Otherware/Otherware_1_SB_Development.iso/mac/misc/document/modem.txt

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-05 | 88.5 KB

Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 01:07:39 -0600
From: [e-mail](Sendhil Revuluri)
Subject: [*] Modem Guide

Dear Moderators and Readers of info-mac:

        Attached is a copy of "What You Need to Know About Modems" in
vanilla ASCII (i.e., ".txt") format. It is a guide to the various
protocols, manufacturers, and types of modems, and what they can be used
for. It's very useful for anyone looking to buy a modem or confused about
all the "v.23435325" and "MNP-238436586572" jargon around the latest
high-speed modems.

        "What You Need to Know About Modems" is part of the "Joy of
Telecomputing," by Patrick Chen. Thanks to Patrick for writing this and to
John Park for sending me a copy.

(I recommend you put this in the /info-mac/report directory.)

***   Sendhil Revuluri   ***
***   Dept. Of Physics   ***
***   Univ. Of Chicago   ***
* [e-mail] *
What You Need To Know About Modems

December 25, 1991
Version 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Copyright (c) 1991 Patrick Chen. All rights reserved.

Distribution Notice: This document may be distributed by electronic
bulletin boards and commercial on-line services. This document may not be
edited or changed in any way for redistribution.

This article is Part One of a three-part report entitled "The Joy of
Telecomputing." As a plain ASCII file, it cannot contain any of the
illustrations and graphic elements provided in the printed version. For
further information about "The Joy of Telecomputing," see Appendix C.

This article should be useful to anyone interested in high-speed modems (or
2400 bps modems with MNP-5 or V.42bis). Most modems mentioned in this
article are external units. These modems can be used on any microcomputer
system, be it a PC, a Macintosh or an Amiga. Although only certain
communication programs are used as examples, the discussions about setting
up software apply to packages not covered herein.

It is assumed that the reader knows the basics about going online. For
example, we would not discuss how to connect an external modem to your
computer, nor would we explain what 8-N-1 means.

This file is in the IBM ASCII format. Each line ends with a linefeed and a
carriage return. If you use a Macintosh, open the file with a text editor
and get rid of the linefeeds. (I recommend McSink, a shareware text editor
widely available. Just launch McSink and open the file, then choose the
Convert menu and select Strip Linefeeds.)

To print this document, use a 10-pitch (12 characters per inch) mono-spaced
font such as Courier.

Every effort has been made to supply complete and accurate information.
However, information contained herein is subject to change without notice
and should not be construed as a commitment by the author who assumes no
responsibilities for any errors that may appear.

Trademarks: The author has attempted throughout this document to
distinguish proprietary trademarks from discriptive terms by following the
capitalization style used by the manufacturer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- CONTENTS

Introduction
Modulation Protocols
2400 bps modems
High-speed modems
V.32
V.32bis
U.S. Robotics HST
Telebit PEP
Hayes Express 96
CompuCom CSP
Things to come
V.fast
ISDN
Error Control Protocols
V.42 and MNP-4
V.42 & MNP-4 can provide error-free connections V.42 and MNP-4 can improve
throughput
Are MNP 4/V.42 useful?
Data Compression Protocols
MNP-5 & V.42bis
Are MNP-5 & V.42bis useful?
Compression by Software vs. MNP-5/V.42bis Local Flow Control and Data
Buffering
Macintosh and high-speed modems
PC and UART
Profiles of High-speed modems
ATI 9600etc/e
CompuCom SpeedModem Champ/Star/Storm
Hayes modems
Image Communications: Twincom 96/42
Intel 9600EX & 14.4EX
Practical peripherals PM9600SA & PM9600
Prometheus modems
Telebit modems
U.S. Robotics modems
Zoom V.32 Turbo Modems
Things to come
Buying a High-speed Modem
Should you pay the extra for a V.32bis modem? Should you buy a modem with a
proprietary modulation protocol? Should you buy a 2400 bps modem with
V.42bis? Beware of the ads
Setting Up Software to Work with High-speed Modems
The Proper Software Setup
Does Your Software Initialize the Modem Properly? Does Your Software
Configure Itself to Match the Modem Settings? Why You May Need to Change
the Initialization String Editing the Initialization String
Match Software Settings To the Modem Settings Configuring Popular
Communications Software to Work with High-speed Modems
Procomm 2.0
Telix
Qmodem
HyperAccess 5
Crosstalk for Windows
MicroPhone II (for Macintosh)
ZTerm (for Macintosh)
Other Settings for Your Communications Software
Telephone Number
Dial String: ATDT
8-N-1 or 7-E-1 (data bits-parity-stop bits) Half vs. Full Duplex: Local
Echo
Terminal Emulation
Comm Port
File Transfer Protocols
ASCII
Xmodem
Xmodem-1K
Ymodem
Ymodem-g
Zmodem
Kermit
Sealink
Which file transfer protocol should you use? Appendix A: Resources
Appendix B: How to reach the author
Appendix C: About "The Joy of Telecomputing"



-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Introduction

Buying and using a modem used to be relatively easy. Not so long ago,
almost all modems are 1200 or 2400 bps units and they are all compatible
with the Hayes Smartmodems (although some are more Hayes-compatible than
others). How time has changed.

Today, modems not only run faster, they are also loaded with features like
error control and data compression. Suddenly, you are confronted with all
the buzzwords: V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis, MNP-5, LAP-M, etc. What do
they mean? And what do they mean to you?

To make the most of a high-speed modem, you need to understand three
different kinds of protocols and the relationships among them. They are the
modulation protocols, error control protocols and data compression
protocols.

Modulation Protocols

Modem stands for MOdulator/DEModulator. A modem converts digital signals
generated by the computer into analog signals which can be transmitted over
a telephone line and transforms incoming analog signals into their digital
equivalents.

The specific techniques used to encode the digital bits into analog signals
are called modulation protocols. The various modulation protocols define
the exact methods of encoding and the data transfer speed. In fact, you
cannot have a modem without modulation protocols. A modem typically
supports more than one modulation protocols.

The raw speed (the speed without data compression) of a modem is determined
by the modulation protocols. High-speed modems are modems that feature
modulation protocols at 9600 bps or higher. A 2400 bps modem with data
compression that can theoretically yield a 9600 bps throughput is not a
high-speed modem.

"CCITT" is a French acronym for the International Telegraph and Telephone
Consultative Committee. CCITT, a United Nations agency, is an international
telecommunications standards committee that makes recommendations on a
broad range of subjects concerning data communications.

2400 bps Modems

A 2400 bps Hayes-compatible modem typically supports the following
modulation protocols:

Bell 103    (300 bps U.S. Standard)
Bell 212A    (1200 bps U.S. Standard)
CCITT V.22    (1200 bps standard used outside the U.S.)
CCITT V.22bis (2400 bps International Standard)

Some 2400 bps modems also support the following protocols:

CCITT V.21    (300 bps standard used outside the U.S.)
CCITT V.23    (1200/75 and 75/1200 bps, used in Europe)

In the past, most 2400 bps modems do not support any error correction or
data compression protocols. Recently, however, many modem manufacturers
have introduced 2400 bps modems with extra features like data compression,
error correction and fax capability.


High-speed Modems

There are two standard modulation protocols for high-speed modems: V.32 and
V.32bis. Both are standards established by the CCITT.

V.32

This is the standard for 9600 (and 4800) bps modems. CCITT V.32 is adopted
by the CCITT in 1984. But the market has not taken off until recently. V.32
modems used to cost more than modems using proprietary modulation protocols
(Hayes introduced the Smartmodem 9600, a V.32 modem, in 1988 with a $1999
price tag). But it is no longer true. At present, street prices for most
V.32 modem are below $500. Every modem manufacturer is making V.32 modems
now. Packet-switching networks like Sprintnet (Telenet) and CompuServe are
also starting to support V.32 modems. Companies that make modems with
proprietary modulation protocols are making modems with "dual standard."
U.S. Robotics, Telebit, Hayes and CompuCom all have modems that support
V.32 and their own proprietary protocols.

V.32bis

V.32bis, established in early 1991, is the CCITT standard for 14400 bps
modems. A V.32bis modem also can fall back to 12000, 9600, 7200 and 4800
bps. V.32bis is downwardly compatible with V.32.

Unlike 2400 bps modems where a single modulation protocol (V.22bis) is
supported by all modem makers, there are several proprietary modulation protocols used by modems from different manufacturers.

U.S. Robotics HST (High Speed Technology)

Until the recent surge of V.32 modems, the U.S. Robotics HST was the de
facto standard in the PC-based BBS community. U.S. Robotics introduced the
Courier HST modem in 1986 and pioneered the market for high-speed modems in
the IBM PC environment. The immense popularity of the HST modems was partly
due to the generous discount program U.S. Robotics offered to the BBS
Sysops (SYStem OPerators). Many modem manufacturers have implemented
similar Sysop discount programs, but most BBS sysops remain loyal to the
U.S. Robotics modems.

The original Courier HST modem ran at 9600 bps. U.S. Robotics later
improved the speed of the Courier HST to 14400 bps.

Although U.S. Robotics remains committed to the HST modems, there are now
three different high-speed Courier modems available: the Courier HST (which
only supports the HST protocol), the Courier V.32bis (which only supports
V.32bis) and the Courier HST Dual Standard (which supports both the HST and
the V.32bis protocols).

Telebit PEP (Packetized Ensemble Protocol)

Telebit introduced the TrailBlazer in 1985 that employed a proprietary
modulation protocol called PEP. While the Courier HST is popular among BBS,
Telebit modems dominate the UNIX UUCP and Usenet communities. (Usenet, UUCP
and the Internet are discussed in Part II of "The Joy of Telecomputing").

