This is the first experimental version of a BPQ32 interface for dx-spider. The document assumes the reader is familiar with both spider and BPQ32. I have only tested it with ActiveState Perl v 5.8.7 Build 813 You need to install package Win32::API. I downloaded it from: http://ppm.activestate.com/PPMPackages/zips/8xx-builds-only/Windows/Win32-API-0.41.zip Or, better yet, use ppm to install it for you: ppm install Win32-API Copy \spider\perl\BPQConnect.pm to the \spider\local directory Edit BPQConnect.pm as appropriate - you may need to change ApplMask and BPQStreams. Although running spider will dynamically load BPQ32 if it is not already running, it does not function correctly. I suggest you load BPQ32 before starting spider. If you are already running any other bpq applications thats fine, otherwise run bpq32.exe, or better still bpqterminal, so you can monitor what is going on. Outward connects to other clusters seems to work, although I've only been able to test it with a very old DOS based AK1A system. See sample connect script below: Use command "set/debug bpq" from a sysop session to enable extra debug output. Remember this is very much 'alpha' software! Any problems/suggestions, feel free to contact me. 73 John G8BPQ Sample connect script: timeout 120 abort Downlink|Fail # the '1' is for compatibility with agw and is ignored connect bpq 1 switch 'BPQ:GM8BPQ' 'c gb7bpq' 'connected '' # you can leave this next line out if you call the script 'gb7bpq' client gb7bpq bpq