2 of the default START.FB that comes with VBBS looks like:
A

It enables Topic A only. If you added more Message Base Topics,
B, C, and D, your line 2 should look like:
ABCD

Line 2 of the default FILES.FB that comes with VBBS looks like:
F

It enables Topic F only. If you added more File Base Topics,
G, H, and I, your line 2 should look like:
FGHI

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Q: When I try to display a network listing, it doesn't print anything.

A: Each network interface utility (VNET, VWW4, VUUCP, VFIDO) is responsible
for generating network listings for its type of network.

Normally, generation of these lists is automatic, whenever a new BBSLIST
or NODELIST is received. However, new installations may need to
"jump start" their network listings:

VNET:
VNET /A NETWORKID=#

VWW4:
Delete file BBSDATA.IDX in your WWIVnet Data Dir
VWW4 B NETWORKID=#

VUUCP:
n/a

VFIDO:
VFIDO NETWORKID=# /A

"#" in the above examples refers to the networks ID #, as given
in the NET.0 network masterlist file.

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Q: The call-back verifier refuses to verify.

A: The file that *must be set up in order for the Callback verifier to work
is called ALLOWED.CBV and it should be located in the VBBS Data Directory.

The format for the file is ASCII, one entry per line, as follows:
XXX-YYY Z

Where XXX is the area code, YYY is the prefix, Z is a "specifier,"
that tells the CBV how to dial this area code-prefix combination.

Specifier Type of Call How Dialed
--------- ------------ -------------------
+ Local YYY-????
- LD within Area Code 1-YYY-????
$ LD outside Area Code 1-XXX-YYY-????
/ Local outside Area Code XXX-YYY-????

RESTRICT.CBV specifies the list of RESTRICTED phone numbers, that may not
be dialed.
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