The TrailBlazer Plus owes its success partly to its built-in support for
the UUCP g-protocol, thus allowing efficient and flawless UUCP session. PEP
also performs well even with noisy telephone lines. The actual throughput
is around 14400 bps. The TrailBlazer Plus has an installed base of more
than 120,000 units.

Telebit also introduced a cheaper (and slower) PEP modem, the T1000, in
1988.

Hayes Express 96

Hayes entered the high-speed modem arena in 1987 with the introduction of
the V-series Smartmodem 9600. The modem used a proprietary modulation
protocol called Express 96 (also known as Hayes "Ping Pong" protocol). The
V-series modems have not been as successful as the U.S. Robotics or the
Telebit modems.

CompuCom CSP (CompuCom Speed Protocol)

While every modem manufacturer is jumping on the V.32 bandwagon, CompuCom
bucked the trend and came out with the SpeedModem Champ in early 1991. It's
a 9600 bps modem with a proprietary modulation protocol called CSP. The
SpeedModem Champ has one strong selling point. It is the only modem with a
proprietary protocol that costs less than a generic V.32 modem. The
internal SpeedModem Champ is priced at $169. An external version is
available for $199. Hundreds of PC-based bulletin board systems have
installed the SpeedModem Champ. The Champ also works as a Hayes-compatible
2400 bps modem with MNP 2-4 error control and MNP-5 data compression.

Two modems can establish a connection only when they share a common
modulation protocol. To connect at high speed, two modems have to support
the same high-speed modulation protocol. Therefore, a modem with a
proprietary modulation protocol can only establish a high-speed connection
with another modem from the same manufacturer. A U.S. Robotics HST modem
can only establish a high-speed connection (at 9600 or 14400 bps) with
another HST or an USR Dual Standard modem. A Courier HST modem cannot
establish a high-speed connection with a Courier V.32bis modem. They can
only connect at 2400 bps. (All high-speed modems in the market support the
CCITT V.22bis modulation protocol).

On the other hand, two V.32 modems can talk to each other at 9600 bps. They
do not have to be from the same manufacturer. Two V.32bis modems can talk
to each other at 14400 bps. A V.32 modem can talk to a V.32bis modem at
9600 bps.


Things to come

V.fast

CCITT is working on a new modem standard, dubbed V.fast. If all goes well,
the next modem standard can materialize before 1993. A V.fast modem is
expected to reach a raw speed of 19,200-24,000 bps over standard dial-up
telephone lines.

ISDN

In a couple of years we may not need modems at all. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) has been coming for years. When will ISDN
really become available for the rest of us? It depends on your local
telephone company. It is estimated that by the end of 1994 about half the
telephone connections in the U.S. will has access to it. With ISDN, you
won't need a modem since no modulation or demodulation will be necessary.
You will need an ISDN adapter instead.

An ISDN line carries three digital channels: two "B" channels that carry
various kinds of data at 64,000 bps and a "D" channel at 16,000 bps that
can carry control signals or serve as a third data channel.

A single ISDN channel can transfer uncompressed data bidirectionally at
64,000 bps. Combine that with a data compression scheme and you will be
able to transfer data at hundreds of kilobits per second.

Eventually, ISDN will provide widely available, low-cost digital
communications for voice and data communication. Until ISDN is firmly in
place, high-speed modems will be with us for a while.

Error Control (Error-Correcting, Error Correction) Protocols

Besides high-speed modulation protocols, all current models of high-speed
modems also support error control and data compression protocols.

V.42 and MNP-4

There are two standards for error control protocols: MNP 4 and V.42. The
Microcom Networking Protocol, MNP, is developed by Microcom. MNP 2 to 4 are
error correction protocols. MNP-5 is a data compression protocol. V.42 is
established by CCITT. V.42 actually incorporates two error control schemes.
V.42 uses LAP-M (Link Access Procedure for Modems) as the primary scheme
and includes MNP-4 as the alternate scheme. Therefore, a V.42 modem will be
able to establish an error-controlled connection with a modem that only
supports MNP 4.

A modem that uses a proprietary modulation protocol may also use a
non-standard error control protocol. For example, Hayes V-series Smartmodem
9600 supports an error control protocol called LAP-B. CompuCom's SpeedModem
Champ also uses a non-standard error control protocol.


V.42 & MNP-4 can provide error-free connections

Modems without error control protocols, such as most 2400 bps
Hayes-compatible modems, cannot provide error-free data communications. The
noise and other phone line anomalies are beyond the capabilities of any
standard modem to deliver error-free data.

V.42 (and MNP 2-4) copes with the phone line impairments by filtering out
the line noise and automatically retransmitting corrupted data. If you have
used a standard Hayes-compatible modem, you probably notice some garbled
characters (like "@8d_\nw`[ce") show up on your screen from time to time.
When two modems establish an error-controlled connection, they are said to
have a reliable link and are capable of filtering out those garbled
characters caused by the line noise. Notice that the line noise is still
there, it just does not show up on your screen or the screen on the remote
system.

The filtering process used by V.42 (and MNP 2-4) is similar to the error
correction scheme used by file transfer protocols (such as Xmodem). The two
modems use a sophisticated algorithm to make sure that the data received
match with the data sent. If there is a discrepancy, the data is resent.

What is the difference between error control protocols (such as V.42) and
file transfer protocols (such as Xmodem)?

For one thing, file transfer protocols provide error detection and
correction only during file transfers. File transfer protocols do not
provide any error control when you are reading e-mail messages or chatting
with other people online. In other words, an error control protocol is "on"
all the time during your online session and file transfer protocols are
"on" only some of the times, namely when you are sending or receiving
files.

Even though an error control protocol is "on" all the time, we still need
file transfer protocols when two modems establish a reliable link. A modem
works with bit streams, timing and tones. It does not understand what a
file is. When you download or upload a file, your communications software
needs to take care of the details related to the file: the filename, file size,
etc. This is handled by the file transfer protocol which does more than
error-checking.

Some file transfer protocols, most notably Ymodem-g and Imodem, are
developed to handle file transfer without performing any error-checking.
The idea of using a protocol like Ymodem-g is to eliminate the redundancy
thus improve the transfer speed. Ymodem-g and Imodem should only be used
with modems that provide built-in error control protocols. These file
transfer protocols do not provide any error-detection or recovery
capability. If a problem occurs during the file transfer, the transfer
session will be aborted.

Protocols like Ymodem-g or Imodem depend on the modems to provide assurance
for the integrity of data being transferred. However, you should know that
a reliable link between two modems does not provide absolute guarantee for
the data integrity during file transfer. When you call a remote computer,
there are really three links involved in the process. Besides the link
between the two modems, there are still one link between your computer and
your modem and another link between the remote modem and the remote
computer. When two modems make a reliable connection using V.42 or MNP 4,
only the data integrity between the two modems is ensured. It is still
possible for errors to occur at either end between the serial port and the
modem (in the cable) or in the computer itself. (Fortunately, such errors
are rare.)

For extra protection, you may still want to use a file transfer protocol -
such as Zmodem - which also performs error checking even if you have a
reliable link with the remote system. There is a common misconception that
Ymodem-g is much faster than other file transfer protocols. Although
Ymodem-g is significantly faster than Ymodem, it offers little over Zmodem.
Zmodem has proven to be extremely efficient. (See benchmark below)


Filename    Ymodem    Ymodem-g    Zmodem
-------------------------------------------------------
the-wave.txt    1527 cps     3261 cps    3296 cps
dayrpt.arc    761        1042        1025
dayrpt.wks    1244        2314        2337
sunset.arc    745        987        965
sunset.pic    1297        2594        2588
text109k.arc    814        1089        1064
text109k.txt    1351        2812        2885


Note: The seven test files used throughout this article are available on
the Hayes BBS (800-874-2937). It is an excellent source for information
about Hayes products. The BBS also provides a database for thousands of BBS
in the U.S. Best of all, it is free.

Unless noted otherwise, the results are obtained by using the following:

Computer: Mac SE with Mobius Two Page Display with 68030 accelerator
Modem: ATI 9600etc/e (the modem is set as V.32 with V.42bis enabled)
Operating System: System 7.0
Communication Software: ZTerm (Comm port speed set to 38400 bps)
File Transfer Protocol: Zmodem

All results are reported by ZTerm. (I use several communication programs on
both IBM PC and Mac. All of them show the average throughput while file
transfer is in progress, but ZTerm actually produces a report after the
transfer is completed).


V.42 & MNP-4 can improve throughput

The other benefit of V.42 (or MNP 4) is that it can improve throughput.
Before sending the data to a remote system, a modem with V.42 (or MNP 4)
assembles the data into packets and during that process it is able to
reduce the size of the data by stripping out the start and stop bits.

A character typically takes up 1 start bit, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit for
a total of 10 bits. When two modems establish a reliable link using V.42 or
MNP 4, the sending modem strips the start and stop bits (which subtracts
20% of the data) and sends the data to the other end. The receiving modem
then reinserts the start and stop bits and pass the data to the remote
computer.

Therefore, even without compressing the data you can expect to see as much
as 1150 characters per second on a 9600 bps connection. (Although the modem
subtracts 20% of the data, the speed increase is less than 20% due to the
overhead incurred by the error control protocol.) Here are the test results
obtained by downlaoding the same file (1) without any error control protocol, (2)
with MNP-4, and (3) with V.42. No data compression protocol is used.


Filename    No EC    MNP-4    V.42
------------------------------------------------------------------
the-wave.txt    935 cps    1151 cps    1128 cps
dayrpt.arc    863        1023        1002
dayrpt.wks    898        1071        1052
sunset.arc    838        971        953
sunset.pic    903        1080        1065
text109k.arc    908        1085        1064
text109k.txt    937        1150        1127



Are MNP4 and V.42 useful?

