Contents


About DOWNTUG

 What is DOWNTUG?

We are NT users who use the Windows NT forum on Delphi  Custom Forum 102 to exchange information and provide assistance with NT and related products.  Included in our group are a sofware developer, a network consultant, a semiconductor engineer, and a telecommunications consultant.  We are located all across the country, from California to Connecticut.

DOWNTUG  has no organization, no bank account, no officers, and no rules.
We just help each other.

In addition to exchanging messages and conferencing on Delphi, we sometimes RAS into each other's computers, in order to exchange files and mail, as well as learn more about how to use NT.


How to reach us

 How to reach us.

Some of us also are on other online systems.  If you belong to one of those, and would like to inquire further, please feel free to email one of us.

Don Barnard, Jr.,   CIS 76560,27
Randolph Kinney,    Internet kinneyr@delphi.com or kinneyr@indirect.com
Mark Marabella,    Internet Allebaram@delphi.com
Ken Schrock,   CIS 73474,1335
Colin Whipple,   CIS 70347,2314   AOL CWhipple2

Also, Randolf Kinney and Ken Schrock have NT Remote Access Servers set up.  You can RAS in from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. daily.  Randy is in Arizona on mountain time, and Ken is in Ohio on eastern time.  Initially use a username of "visitor" and password of "welcome" on either system.  Note that both are all lower case.  If you wish, you can ask for a permanent account.

Randy's number is (602) 955-8781
Ken's number is (216) 478-1851

We have found that connections with some long distance carriers are problematic.  We have had the best results with MCI.  You can use MCI by simply putting the MCIaccess code (10222) in front of the number.  You don't have to have a MCI account and you will be billed normally for the call.

Randy's number then becomes 10222-1-602-955-8781

Once you are conneced with RAS, you can connect to the drive by using
CONNECT NETWORK DRIVE in file manager.  Randy's path is \\486DX50EISA and Ken's is \\BUS.  There is a PUBLIC directory in both machines.  On Randy's machine leave notes or messages in public\torandy and on Ken's machine in public\incoming.


About Delphi

 What is Delphi?

Delphi is one of the smaller national online services.  However, it includes numerous message forums with message thread following capabilities, file databases, and full Internet access for a monthly surcharge of only $3.  Included among the message forums are a PC Computing forum, a Custom forum devoted to OS/2, and numerous other custom forums devoted to almost anything you could think of.

Custom forums are created (with the cooperation of Delphi) and run by users, and are NOT monitored (as far as we know) or interfered with by Delphi management.  Custom forums appear to be an excellent way for specialized groups to get together and communicate with each other, as the Delphi NT User Group is doing.


Other Bits & Pieces

 Bits & Pieces.

We bring news and articles related to NT and OS development to the forum.  We also try to collect NT programs and utilities in the library on Custom 102.  (Delphi calls libraries databases)  Some include the source code and help files.

Denet

Delphi  has an extremely klunky command-line interface.  One of us has written a freeware GUI front-end for it called DeNet.  This program can be obtained from the Custom Forum 102 program database, or by RAS from any of the NT User Group members.

DeNet currently runs only under NT.


Come Join Us

 You are invited to join us

We invite other Windows NT users, and other people interested in advanced operating systems, to join us here on Delphi.

There is no doubt Windows NT has a lot of potential as an operating system.  But there are not a huge number of NT users yet, and you may be finding it difficult to find other users to share information and ideas with.

We think that our group on Delphi is a very cost-effective way of doing this.

Delphi  is a national online service, accessible through Sprintnet and Tymnet.  Once an individual signs up with Delphi, through an 800 number, he or she has access to a list of local Sprintnet and Tymnet phone numbers.

Delphi  has several fee options; one of the more appealing is what Delphi  calls the 20/20 Advantage Plan.  The following is a quote from some Delphi  information:

"On the new 20/20 Advantage Plan, members  receive their first 20 hours of access each month for only $20.  If you happen to meet someone  online or find some other diversion, don't worry because additional usage is only $1.80 per hour.

"20/20 Advantage rates apply for access via SprintNet or Tymnet from within the continental United States during home time or via direct dial around the clock.  Home Time is from 7pm to 7am weekdays and all day Saturday or Sunday.   Access during business time (7am to 7pm weekdays) carries a surcharge of $9 per hour.  These rates apply for most services, but note that there are some surcharged areas on Delphi  which are clearly marked with a "$" sign."

To join Delphi, get your credit card handy, and do the following:

Dial by modem 1-800-695-4002
Press Return Once or Twice
At the Username prompt type  JOINDELPHI
at the password prompt type  CUSTOM102

That's the basics.  You will get further information during the sign up process.

When you sign on to Delphi, you can reach the Windows NT forum by entering:

Go custom Forum 102


Delphi Online Windows NT Users Group