home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Loadstar 14
/
014.d81
/
telecomm.1
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
2022-08-26
|
2KB
|
125 lines
Telecommunications with a Commodore 64
A Primer by Meredith Jones
Frummer and Thomas F. Trocco
KIDS AMERICA, WNYC AM radio
Telecommunications is the
communication of two or more computer
terminals, usually over telephone
lines. To turn your home computer
into a computer terminal, you will
have to get a modem, terminal
software, a telephone close to your
computer, and a disk or cassette
drive. The terminal software changes
your computer into a terminal, ready
to telecommunicate. The better
(smart) telecommunications programs
allow you to upload (send) and
download (save) files and programs.
This is a good, cheap way to get
computer games, programs, and access
to information of all kinds. There
are many systems you can join, each
with a membership fee and hourly
connect charges.
The peripheral that allows your
terminal to send and receive data is
the modem. The most common speed is
300 baud. We used the new Auto-Print
Microconnection from The
MicroPeripheral Corporation for this
review. We chose the Auto-Print for
three reasons: First, it is an
auto-dial modem, so you don't need to
have your phone near the computer
(just a wall jack), and it will dial
the phone for you; Second, it is an
auto-answer modem that will answer the
phone if another computer calls,
provided you use the correct software;
and Third, it is also a parallel
printer interface! It will print
everything to your printer as it comes
on the screen. When not using it as a
modem, it acts as a parallel printer
interface, so you're getting two
devices for your money!
Instead of using the Auto-Print's
software, we used The Smart 64
Terminal+4 from MicroTechnic.
Although this is an inexpensive
package, it's the best on the market.
We especially liked it, because it's
capable of working with our 80-column
display (B.I.-80) from Batteries
Included, and with our Auto-Print. To
remember all the commands, we use a
Cheatsheet from Cheatsheet Products,
which is a plastic-covered template
that fits over your keyboard, and has
all the commands for popular programs
on them.
--------<continued in Part 2>---------