Absolutely. Anyone that has ever used a standard modem can appreciate the
benefit of an error-free connection. And the increase in data throughput,
though modest, is nothing to sneeze at.


Data Compression Protocols

Besides error control protocols, all current high-speed modems also support
data compression protocols. That means the sending modem will compress the
data on-the-fly and the receiving modem will decompress the data to its
original form.

MNP-5 and V.42bis

There are two standards for data compression protocols, MNP-5 and CCITT
V.42bis. Some modems also use proprietary data compression protocols.

A modem cannot support data compression without utilizing an error control
protocol, although it is possible to have a modem that only supports an
error control protocol but not any data compression protocol. A MNP-5 modem
requires MNP 4 error control protocol and a V.42bis modem requires V.42
error control protocol.

Also note that although V.42 include MNP-4, V.42bis does not include MNP-5.
However, virtually all high-speed modems that support CCITT V.42bis also
incorporate MNP-5.

The maximum compression ratio that a MNP-5 modem can achieve is 2:1. That
is to say, a 9600 bps MNP-5 modem can transfer data up to 19200 bps. The
maximum compression ratio for a V.42bis modem is 4:1. That is why all those
V.32 modem manufacturers claim that their modems provide throughput up to
38400 bps.

Are MNP-5 and V.42bis useful?

Don't be fooled by the claim. It is extremely rare, if ever, that you will
be able to transfer files at 38400 bps. In fact, V.42bis and MNP-5 are not
very useful when you are downloading files from online services. Why?

How well the modem compression works depends on what kind of files are
being transferred. In general, you will be able to achieve twice the speed
for transferring a standard text file (like the one you are reading right
now). Decreasing by 50% means that you can double the throughput on the
line so that a 9600 bps modem can effectively transmit 19200 bps.

V.42bis and MNP-5 modem cannot compress a file which is already compressed
by software. In the case of MNP-5, it will even try to compress a
precompressed file and actually expand it, thus slow down the file
transfer! Here are the test results obtained by downloading the three
compressed files using (1) MNP-4 without data compression, (2) MNP-5, (3)
V.42 without data compression, and (4) V.42bis.


Filename    MNP-4    MNP-5    V.42        V.42bis
-------------------------------------------------------------------
dayrpt.arc    1023 cps    946        1002        1010
sunset.arc    971        935        953        950
text109k.arc    1085        988        1064        1053


If you have ever downloaded files from a BBS or online service, you know
that almost all files are in a compressed format. Therefore, you should
only expect to see an actual throughput between 950 to 1100 cps even if
your V.32/V.42bis modem is supposed to offer throughput "up to" 38400 bps.

Most PC files are in the ZIP format. Macintosh files are typically in the
.SIT (Stuffit) or .CPT (Compact Pro) format. Amiga files are usually in the
ZOO, ARC or LZH format. Note that GIF files are also in a compressed
format.


Compression by Software vs. MNP-5/V.42bis

There are several reasons why compression software programs (such as PKZIP
or Stuffit) are superior to MNP-5 or V.42bis.

1. Compressed files save disk storage space.

2. Compression software programs are more versatile. Most of them allow
you to group several files in a compressed file archive to ensure that all
the related files get transferred at the same time.

3. Software compression is more efficient than on-the-fly modem
compression. In the case of a small file, this may not make much
difference. But the difference can be significant when you are transferring
large files.

Filename    Size        Time        Throughput
-----------------------------------------------------------------
the-wave.txt    143579 bytes    43 seconds    3296 cps
dayrpt.arc    8423 bytes    8 seconds    1010 cps
dayrpt.wks    19712 bytes    8 seconds    2337 cps
sunset.arc    5084 bytes    5 seconds    950 cps
sunset.pic    16391 bytes    6 seconds    2643 cps
text109k.arc    29775 bytes    28 seconds    1053 cps
text109k.txt    111386 bytes    39 seconds    2822 cps


As we can see from the test results, it is about 30% faster to transfer the
compressed file text109k.arc than to download the text file with V.42bis.

Hayes BBS does not provide a compressed version for the file the-wave.txt.
Using PKZIP (for PC) and Stuffit (for Macintosh), we obtain the following
results:

the-wave.zip: 6812 bytes (PKZIP)
the-wave.sit: 6081 bytes (Stuffit)

Assuming a transfer speed of 1000 cps, the compressed file can be
downloaded in 7 seconds. That's six times faster than downloading the text
file with V.42bis!

Here is another example. Spider Island Software BBS (714-730-5785) has a
test file called One-Minute Max. It is a Macintosh TIFF file (file size
206,432 bytes). According to Spider Island Software, the file can be
downloaded in 56 seconds (with an effective throughput of 3745cps) with a
V.32/V.42bis modem.

The result may seem impressive at first. However, the file can be
compressed to 6065 bytes (with Compact Pro) or 7385 bytes (with Stuffit).
Assuming a transfer speed of 1000 cps, it would only take 6-8 seconds to
transfer. Again, it is seven to nine times faster than downloading the file
with V.42bis.

On-the-fly modem compression does have one advantage. It is more
convenient. You can send a file without compressing it first and the
recipient does not need to decompress the file.


Local Flow Control and Data Buffering

To get the most from a modem with data compression, you'll want to send
data from your PC to the modem as quickly as possible. If the modem is idle
and waiting for the computer to send data, you are not getting the maximum
performance from the modem.

For example, you have a V.32/V.42bis modem and you want to send a text file
to a remote system which also has a V.32/V.42bis modem. Let's assume the
modem is able to send the file at 20000 bps using V.42bis. If your computer
is sending data to your modem at 9600 bps, your modem will have to stop and
wait to receive data from your computer.

To get the maximum performance, you want to set the computer to send data
to the modem at 38400 bps (the maximum a V.32/V.42bis modem can achieve).
Since the modem can only send the file to the other modem at 20000 bps, it
will never have to wait.

Here are the test results for downloading the text file the-wave.txt by
setting the communication port at different speeds:

the-wave.txt: 946 cps (modem port speed 9600 bps)
1885 cps (modem port speed 19200 bps)
3296 cps (modem port speed 38400 bps)


However, there is a new problem. Since your computer is sending data faster
than the modem can handle, there needs to be some ways for the modem to ask
the computer to stop sending data. Otherwise, data loss is sure to occur.
This is where local flow control comes into play.

A high-speed modem typically supports two kinds of local flow control:
hardware handshaking (CTS/RTS) and software handshaking (XON/XOFF). Of the
two, hardware flow control is the preferred method.

We have mentioned earlier that there are three links involved when you are
connected to a remote system:

1. The link between your computer and your modem
2. The link between the modems
3. The link between the remote modem and the remote computer

Local flow control is used for the first and third links. Notice that the
first link may not use the same kind of flow control as the third link.

Hardware flow control (or hardware handshaking) works by altering voltage
levels on the RTS (Request To Send) and CTS (Clear To Send) signal lines at
the RS232 serial interface between the modem and the computer.

CTS is used by the modem on the sending end of a transmission. When the
local modem is ready to receive data, it sends the CTS signal to the local
computer and the computer starts transferring data. If the modem is unable
to accept the data as fast as it is received from the computer, the modem
will disable the CTS to inform the computer that the modem buffer is almost
full (A high-speed modem typically contains a small amount of RAM which is
used to provide data buffers). The computer will then suspend data
transfer. Once the local modem has emptied its buffer by transmitting data
to the remote modem, it will enable CTS again.

RTS is used by the computer on the receiving end of a transmission. When
the computer cannot accept data at the rate at which the modem is passing
data, it will disable RTS. The computer enables RTS again when it is ready
to resume receiving data from the modem.

Software flow control (or software handshaking) is achieved by embedding
control character in the data stream. XON and XOFF are the most commonly
used control characters. XON is also known as Control-Q or DC3 (ASCII 19)
while XOFF is known as Control-S or DC1 (ASCII 17).

The use of XON and XOFF during data transfer can create problem when a
binary file contain the Control-S (^S) character as a legitimate part of
the data. Do not use this method if ^S and ^Q are part of the transmitted
data.


Macintosh and High-speed Modems

If you use a Macintosh with a high-speed modem, you will need a special
modem cable that is wired correctly to support hardware handshaking. You
can order the cable from most mail-order companies that sell high-speed
modems. I got mine from Maya Computer (800-541-2318) for $10 (plus $2.50
for shipping & handling).

Unfortunately, the cable did not work with my SE. The cable is good since
it worked fine on a Mac IIsi. It just refused to work on my SE. I was
disappointed but not surprised. After all, my SE is equipped with a 25 Mhz
68030 accelerator. (Well, it is actually both an accelerator and a video
adapter for a 19 inch dual-page monitor.) Since I will never want to run my
SE without the accelerator, I have no choice but to use software
handshaking.


PC and UART (8250, 16450, 16550)

Your PC's serial port has a UART (Universal Asynchronous
Receiver/Transmitter) chip to control the input/output. The XT usually has
an 8250 UART, the AT usually has a 16450 UART. If you are running Windows,
Desqview, OS/2 or any other multitasking environment, you should upgrade
your UART with the 16550 (if your PC does not already have one). The 16550
is standard in most IBM PS/2 and many 386-based computers. The 16550 UART
has a 16 bytes FIFO (first in, first out) buffer that helps to prevent
degradation when several programs are running at the same time.

If you use an external modem, the UART is in your computer (either on the
motherboard or on an I/O card that has the serial port). If you use an
internal modem, the UART is on the modem. (Both internal modems from
Practical Peripherals and Zoom use the 16550 UART. The Twincom 96/42 uses a
16450. The CompuCom SpeedModem Champ, due to its unique design, does not
use a standard UART.)

Even if you have a 16550 UART, the communication software that you use will
need to support it. Fortunately, the most recent versions of popular
communications programs are all designed to support the 16550 UART.

