Doc's Net Services About Doc Page

About The Good Doctor..

My hobby for the last 16 years had been computing and communicating online. And I started doc's place online as a community bulletin board service providing automotive advice to modem savvy consumers in 1990.

Back in those days all we had were old dos systems and 14.4 dial up modems. Then came the 33.6's and then 56k seemed blazing fast compared to 14.4 back then.

This photo was taken at one of our sysops meetings. We got together once a month to exchange information and have a good time. This was Pinellas Net 3603 the local Fidonet Network that about 90 of us belonged to.

All our computers were configured to dial up another's using a program called a mailer. I ran d'bridge while many ran a program called front door. These mailers sent/picked up everyone's messages/files. When a human caller logged off the bbs, the mail tosser scanned the database and any new messages left were packed up and immediately sent to the other systems within the local calling area. a weekly file called the nodelist was a huge text file containing the node number, system name, sysops name, city, state, area code & phone number, along with identifying flags for mailer type and modem speed, (an electronic phone book for computers).

One member in each net wore the NEC hat (network echomail coordinator) and collected all this mail, and sent it to a regional hub during zone mail hour when long distance was the cheapest. Each state had a regional hub, who connected to a national hub who distributed it during ZMH (zone mail hour). During this hourly window each night, no human callers were allowed. Once everything was exchanged within the United States/Canada (zone 1) The national hub called over seas and made that exchange of echomail messages. There were 6 zones world wide.

Echomail as it was called back then was copying messages on to each Fidonet members computer bulletin boards world wide. A message could go round the world in 24 hours back then. Echomail was the predecessor of threaded discussion boards we use today.

Then came a new faster method to receive our messages, the 3 foot satellite dish that received our nets messages. It was receive only but was still a better way to receive our echomail. And with shareware computer programs it was a lot cheaper than connecting to the file hub and downloading via modem. Those of us who ran a satellite hub called the provider (planet connect) to upload our days collected mail.

Dial up bbs's were folding left and right, and the old net 3603 finally died around 1997 and I was the only one left. I had earlier did a final upgrade of my bbs software Wildcat V4 to the newest version called Wildcat V5. It was a true 32 bit software package that ran under Windows 95, but wouldn't run one day without crashing. I then loaded it on a Windows NT4 Server machine and found the combination to be rock solid.

Still running 3 dial up lines with maybe 3 callers each day, I connected it to the internet using a dual channel isdn connection. Wow 128k really seemed fast! I could connect from work with a modem and use the bbs as a gateway to surf the net but otherwise the system got very little use.

Then I came up with the idea of having an internet bbs, why not? I had all the equipment and an internet connection. And came up with an idea for this bbs advertisement and to this day the bbs lives on with an average of 100 Internet callers daily.

We sysops (system operators) were the pioneers of personal messaging (e-mail) as you know it today.

In late 2007 Doc's Place Online still lives on, running on a cable net connection in my home. It is running under Windows 2000 Professional (Win NT5), and has ran unattended for well over a month without a reboot. Hardware is a dedicated Intel P4, 1.6 with a gig of ram.

You can check it out here with your web browser or you can telnet in and see the bbs like the old timers did with a terminal program. To log in for a look around, use the username and password GUEST.

I now specialize in internet services, and service my clients from my home. Having close to 30 years in the car business, and with my knowledge of the internet, I am the car dealers internet guru. And specialize in internet marketing for vehicle dealers.

I am a self-educated computer/internet professional. I've been studying the internet since it became available to the general public, have learned all the best tricks of the online community, and know how to effectively put your company online for a mere fraction of what others charge!

Do you have a service business? have a handful, or a fleet of vehicles? Is your "www" name on those trucks & equipment?? Think about this scenario a bit. One of your lawn service vehicles is on the jobsite. A new resident who recently moved into the area is watching your crew working and sees your "www" name you conveniently put in plain view on that big trailer. Your phone number is on there too, but savvy consumers do their research on the web and look your website up. They are impressed with what they see, and either send you an email or call for a quote on doing their yard. You just picked up another monthly account, and right across the street too! I can create you a nice services website for only a few hundred dollars. Why pay more elsewhere!

All my websites are custom built by hand, and are compatible with the newest (and outdated) web browsers, including WEB TV. The phrase "keep it simple but effective" is alive and well here. I use only the finest hosting company to put your website online: www.webmasters.com. I have been using this company for close to 5 years! Their support department is prompt and responsive, and answers my email within minutes. In the rare instance of a problem, they corrected it quickly! The best websites you can buy are totally worthless without a quality host!

I know best how to "promote your site" and can give you the good advice needed to increase your site traffic and increase your sales. I have spent countless hours studying search engine operations, especially the giant Google, which operates very differently than most crawler based search engines. Being able to be found online is the most important factor in any website design. If the pages are not constructed properly the crawlers will avoid your site like the plague!

I also specialize in networking, security, and spyware removal. As well as servicing that sick personal computer. What ever you need just ask me. I offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with my services, so you can rest assured you will be pleased with the results.

Free initial consultation. So don't delay, call me today!

Pinellas: (727) 489-6718

Toll Free: (888) 666-6702

Fax: (727) 230-9280

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