> How would you explain it, then, so I don't make the mistake of using this   
   > terminology again? If echomail doesn't "trickle down", then why do we use the   
   > term "downlinks?" A basic configuration of FTN technology is:   
      
      
   Definitions:   
      
   Downlink:  The system  you receive your echomail and file feed from.   
   Uplink:    A system who receives files or echomail from you.   
   Star System:  One of three backbone systems, _each_ of whom collects every   
   message posted in Fidonet.  The collection of echomail by the three Star   
   systems is called a MESH, where duplicate messages are cleaned out   
      
   > ZC   
   > /  /  \  \   
   > RC  RC   RC  RC   
   > /  /  |     |   \  \   
   > NC NC   NC   NC   NC NC   
   > /   /    |     |      \  \   
   > [ Nodes, Points, Whatever else ]   
      
   What you are showing above is the basic _administrative_ structure of Fidonet,   
   not the echomail distributive structure in Fidonet.   
      
   <->Star-----<->Star-------<->Star   
        ^          ^              ^   
        |          |              |   
        v          v              v   
     Downlinks  Downlinks      Downlinks   
      
   Some Downlinks feed others, that's their choice.   
      
   Take care,   
   Janis   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Dada-1   
    * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)