Hayes ESP (Enhanced Serial Port)
Hayes makes an adapter called Enhanced Serial Port (ESP) that has two
serial ports complete with an on-board coprocessor. The ESP can save your
PC's CPU from having to manage the work load. If a 16550 UART is not good
enough for you, the ESP may be the only answer.


Profiles of High-speed Modems

Here are profiles of some high-speed modems. The list is not comprehensive,
nor is it intended to be. Unless noted otherwise, the street price quoted
are from PC Connection (800-243-8088) in PC Magazine (12/31/91). PC
Connection generally does not offer the lowest price, but the service is
excellent. I have dealt with PC Connection and MacConnection (800-800-4444) for many years and have yet
to be disappointed with their services.

Unless noted otherwise, a V.32/V.42bis modem supports V.32, MNP2-5,
V.42/V.42bis. And a V.32bis/V.42bis modem supports V.32bis, MNP 2-5,
V.42/V.42bis. Most modems listed here are introduced in the past eighteen
months.


ATI 9600etc/e

ATI Technologies is well known for their video adapters. But they also make
a V.32/V.42bis external modem. As of this writing, it is the least
expensive external modem from an established manufacturer. It is a generic
high-speed modem that works well. The street price for the ATI 9600etc/e is
$379.

I have been using an ATI 9600etc/e for several months now and I am very
pleased with it. I will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for
an affordable V.32/V.42bis modem.

There are two things I really like about the ATI modem: * It has a slide
volume control on the outside so you can easily adjust
the volume by hand.
* It has factory settings for three different modes: V.32 only, V.32
with MNP-5, V.32 with V.42bis. It is very convenient if you need to
initialize the modem in different ways.

CompuCom SpeedModem Champ/Star/Storm

The SpeedModem Champ is a 9600 bps high-speed modem with CompuCom's
proprietary CSP modulation protocol. It is introduced in early 1991. It can
be ordered from CompuCom directly at a discount price of $169. The CompuCom
Champ is supported by hundreds of BBS in the U.S., including heavyweights
such as EXEC-PC and Channel 1.

CompuCom also markets the SpeedModem Combo which is a SpeedModem Champ with
fax and voice mail capabilities. The current price is $269.

The SpeedModem Storm is a dual-mode modem. It supports both CSP and
V.32/V.42bis. The discount price is $299 (internal) and $339 (external).
The Storm is also available with fax and voice mail options for an
additional $90.

The SpeedModem Star is also a dual-mode modem. It supports both CSP and
V.32bis/V.42bis. The discount price is $499 (internal) and $539 (external).
The Star is also available with fax and voice mail options for an
additional $90.

Hayes Modems

V-series Smartmodem 9600. Introduced in 1987, this is a high-speed modem
that supports the proprietary Hayes Express 96 modulation protocol. The
V-series Smartmodem 9600 is still available from various mail order
vendors. There is also an internal unit called V-series Smartmodem 9600B.

Smartmodem 9600. Introduced in 1988, the Smartmodem 9600 is a V.32 modem.
It does not support any error control or data compression protocol. Don't
confuse this unit with the V-series Smartmodem 9600.

Ultra 96 is a dual-mode modem from Hayes. Introduced in 1990, the Ultra 96
supports both V.32/V.42bis and the Hayes Express 96 modulation protocol.
Ultra 96 has many unique features that are not needed if you are calling
BBS or online services. The current street price is $669.

Introduced in Fall 1991, Ultra 144 is a dual-mode modem that supports both
V.32bis/V.42bis and the Hayes Express 96 protocol. The current street price
is $799.

Optima 96 is a plain vanilla V.32/V.42bis modem. This is Hayes' answer to
the "generic" V.32/V.42bis modem. The current street price is $479.

Image Communications: Twincom 96/42

The Twincom 96/42 is an internal V.32/V.42bis modem. It lists for $299.
(Don't expect to get discount on the price.) It just won a 1991 Best Buy
Award from Computer Shopper. Notice that it has a 16450 UART, not a 16550.
Furthermore, you cannot replace the 16450 with a 16550, the Twincom 96/42
will not support a 16550 UART at all.

Intel 9600EX & 14.4EX

The 9600EX is a V.32/V.42bis modem. The 14.4EX is a V.32bis/V.42bis modem.
PC Connection is selling the 9600EX for $499 and the 14.4EX for $549. If
you decide to buy an Intel modem, the 14.4EX is obviously a better deal.

Practical Peripherals PM9600SA & PM9600

The PM9600SA is a V.32/V.42bis modem. It is designed to be compatible with
the Hayes Ultra 96. That means you can tell your communications software
that you have a Hayes Ultra 96. However, the PM9600SA only responds to a
subset of the commands supported by the Hayes Ultra 96. Any commands specific to
the Hayes Ultra 96 that are not implemented in the PM9600SA will be
ignored.

Some early PM9600SA units have quite a few problems connecting to other
V.32 modems. (Make sure you send in the warranty card.) Practical
Peripheral has since sent out several ROM upgrades and the current shipping
units seem to be working fine.

Practical Peripherals also makes an internal modem that features a 16550
UART. You can get the PM9600SA for $469 and the internal PM9600 for $399.


Prometheus Modems

Prometheus modems are available from many Macintosh mail order companies.
Until recently, Prometheus is the only manufacturer that makes high-speed
modems with fax capability.

Promodem 9600 Plus is a V.32/V.42bis modem. It can also send and receive
Group III fax at 9600 bps.

Prometheus Ultima is a V.32bis/V.42bis fax modem. It can also send and
receive Group III fax at 9600 bps. MacConnection sells the Ultima for $689.


Telebit Modems

Telebit makes several modems. The prices quoted for the Telebit modems are
their new list prices.

TrailBlazer Plus. $849. Introduced in 1985, the Trailblazer has been the de
facto standard in the UNIX UUCP and Usenet communities. With the new
pricing, you should consider the T2500 or the T3000 instead of the
TrailBlazer Plus if you need to connect to a Telebit PEP modem.

T1000. Introduced in 1988, the T1000 is the little brother of the
TrailBlazer Plus. The T1000 supports PEP at a slower speed. The actual
throughput is about 9600 cps. The current list price is $699. Unlike the
TrailBlazer Plus, the T1000 does not have callback or password security.

T2500. $949. Introduced in 1989 when V.32 modems started to enter the
market, the T2500 supports both V.32/V.42bis and PEP. The maximum
throughput is 19,200 bps due to the limitation imposed by the older
Rockwell chipset used.

T1600. $699. The T1600 is a V.32/V.42bis modem introduced in 1991. It
provides built-in support for UUCP and offers password and callback
security.

T3000. $949. This is the top of the line model from Telebit. The T3000 is a
V.32bis/V.42bis modem. PEP upgrade is available for $99 until 3/31/92.
After that date, the upgrade will be $199.

QBlazer. $745. If I am going to buy another high-speed modem today, this
will be it. (I use a notebook computer). QBlaser is the first portable
V.32/V.42bis modem (2.3"x2.4"x2.4"). It works with a 9-volt battery for
about two hours.

Note that T1600, T2500, T3000 all offer the following features: * Built-in
support for UNIX UUCP, Xmodem, Ymodem, Kermit file transfer
protocols
* Two types of dial-access security: password security and callback
security
* Remote management and diagnostics

U.S. Robotics Modems

Courier HST. This is the modem that made U.S. Robotics the king of PC-based
BBS communities. Unless you are only going to communicate with other USR
HST modems, it is probably not a good idea to purchase this unit. The
street price for a 14400 bps HST is $550-$600. Telemart (800-521-1973)
sells either the internal or the external version for $559.

Courier V.32bis. Introduced in 1990, this is a V.32bis/V.42bis modem. It
does not support HST. Telemart offers the external version for $565 and the
internal version for $535.

Courier HST Dual Standard. This unit is introduced in 1990. If you need to
connect to HST modems and also want to be able to talk to other
V.32/V.32bis modems, this is the modem to buy. Its current street price is
around $800. Telemart sells the HST Dual Standard for $799. (Note that
earlier HST Dual Standard modems only support V.32 and not V.32bis.) The
HST Dual Standard is considered by many PC users as the best modem money
can buy.

The only reservation I have about the Courier modems is their size. The
external Courier modems are rather bulky: 8.3" wide, 12.65" deep, 1.57"
tall. I would not want to carry one of these with me when I travel. (It's
bigger than my notebook computer.)

Sportster 9600 V.42bis. This unit is introduced in 1991. The Sportster 9600
is an entry level V.32/V.42bis modem from U.S. Robotics. The list price is $645 for the external version. ($595
for the Internal version).

WorldPort 9600 V.32. The WorldPort 9600 is a portable pocket modem.
Originally made by Touchbase Systems, the WorldPort 9600 is a V.32/MNP-5
modem. It does not support V.42/V.42bis. The WorldPort 9600 works with a
9-volt battery. The list price is $699.

Zoom V.32 Turbo Modems

Zoom has been making Hayes-compatible modems for a long time. The V.32
Turbo is their entry into the high-speed modem arena. The V.32 Turbo is a
V.32/V.42bis with a 12000 bps turbo mode which is compatible with a V.32bis
modem at 12000 bps. Zoom also makes an internal version of the V.32 Turbo
that features a 16550 UART. PC Connection sells the internal model for
$399.

Things to come

Every modem manufacturer makes at least one V.32/V.42bis modem now. And
soon every manufacturer will also make a V.32bis/V.42bis modem. The price
for V.32 and V.32bis modems will continue to drop.

In fact, Supra has announced an external V.32 fax modem (SupraFaxModem
V.32) for $299 and an external V.32bis fax modem (SupraFaxModem V.32bis)
for $399. These prices are for the modems only. Communication and fax
software will be bundled with the modem for an additional $50-$70. (These
modems won't be available at least until January 1992.)


Buying a High-speed Modem

V.32 and V.32bis modems are clearly the standards of high-speed modems
today. You should buy a V.32 or a V.32bis modem unless

1. Your application requires a high-speed modem with a proprietary
modulation protocol. In this case, you should consider a dual-mode modem
that support both the proprietary protocol and V.32 (or V.32bis).

2. You cannot afford a V.32 modem. In this case, your only choice for a
high-speed modem is the CompuCom SpeedModem Champ.


Should you pay the extra for a V.32bis modem?

A V.32bis modem is faster than a V.32 modem but it also costs more. Should
you pay the extra for the speed difference? That depends on two factors:
what's the price difference and how do you want to reach the remote system.
If the price difference is $50, I would buy the V.32bis modem. But what if
the price difference is $200?

Assuming the remote system support V.32bis, a V.32bis modem will pay for
itself rather quickly if you are placing long distance calls to the remote
system. However, it may be more cost-effective for you to use some
packet-switching networks to reach the remote system by calling a local
number. A V.32bis modem will be wasted since none of the packet-switching
networks currently support V.32bis. In fact, they are just starting to
offer 9600 bps access service. Part III of "The Joy of Telecomputing"
provides a comprehensive discussion of the issues involved.


Should you buy a modem with a proprietary modulation protocol?

With the exception of the CompuCom SpeedModem Champ, it is generally not a
good idea to purchase a modem which only supports a proprietary modulation
protocol. If you have to connect to a modem that uses a proprietary
modulation protocol, you should consider getting a modem that supports dual
modulation protocols (USR Courier Dual Standard, Telebit 2500 or 3000,
Hayes Ultra).

Should you buy the SpeedModem Champ? It certainly costs much less than even
the least expensive generic V.32 modem in the market today. Assuming the
systems you are calling support both V.32 and the CompuCom Champ modems,
should you save the money and buy the Champ?

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to the question. The answer
again depends on how you are going to reach the remote systems. If you want
to reach the remote systems via a packet-switching network, the CompuCom
Champ may not be a good choice.

The CompuCom Champ is generally not supported by packet-switching networks
(The only company that supports the CompuCom Champ is Connect-USA). As a
result, you will only be able to connect at 2400 bps with the
packet-switching networks. You would be forced to place a long distance
call if you want to connect at 9600 bps. See Part III of "The Joy of
Telecomputing" for the various issues involved.


Should you buy a 2400 bps modem with V.42bis?

If you are thinking of purchasing a 2400 bps modem with V.42bis data
compression, think again.

We have mentioned earlier that V.42bis and MNP-5 are useless for
downloading compressed files. There is one more reason why a 2400 bps with
V.42bis is generally not useful when you are calling commercial online
services or BBS.

Online services and BBS usually have separate phone numbers for 2400 bps
and high-speed modems. Most of them do not support V.42bis on their 2400
bps lines. Therefore, you won't be able to make a connection with V.42bis
if you call their 2400 bps modem lines.

Couldn't you call their 9600 bps lines? Well, not really. Commercial online
services, as well as many bulletin board systems, typically do not allow
you to call their high-speed modem lines with a 2400 bps modem. You won't
be able to make a connection even if you try.

You should seriously consider the CompuCom SpeedModem Champ instead of a
2400 bps modem with V.42bis. The CompuCom Champ will probably give you much
more for your money (especially if you need to pay more than $100 for the
V.22bis/V.42bis modem).


Beware of the Ads

Current V.32 modems typically support MNP 2-5 and V.42/V.42bis. However,
there are still some earlier models of V.32 modems in the market which
1. may not support any error control or data compression protocol (Hayes
Smartmodem 9600).
2. may support MNP 2-5 but not V.42/V.42bis. 3. may support proprietary
data compression protocol (Microcom MNP-9). 4. may support V.42 but not
V.42bis (Prometheus).


When a modem is said to offer a 38400 bps speed (or throughput), it may
mean that
1. it is a V.32 or V.32bis modem with V.42bis
2. it is a V.32 modem with proprietary data compression protocol (some
Microcom modems)
3. it is a high-speed modem with proprietary modulation protocol and
V.42bis (U.S. Robotics Courier HST)
4. it is a high-speed modem with proprietary modulation protocol and
proprietary data compression protocol (CompuCom Champ)

An ad that says "USR modem, 38400 bps throughput, V.42bis" does not tell us
anything except that the modem is made by U.S. Robotics. It could be any
one of the three Courier modems. It could even be a Sportster 9600.


When a modem is said to offer a 9600 bps speed (or throughput), it may mean
several things:
1. it is a V.32 modem
2. it is a high-speed modem using proprietary modulation protocol (Hayes
V-series Smartmodem 9600, Telebit 1000, etc).
3. it is a 2400 bps modem with V.42bis data compression.
4. it is a 2400 bps modem with 9600 bps fax
5. it is a 2400 bps modem both V.42bis and fax


Setting Up Software To Work With High-speed Modems

Getting a high-speed modem is only half the battle. You will need to get it
to work with your communications program. Most communications programs
still come with settings configured for standard 2400 bps modems.

Since all 2400 bps modems are Hayes-compatible, it is relatively easy to
set up the software. You simply install the software as if you had a Hayes
modem. The software usually will work flawlessly. And you don't really have
to worry about things like the initialization string.

Getting a high-speed modem to work with your software is a different story.
There is no longer a Hayes standard that everyone follows. Here are some of
the reasons why you need to know how to configure your high-speed modem to
work with your communications program.

First, your high-speed modem may not be supported by your software.

Secondly, even if your software supports your high-speed modem, the
software may not be set up properly.

Finally, even if your software is set up properly, the settings may not
work all the times.

The Proper Software Setup

When we say that the software is set up properly, we mean that

1. the modem is initialized properly by the communications software, and 2.
the settings of your software match those of the modem

What is the proper way to initialize a high-speed modem? In general, your
modem needs to be initialized to:

* Enable V.42bis Data Compression
* Enable hardware flow control
* Handle the DTR and CD signals properly (by adding &C1&D2 to the modem
initialization string)

We'll use the ATI 9600etc/e modem as an example for our discussions below.
The initialization string described here is for the ATI modem only. Refer
to your modem manual for the equivalent initialization string for your
modem.

The ATI modem is supported by two popular communications programs: Qmodem
and HyperAccess 5. Qmodem initializes the modem and also configures itself
to use hardware flow control. HyperAccess 5 also initializes the modem
properly, however it does not configure itself to use hardware flow
control.

All modems come with default settings pre-configured from the factory. Many
V.32 high-speed modems are preset to use V.42bis and hardware flow control
when they are turned on. This optimal configuration enables the modem to
automatically negotiate a connection with either another V.32 modem
supporting V.42bis or MNP protocols (or even a standard modem).

Interestingly enough, not all high-speed modems are configured this way.
The ATI 9600 etc/e modem, for example, is preset to use V.32 without error
control or data compression at power-on. (Why? Good question.)

As a result, your communications program needs to issue the appropriate
initialization string (AT&F2) to set up the ATI modem to use V.32 with
V.42bis and hardware flow control.

There is another change required. And it has to do with the parameters
controlling how the modem deals with two of the RS232 signals: DTR (Data
Terminal Ready) and CD (Carrier Detect).

CD is a signal generated by the modem which is used to indicate its
connection status. DTR is a signal generated by your computer. DTR is used
to enable the modem to accept commands from your communications program, it
is also used by most modems to determine when to disconnect a call.

The factory default setting for DTR tells the modem to ignore change in DTR
(&D0), and the setting for CD forces CD always on (&C0). These specific
settings are required by some dedicated dumb terminals in order to
communicate with the modem. (Virtually all modems use &C0&D0 as the default
setting.) However, these settings will often cause problems when hanging up
the phone lines or produce an error message which says the modem is online
when it is not.

Most communications software programs expect the modem to follow DTR and
expects CD to follow carrier. &C1&D2 set the parameters for the modem to
handle the DTR and CD signals as expected by most communications programs.

Therefore, the proper initialization string to use for the ATI modem should
be AT&F2&C1&D2.

Does Your Software Initialize the Modem Properly?

Let's take a look at the initialization strings used by Qmodem and
HyperAccess 5 for the ATI 9600etc/e modem.

HyperAccess 5 use the following initialization string

AT&F2E1V1L0Q0W2X4&C1&D2S11=55

This string is longer than the one we suggest. But does it do more?
Actually it doesn't. Many of the commands in the string are redundant or
not necessary. Only AT&F2&C1&D2 are crucial.

Four of the commands - E1, V1, Q0 and X4 - are redundant since they are
duplications of the factory default settings. (Check your modem manual to
find out what they mean. Since you would most likely need to read it sooner
or later, you might as well get started now.)

L0 does not apply to the ATI modem. L0 normally is used to set modem
speaker volume to the lowest level. However, the ATI 9600etc/e modem does
not respond to the L0 command. Unlike most modems, the ATI modem has a
slide volume control on the right side for adjusting the volume level.

The other two commands (W2 and S11=55) are not redundant, but they are not
necessary.

W2 sets the modem to report Negotiation result codes in single line format
instead of the default three line format (W1).

Three line format:    Single line format:
-----------------    ------------------
CARRIER 9600    CONNECT 9600/LAP-M
PROTOCOL: LAP-M
CONNECT 38400


S11=55 (default is 95) sets the modem to dial at a faster speed than the
factory setting.

Despite the fact that its initialization string contains some redundant
commands, HyperAccess 5 does properly initialize the ATI modem.

Although HyperAccess 5 will initialize the modem with the string every time
you dial a remote system, the program does not change the factory default
settings for the ATI modem (which is V.32 without error control or data
compression). Every time you turn the modem off and back on, the modem will
revert to its factory defaults.

Unlike HyperAccess 5 (and other communications programs), Qmodem does it in
a different way. It actually replaces the old factory default setting
(AT&F) of the ATI modem with a new default configuration (AT&F2&C1&D2).

When you first install Qmodem to work with an ATI 9600 etc/e modem, the
program sends the following two strings to the modem (make sure the modem
is connected to your PC and is turned on):

AT&F2^M
AT&C1&D2&W^M

The first string sets the modem as V.32 with V.42bis enabled, hardware flow
control enabled (among other things). Note that ^M is equivalent to sending
a Carriage Return to the modem.

The second string changes the factory settings of the CD and DTR (&C0&D0)
and then write (&W) all the new active configuration settings to the
nonvolatile memory of the modem. The new settings are now stored by the
modem and become the new default configuration when the modem is powered on
(or when it received the ATZ command).

Thus, Qmodem simply sends the initialization string "ATZ^M" (which resets
the modem to its default state, now AT&F2&C1&D2) to the modem whenever you
load the program.

Although the two programs use different techniques, the result is the same.
The modem is initialized as V.32/V.42bis with hardware flow control
enabled, which is normally the optimum setting.

Does Your Software Configure Itself to Match the Modem Settings?

Besides sending the right initialization string to the modem, the
communications software will also need to match the modem setting.
Specifically, the communications software should also use hardware flow
control since the modem is initialized with hardware flow control enabled.

One would expect that when a software initializes the modem to use hardware
flow control, the software itself would also use hardware flow control. But
it is not always true. As we mentioned earlier, HyperAccess 5 initializes
the modem with hardware flow control enabled, but expect you to change the
flow control settings in each individual dialing entry.

Why You May Need to Change the Initialization String

In general, the string AT&F2&C1&D2 should work without any problem. But
there is no guarantee that it will always work. When it does not work,
you'll normally need to change the initialization string to solve the
problems.

Here are a few reasons why the initialization string used by your
communications program may not work:

1. The settings need adjustments to work with the system you are calling.

Case 1: When I called the Hayes BBS, the modem would abort and failed to
make a connection. It turned out that the default setting (30 seconds) of
the S7 register is not long enough for the ATI modem to make a connection
with the Hayes Ultra 96 modem on the other end.

Solution: To establish a connection to the Hayes BBS, I need to add "S7=60"
to the modem initialization string and also change the setting in the
communications software to wait 60 seconds for a connection.

By initializing the modem with the string AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60, I was able to
connect without any problem. (The default setting for the S7 register is
not universal, the Hayes Ultra and Practical Peripheral use 50 seconds as
the default value.) Note that there is nothing special about the number 60.
In my particular case, any number larger than 45 will work.

Case 2: When I call a system that uses the Telebit T1600 modems, I cannot
make a connection if the ATI modem is set to use V.42bis or MNP-5. The ATI
modem will only connect reliably when it is set to use MNP-4.

Solution: To connect successfully, I have to set up the modem as V.32 with
MNP-4 by sending the string AT&F1&U0 to the ATI modem. (AT&F1 sets the ATI modem as V.32 with
MNP-5, &U0 turns off data compression.)

2. Your communication software may not be compatible with the setting.
For example, America Online implemented an error-correcting scheme in the
software (both the PC and the Mac versions) which is not compatible with
the modem's error correction protocol.

Solution: To use America Online, you need to turn off error control on the
modem. AT&F configures the ATI modem as V.32 without error control.

3. Your computer hardware may not work with the setting.
As I mention earlier, you need a properly wired cable for the Mac to use
hardware flow control. If you do not have the right cable or if your Mac
simply won't work with the cable, you will need to use software flow
control. (&K4 tells the ATI modem to use software flow control.)

Solution: To use the ATI modem in V.32/V.42bis mode with my Mac, I need to
disable hardware flow control and use XON/XOFF software flow control
instead. The string AT&F2&K4&C1&D2S7=60 sets up the modem properly (again,
S7=60 is for calling the Hayes BBS).

4. You may need to change the setting to achieve better performance.
It  is advisable that you turn off MNP-5 while downloading pre-compressed
files from a remote system that has a MNP-5 modem. You can initialize the
ATI modem to turn off MNP-5 data compression with the string AT&F1&U0.


Again, the initialization string used here is for the ATI modem only. If
you use a different modem, you would need to check with the modem manual to
find out the equivalent commands to use.


Editing the Initialization String

If the initialization string provided by your software does not work (or if
your software does not support your modem at all), you'll need to edit the
initialization string in your communications program.

The modem initialization string consists of a series of commands (called
the AT commands). They can be divided into three groups:

1. A capital character followed by a digit. For example, M1. 2. An
ampersand & and a capital character followed by a digit. For
example, &M1. Note that M1 is different from &M1. 3. Sr=n where "r" is the
number of the register to be changed and "n" is
the new value that is being assigned. For example, S7=60.

There are some other characters that may also appear in the modem
initialization string. These characters normally should not be changed.

AT    tells the modem that modem commands follow.

Z    resets the modem to default state

~    makes your software pause for half a second. You can use more than one ~
in a     row. For example, ~~~~ tells the software to pause two seconds.

^M    sends the terminating Carriage Return character to the modem. This is a
control     code that most communication software translate as a "carriage
return."


Let's assume that the appropriate initialization string to use is
AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60 (for the ATI modem). You'll need to replace this string
with the one provided by your communications software.

If your software does not support your modem, you can install the program
by telling it that you have a Hayes modem. After the installation, you'll
simply edit the initialization string with the appropriate one. Please make
sure you do not delete any ~ or ^M.

Here are some examples,

1. To change the string provided by Procomm Plus

ATE1 S7=60 S11=60 V1 X1 Q0 S0=0^M

Use the string

AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

2. To edit the string used by Telix

ATZ^M~~~AT S7=45 S0=0 V1 X4^M

change it to

ATZ^M~~~AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

3. To replace the initialization string provided by ZTerm (Macintosh)

ATE1M1 V1^M

use the following string

AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M


Match Software Settings To the Modem Settings

Besides using the right initialization string, you also need to make sure
that the settings in your communications program match those of the modem.

Speed setting

If you have a modem that supports data compression. You want to make sure
that the speed setting for the entries in your dialing directory is the
maximum throughput. Here are the general rules of thumb:

For a V.32bis/V.42bis modem, set speed to 38400 or 57600 bps (check your modem manual).
For a V.32/V.42bis modem, set speed to 38400 bps. For a V.32/MNP-5 modem,
set speed to 19200 bps. For a V.22bis/V.42bis modem, set speed to 9600 bps.
For a V.22bis/MNP-5 modem, set speed to 4800 bps.

Note: Your computer may not be fast enough to work reliably at 38400 or
57600 bps. Also, the communications programs you use may not support speed
higher than 19200 bps.


Hardware flow control

Note that you will need to configure your software to use hardware
handshaking if the modem is initialized to use hardware flow control.

Dialing Time-out Value

Independent from your modem setting, your software may also impose a limit
on how long it will wait for a connection. If you initialize the modem with
the command S7=60, you'll need to change the time-out value used by your
software to 60 seconds accordingly.

Configuring Popular Communications Software to Work with High-speed Modems

Below are brief instructions for configuring some popular communications
programs to work with a high-speed modem. The particular initialization
string is for the ATI 9600etc/e modem. It is assumed that the appropriate
initialization string to use is AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60.

Make sure you save the changes you make.


Procomm Plus 2.0

To change the modem initialization string: (Global, i.e. it works with
every dialing entry)
1. Load Procomm, press Alt-S
2. Select Modem Options
3. Select Modem Commands
4. Press A
5. Change the initialization string to AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: (Global) 1. Load
Procomm, press Alt-S
2. Select Modem Options
3. Select General Options
4. Press A
5. Type 60 and press Return

To enable hardware flow control: (Global) 1. Load Procomm, press Alt-S
2. Select Terminal Options
3. Press D (hardware flow control)
4. Press Space Bar to toggle, press Return to accept 5. Press C (software
flow control)
6. Press Space Bar to toggle, press Return to accept

Telix

To change the modem initialization string: (Global) 1. Press Alt-O
2. Select Modem and dialing
3. Select A (Init String)
4. Change the initialization string to ATZ^M~~~AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: (Global) 1. Press
Alt-O
2. Select Modem and dialing
3. Select K (Dial time) and enter 60 press Return

To enable hardware flow control (Global) 1. Press Alt-O
2. Select Terminal options
3. Press J (XON/XOFF software flow control) 4. Select Off
5. Select K (CTS/RTS hardware flow control) 6. Select On
7. Press ESC to exit

Qmodem

To change the modem initialization string: (Global) 1. Press Alt-N
2. Press M to select Modem menu
3. Select Modem Commands
4. Press Return
5. Change the initialization string to AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: (Global) 1. Press
Alt-N
2. Press M to select Modem menu and Press Return to select Communication
Parameters
3. Press H to select Timeout delay
4. Type 60 and press Return
5. ESC to exit

To enable hardware flow control: (Global)

1. Press Alt-N
2. Select Toggles
3. Press Return to toggle XON/XOFF flow
4. Select CTS/RTS flow
5. Press Return to toggle
6. ESC
7. ESC
8. Press E for Exit
9. Save Changes


HyperAccess 5

Note: HyperAccess 5 supports the ATI 9600etc/e. However, HyperAccess 5 does
not let you edit the initialization string directly. You can add additional
setup commands to change the modem settings for each individual dialing
entry.

To change the modem initialization string: (Individual, i.e. it works only
with the particular dialing entry)
1. Select Define system settings from the Main menu 2. Select Modify
3. Use cursor to select the system to modify and press Enter 4. Select
Hardware from the System settings menu 5. Select Modem
6. Select Additional modem setup commands 7. Type S7=60
8. Press ESC twice to go back the Main menu

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: N/A

To enable hardware flow control: (Individual) 1. Select Define system
settings from the Main menu 2. Select Modify
3. Use cursor to select the system to modify and press Enter 4. Select Hardware from the
System settings menu 5. Make sure that Data terminal ready signal is output
on DTR, delete
RTS if it is listed
6. Select Communications port
7. Select Incoming hardware handshaking and type CTS 8. Select Outgoing
hardware handshaking and type RTS


Crosstalk for Windows

To change the modem initialization string: (Global) 1. Pull down Setup menu
and select Modem... 2. Select Custom and click on Settings
3. Change the initialization string to ^M~AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M 4. Click OK

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: (Individual) 1. Pull
down File menu and select Open a phone book entry 2. Open the phone book
entry
3. Pull down Setup menu and select Session 4. Click on More
5. Change the value in Allow xx seconds for the host to answer

To enable hardware flow control: (Individual) 1. Pull down File menu and
select Open a phone book entry 2. Open the phone book entry
3. Pull down Setup menu and select Device 4. Click on RTS/CTS and click OK


MicroPhone II (for Macintosh)

To change the modem initialization string: (Individual) 1. Choose Settings
Menu
2. Select Communications
3. Choose V.32 Standard from the Modem Driver list box 4. Click OK
5. Hold down the Command key and choose Scripts menu 6. Select Modify
Script
7. Click the Modem Scripts button
8. Double-click on Modem_Init
9. Double-click on the first line that says
Set Variable * mcmd from Expression "'AT....'" 10. Change the
initialization string in the lower right box to
'AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M'
11. Double-click on the second line that says
Set Variable * mcmd from Expression "'AT....'" 12. Change the
initialization string in the lower right box to
'AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M'
13. Click OK
14. Press the Option key and choose the File menu 15. Select Save Modem
Driver (If you want to save the driver under a new
name, select Save Modem Driver As... in the File Menu. Name the new driver,
and save it into the Modem Folder.)

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: N/A

To enable hardware flow control: (Individual) 1. Pull down Settings Menu
2. Select Communications
3. Click on the Hardware Handshake box

ZTerm (for Macintosh)

To change the modem initialization string: (Global) 1. Choose Settings Menu
and select Modem 2. Change Init String to AT&F2&C1&D2S7=60^M

To set the software to wait 60 seconds for connection: (Global) 1. Choose
Settings Menu and select Modem 2. Edit Dial Timeout

To enable hardware flow control: (Global) 1. Choose Settings Menu and
Select Flow Control 2. Uncheck Xon-Xoff Receive
3. Uncheck Xon-Xoff Send
4. Check HW Handshake


Other Settings for Your Communications Software

Telephone Number

Online services use different phone numbers for different kinds of modems.
To get the best throughput, make sure you dial the right phone number. Note
that many bulletin board systems do not allow calling their high-speed
modem lines with 2400 bps modems. You would be disconnected.

For example:

EXEC-PC, the largest BBS in the United States, has the following telephone
numbers:

#1: Standard 2400 bps modems    414-789-4210
#2: US Robotics HST 9600 MNP5    414-789-4337
#3: US Robotics HST 14400 & V.32/V.42bis/MNP5    414-789-4352
#4: US Robotics V.32bis/V.42bis & HST    414-789-4360
#5: CompuCom Speedmodem 9600 MNP5 modems    414-789-4450
#6: Hayes 9600B V-series modems, NON-V.32    414-789-4315


If you have a 9600 bps HST modem, call #2. If you have a 14400 bps HST
modem, call #3 or #4. You can also call #2 but you won't be able to get the
best throughput. If you have a V.32 modem, call #3 or #4. If you have a
V.32bis modem, call #4. You can also call #3 but you won't get the best
throughput.
If you have a CompuCom SpeedModem Champ, call #5 If you have a CompuCom
SpeedModem Storm, call #3 or #4 (V.32), #5 (CSP) If you have a CompuCom
SpeedModem Star, call #4 (V.32bis), you can also call #3 or #5 but you can
only connect at 9600 bps. If you have a Hayes V-series Smartmodem 9600 (or
9600B) modem, call #6.


Dial String: ATDT

You don't have change the dialing string unless you use a PBX system or have call waiting service.

PBX
If you have to dial the digit 9 to obtain an outside line, Use ATDT9, (the
comma , instructs the modem to pause two seconds). This allows enough time
for the dial tone to occur before the modem dials. You can use as many
commas as you like.

Call Waiting
Call waiting service will disrupt modem sessions. If your telephone company
supports the ability to disable call waiting, use the dial string ATDT*70,
(make sure you add the comma ,) instead of ATDT.

ATDT*70,123-4567

Also, adding 1170 after the ATDP dial command can be used to disable
call-waiting on some pulse-dialing phone systems. Check with your phone
company to see if these features are supported.


8-N-1 or 7-E-1 (data bits-parity-stop bits)

In general, set the parameters to 8-N-1. If you are calling a commercial
online service (such as GEnie), you may need to set the parameters to
7-E-1.

Half vs. Full Duplex: Local Echo

The only popular on-line service that uses half duplex is GEnie.

Terminal Emulation

If you are using an IBM compatible, choose IBM PC or ANSI. Otherwise, try
VT102, VT100, VT52, TTY.

Comm Port

For your computer to talk to your modem, you need to tell the software
where to find the modem. If you use a PC with an external modem, you need
to specify which serial port the modem is connected to. If you have an
internal modem, you need to configure the modem and tell the software which
COM port the modem is configured for.

If you use a Macintosh, specify whether your modem is connected to the
modem port or the printer port.

File Transfer Protocols

Errors that occur during file transfer are automatically detected and
corrected by file transfer protocols. If a block of data is received
incorrectly, the receiving system sends a message to the sending system and
requests the re-transmission. This process is automatic. When errors occur
during file transfer, the communication program shows an error in the file
transfer status window.

ASCII

This is designed to work with ASCII text files only. Notice that you do not
have to use this protocol when transferring text files. The ASCII protocol
is useful for uploading a text file when you are composing e-mail online.

Xmodem

Xmodem is one of the most widely used file transfer protocols. The original
Xmodem protocol uses 128-byte packets and a simple "checksum" method of
error detection. A later enhancement, Xmodem-CRC, uses a more secure Cyclic
Redundancy Check (CRC) method for error detection. Xmodem protocol always
attempts to use CRC first. If the sender does not acknowledge the requests
for CRC, the receiver shifts to the checksum mode and continues its request
for transmission.

Xmodem-1K

Xmodem 1K is essentially Xmodem CRC with 1K (1024 byte) packets. On some
systems and bulletin boards it may also be referred to as Ymodem. Some
communication software programs, most notably Procomm Plus 1.x, also list
Xmodem-1K as Ymodem. Procomm Plus 2.0 no longer refers to Xmodem-1K as
Ymodem.

Ymodem

Ymodem is essentially Xmodem 1K that allows multiple batch file transfer.
On some systems it is listed as Ymodem Batch.

Ymodem-g

Ymodem-g is a variant of Ymodem. It is designed to be used with modems that
support error control. This protocol does not provide software error
correction or recovery, but expects the modem to provide the service. It is
a streaming protocol that sends and receives 1K packets in a continuous
stream until instructed to stop. It does not wait for positive
acknowledgement after each block is sent, but rather sends blocks in rapid
succession. If any block is unsuccessfully transferred, the entire transfer
is canceled.

Zmodem

This is generally the best protocol to use if the electronic service you
are calling supports it. Zmodem has two significant features: it is
extremely efficient and it provides crash recovery.

Like Ymodem-g, Zmodem does not wait for positive acknowledgement after each
block is sent, but rather sends blocks in rapid succession. If a Zmodem
transfer is canceled or interrupted for any reason, the transfer can be resurrected later and the previously transferred information
need not be resent.

Kermit

Kermit was developed at Columbia University. It was designed to facilitate
the exchange of data among very different types of computers (mainly
minicomputers and mainframes). You probably will not need to use Kermit
unless you are calling a minicomputer or mainframe at an educational
institution.

Sealink

Sealink is a variant of Xmodem. It was developed to overcome the
transmission delays caused by satellite relays or packet-switching
networks.

Which file transfer protocol should you use?

In general, I recommend Zmodem. If Zmodem is not supported by the system
you are calling, use Ymodem-g. (If you are connecting to a UNIX system in a
university, you may have to use Kermit or Xmodem to transfer files.)

Here are the test results obtained by downloading the files using various
file transfer protocols. The number before the parentheses is the transfer
speed (in cps) and the number in the parentheses is the time elapsed (in
seconds).

Protocol    Xmodem    Xmodem-1K    Ymodem    Ymodem-g    Zmodem
---------------------------------------------------------------------
the-wave.txt    429(334)    1508(95)    1527(94)    3261(44)    3296(43)
dayrpt.arc    314(26)    758(11)    761(11)    1042(8)    1025(8)
dayrpt.wks    415(47)    1252(15)    1244(15)    2314(8)    2337(8)
sunset.arc    337(15)    771(6)    745(6)    987(5)    965(5)
sunset.pic    399(41)    1337(12)    1297(12)    2594(6)    2588(6)
text109k.arc    343(86)    817(36)    814(36)    1089(27)    1064(27)
text109k.txt    410(271)    1379(80)    1351(82)    2812(39)    2885(38)






************************************************************************


Appendix A: Resources

Here is a list of selected modem manufacturers.

Manufacturer        Information        Tech Support        Support BBS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATI Technologies    [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Cardinal        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Compucom        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Hayes            [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Image Comm.    [phone]    [phone]    n/a
Intel            [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Microcom        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Multi-Tech        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Practical Peripherals    [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Prometheus        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Supra            [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Telebit        [phone]    [phone]    n/a
U.S. Robotics        [phone]    [phone]    [phone]
Zoom            [phone]    [phone]    [phone]




Support BBS for Communications Programs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procomm Plus (Datastorm Technologies, Inc.)    [phone]
Telix (Exis Inc.)                    [phone]
Qmodem (The Forbin Project, Inc.)            [phone]
HyperAccess 5 (Hilgraeve Inc.)            [phone]
Crosstalk for Windows (DCA)            [phone]
MicroPhone II (Software Ventures)            [phone]
ZTerm                        n/a



************************************************************************


Appendix B: How to reach the author

If you have any comments or suggestions, I'll love to hear from you. You
can reach me via

America Online: Pat Chen
CompuServe:    70754,3162
DELPHI:    POC
FidoNet:    1:161/444.38
GEnie:    p.chen2
MCI Mail:    445-6669
Internet:    [e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

U.S. Mail:    Patrick Chen
P.O. Box 5325
Irvine, CA 92716


************************************************************************


Appendix C: About "The Joy of Telecomputing"

What is "The Joy of Telecomputing?"

"The Joy of Telecomputing" is a 200-page (and growing), three-part report
consisting of the following articles: "What you need to know about
modems,""Life beyond CompuServe" and "Is AT&T the right choice?" A glossary
and an index are also provided.

The discussions in "The Joy of Telecomputing" are devoted to the following
online activities: file transfer (downloading shareware, exchanging files
with colleagues or friends), electronic mail, conferences (forums, newsgroups, SIGs), chatting. You won't find discussions on
stock quotes, shopping malls, online databases, etc.

Going online has become a way of life for many computer users. It is
undeniably fascinating, fulfilling and fun. But there is also a down side
to it: the cost can be prohibitive. I have yet to meet an avid modem user
who didn't wish that he could afford to be online longer.

To get the most mileage from your online dollars, you need to know the
answers to the following three questions:

1. What is the right modem to use?
2. What online services are available and how do they compare?
3. What is the most cost-effective way to reach those services?

These are not isolated questions. The answers to these questions will help
you decide what online systems are right for you.

People live in different cities, use different kinds of computers and do
different things online. It should come as no surprise that there isn't a
single online system that is right for everyone.

The goal of "The Joy of Telecomputing" is to help you get the most from
telecomputing. Our goal is not to tell you that so-and-so is the best but
to present you with enough information so that you will be able to
determine what is right for you. We'll provide you a survey that is both
comprehensive and specific.

To be comprehensive, we'll cover the three main groups of online systems:
commercial online services (CompuServe and others), bulletin board systems
and the Internet.

To be specific, we'll present you all the necessary information to help you
make a decision. Take electronic mail, for example. Virtually all online
systems offer electronic mail service. However, listing dozens of services
and saying that they all offer e-mail would do little to help you make an
intelligent decision. We'll also provide specific details about each
service such as

* How much does it cost?
* How fast does a message get delivered?
* Is the e-mail message protected? (Can someone else besides the recipient
read your mail messages?)
* Can you send e-mail to people that are not subscribers of the service?
* Can you send a file with your message?
* Is there a limit on the size of the file you can send with your message?
* How can you reach the service?
* Can you read and reply messages offline?

I use MCI Mail, CompuServe and the Internet for e-mail on a daily basis. Do
I need all these accounts? Not really. Theoretically I only need one of
them. (Yes, you can send e-mail from MCI Mail to a CompuServe or an
Internet user, and vice versa.) Why do I have three accounts then? Because
each has its pros and cons. And I use e-mail so much so that the three
accounts combined offer me the best solution.

(Note: CompuServe is a good deal for e-mail only if you join the Basic
Service Plan. To join this experimental program, type GO NEWBASIC at any !
prompt. For $7.95 per month, you are allowed to send 60 messages. Each
message can have up to 7500 characters. Note that there is a surcharge for
sending e-mail to MCI Mail users. Also, reading e-mail sent to you from
Internet also count against your monthly allowance.)

For the past eight years, I've worked as a computer consultant. I decided
to pursue my career as a computer writer a few months ago. In the past
three months, I have signed contracts for two computer books to be
published in 1992.

"The Joy of Telecomputing" is a project that I believe is sorely needed.
Initially I have considered submitting it to the computer book publishers.
However, I have learned that it can easily take six to nine months (if no
longer) to get a book published. As a result, by the time the book gets to
the readers, it is probably obsolete. (It may not be too bad if this is a
book on C programming. But a book on the online world?) Therefore, I decide
to try it on my own to see whether the online community would support such
a project.

The online world is constantly changing and it will remain one of the
hottest growing area in microcomputing for many years to come. By keeping
the project under my own control, I'll be able to provide you the information you need on a timely basis.

"The Joy of Telecomputing" is an ongoing project. It will be updated every
quarter. Future updates of "What you need to know about modems" will remain
available on BBS and other online services.

If there are enough supporters for this project, I would like to set up a
BBS. (What else?) You will be able to exchange informations, download files
and participate in discussions about the ever evolving online world.


What's in "Life Beyond CompuServe?"

Part II of "The Joy of Telecomputing" provides a comprehensive survey of
the online world. It covers the three major groups of online systems:

* Commercial online services (America Online, BIX, CompuServe, DELPHI,
GEnie, MCI Mail, Prodigy, etc).
* BBS (including discussions on FidoNet, RIME, etc) * The Internet
(including discussions on UUCP, Usenet, Bitnet, etc).


Commercial Online Services

In general, commercial online services do not offer good price/performance,
though some of them excel in certain areas (such as e-mail). We'll look at
the major commercial online services (CompuServe, GEnie, Prodigy, etc.) and
see what they offer and what they are good for. Major topics covered are:

* What are the major commercial online services?
* How much do they cost?
* How can you access those services?
* What do they offer? How do they compare with each other?
* How do they compare with BBS?


The World of BBS

It is estimated that more than 30,000 bulletin boards exist in the United
States. If you live in a metropolitan area, you'll probably find hundreds
of BBS that are local. Most BBS operate as a hobby by their owners and
without charge to their users. There are many BBS that have members all
over the United States (and the world).

The world of BBS has become a phenomenon. BBS are no longer isolated
systems. Fidonet, the network linking thousands of BBS around the world,
allows users on one BBS to communicate with those on other BBS. Recently,
with gateways to the UUCP network, many BBS has allowed their members to
exchange e-mail with users of the Internet and to participate in Usenet
newsgroups.

We'll cover the following topics:

* How many BBS are there? How do they compare?
* How much does it cost to become a member?
* What are the limitations?
* How to find BBS numbers?
* Which BBS offers the latest and greatest files for PC users? Macintosh
users? Amiga users?
* Which BBS are good for chatting? Which are good for conferences?
* What is Fidonet? How does it work? What does it offer?
* How to join Fidonet as a node?
* How to become a point on Fidonet?
* How to send e-mail from Fidonet to Internet (and from Internet to
Fidonet)?
* What is RIME?
* What are the major BBS software available?
* How to use BBS effectively?
* What software tools you need and where to find them?
* BBS Etiquette
* Why ZTerm is the best program to use for calling BBS? (For Macintosh
users only)
* What are MacBinary files? How to download a Macintosh file to a PC? How
to download a PC file to a Macintosh? (For Mac users or people who use both
Mac and PC.)


Internet

If you want someone to learn UNIX, show him the Internet. (You don't need
to be a UNIX expert to use the Internet though. Besides, UNIX is not really
that hard.)

Internet is a global computer network linking hundreds of thousands of
computers (mainly UNIX computers) at universities, research institutions
and government agencies. Internet is unsurpassed for e-mail and conferences
(called newsgroups in the UNIX world). It is also an invaluable resource
for free software. Some major topics covered are:

* What is Internet
* What is UUCP? What is Usenet? What is Bitnet?
* What can you do on the Internet
* How to send e-mail on the Internet?
* How to send e-mail from Internet to CompuServe, MCI Mail, Fidonet (and
vice versa)?
* How to send binary files?
* What newsgroups are available?
* How to participate in a newsgroup?
* Etiquette
* What is FTP?
* What is Anonymous FTP?
* How to use FTP?
* What are the FTP sites available?
* How to find the files you need?
* What is telnet?
* What can you do with telnet? (Read "The Cuckoo's Egg" by Cliff Stoll for
a first-hand account on how a German hacker use telnet to break into
computers on Internet.)
* How to use telnet?
* How can you get an Internet account?
* What services are available? What kind of access level do they offer?
* How much do they cost?
* How to transfer files from a UNIX host to your personal computer?
* What are uuencode and uudecode?
* What are compress, tar and shar?


What's in "Is AT&T The Right Choice?"

Part III of "The Joy of Telecomputing" provides detailed discussions on the
various ways you can reach a remote system (i.e., a system which is not
local to you). What is the most cost-effective way to reach those systems?

There are generally two options you have to reach a remote system:

1. You can place a distance call using AT&T, MCI, etc. 2. You can reach the
system via some packet-switching networks by
dialing a local number (the system you are calling may already have a deal
with a packet-switching network and charge you accordingly, or you may
subscribe to one of the packet-switching networks yourself).

However, packet-switching networks differ widely in what they offer, how
much they charge, and how well they perform. We'll look at some of the
services available (PC Pursuit, Connect-USA, Accu*Link, Tymnet,
REDI-Access, etc.).

* How many ways can you reach a remote system? What are the pros and cons?
* What are packet-switching networks?
* How do they work?
* What services are available?
* What do they offer?
* What kinds of modems do they support?
* What are the differences in performance among different packet-switching
network?
* How much do they cost?
* Are packet-switching networks cost-effective?




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