
                  Bulletin Boards under OS/2       (Fidonet)

                 Saturday, 16-Oct-1999 to Friday, 22-Oct-1999

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From: Steve Hayes                                       15-Oct-99 17:41:21
  To: All                                               17-Oct-99 00:15:02
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

 * Crossposted from: COMMS (Fidonet)

I went to buy a new computer, and found when I looked at the documentation
that it had been fitted with a Bill Gates Mickey mouse modem, that only works
under Windows.

I asked them to replace it with a real modem, and they then said that they
could only give me an external modem.

I don't really want an external modem - for one thing, they are more
expensive, and for another thing I don't want yet another rat's nest of wires
on my desk.

But is what they say true?

That one can no longer get internal modems - only ther Mickey Mouse ones that
only work with Bill Gate's software?

I want to run a BBS under OS/2, and perhaps later under Linux, and so I see no 
point in buying a crippled modem.

What do other people who use OS/2 or Linux or even DOS do?

Does everyone nowadays have external modems?

Keep well,

Steve Hayes
E-mail: methodius@bigfoot.com
        shayes@dunelm.org.uk
   WWW: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/steve.htm

... BBSs for genealogy: http://www.geocities.com/7783/bbs1.htm

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From: Harry Bush                                        17-Oct-99 11:11:07
  To: Steve Hayes                                       17-Oct-99 12:41:05
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Hello Steve!

Friday October 15 1999 from Steve Hayes 5:7106/20 to All:

 SH> I want to run a BBS under OS/2, and perhaps later under Linux, and so I
 SH> see no point in buying a crippled modem.

Don't trust ignorant windowized marketroids... ;)  You can easily get
_normal_ modems, both internal or external.  Take a look for example at
http://www.mall-la.com/truc/truc.htm  .

 SH> What do other people who use OS/2 or Linux or even DOS do?

Use normal, real modems like Internal 3com/USR Sportster V90 Standard 56k ISA
(you can get OEM white box which is somehow cheaper ;-)  Works OK under OS/2.

 SH> Does everyone nowadays have external modems?

Yep. Old good Courier V-Everything.  Works OK, specially on very bad lines
where other modems goof.

Best wishes,                                   Harry
                              Sunday October 17 1999 11:11
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From: Roy J. Tellason                                   17-Oct-99 09:04:18
  To: Steve Hayes                                       17-Oct-99 12:41:06
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Steve Hayes wrote in a message to All:

 SH>  * Crossposted from: COMMS (Fidonet)

 SH> I went to buy a new computer, and found when I looked at the 
 SH> documentation that it had been fitted with a Bill Gates Mickey 
 SH> mouse modem, that only works under Windows.

 SH> I asked them to replace it with a real modem, and they then 
 SH> said that they could only give me an external modem.

 SH> I don't really want an external modem - for one thing, they are 
 SH> more expensive, and for another thing I don't want yet another 
 SH> rat's nest of wires on my desk. 

 SH> But is what they say true?

 SH> That one can no longer get internal modems - only ther
 SH> Mickey Mouse ones that only work with Bill Gate's software?

 SH> I want to run a BBS under OS/2, and perhaps later under
 SH> Linux, and so I see no point in buying a crippled modem.

 SH> What do other people who use OS/2 or Linux or even DOS do?

 SH> Does everyone nowadays have external modems?

I prefer to use externals here,  for a number of different reasons...

The wires you refer to consist only of a serial cable and power for the modem. 
It's not *that* big a deal,  really.  It's got some advanages,  too.  If you
have a program that's going to require some fiddling to make it work right, 
you can watch the lights on an external and see what's going on,  you can also 
flip the power switch on it to reset it without having to cycle power on the
computer,  and there's also a bit more protection for those surges coming in
on the phone line that may make it as far as the modem.

They're probably pushing that crap because they can get that stuff *cheap*, 
and make a rather hefty profit on it.  How much of a price difference are they 
talking about?

I was at one local store recently,  looking around at what they had.  I was
also thinking about working there,  but walked away from that idea when I
found that _ALL_ of their people did both sales and tech work,  a situation
that doesn't strike me as a good one.  They had a bunch of scanners there, 
and some at fairly good prices,  but _all_ of them were parallel-port types, 
and no other choices were available.  I also noticed a bunch of cdrom burners, 
and asked about SCSI for either of these items.  I was informed that they
don't carry any SCSI _at all_,  and in a tone that suggested that they not
only don't carry it but wouldn't be willing to order it,  either.  I don't
think that when I finally get around to shopping for those items I'll even be
considering going back there...

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From: Kenneth Duke                                      17-Oct-99 08:08:14
  To: Steve Hayes                                       17-Oct-99 16:18:28
Subj: Re: Can one still buy a real modem?

*** Quoting Steve Hayes from a message to All ***

SH> I don't really want an external modem - for one thing, they are more 
SH> expensive, and for another thing I don't want yet another rat's nest 
SH> of wires on my desk.

If you plan on doing a BBS, then a External modem is really the best way to
go.
You'll be able to tell if there's a problem on your end, just by looking at
the lights on the modem... Internals, you'll have to dig inside your computer.
And as you were stating, with a external, you don't have to worry about what
operating system you plan to run... As long as there's a free com port, you'll 
be fine..  Internals, you'll worry about, "are there drivers for this"...


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From: Kari Suomela                                      17-Oct-99 14:16:05
  To: Kenneth Duke                                      18-Oct-99 06:45:11
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Sunday October 17 1999 08:08, Kenneth Duke wrote to Steve Hayes:

 KD> If you plan on doing a BBS, then a External modem is really the best
 KD> way to go.

I run all internals! :)

 KD>  You'll be able to tell if there's a problem on your end,
 KD> just by looking at the lights on the modem... Internals, you'll have
 KD> to dig inside your computer.

Not true! AT commands work!

 KD> As long as there's a free com port, you'll be fine..  Internals,
 KD> you'll worry about, "are there drivers for this"...

Not true!

 KS


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From: Kenneth Duke                                      18-Oct-99 06:14:29
  To: Kari Suomela                                      18-Oct-99 11:30:23
Subj: Re: Can one still buy a real modem?

*** Quoting Kari Suomela from a message to Kenneth Duke ***

 KD> to dig inside your computer.

KS> Not true! AT commands work!

So, you're saying that when a user is on your BBS, you just type AT commands,
and it tells you whats going on?   I don't think so!

KS> I run all internals! :)

So, I guess you either have 1 or 2 in a machine?  I've ran 6 here. All
externals..

 KD> As long as there's a free com port, you'll be fine..  Internals,
 KD> you'll worry about, "are there drivers for this"...

KS> Not true!

So, If, say this person was running under Linux, and had a modem that required 
software... Linux wound never find it.......  Read up!


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From: Kari Suomela                                      18-Oct-99 10:33:25
  To: Kenneth Duke                                      18-Oct-99 15:30:18
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Monday October 18 1999 06:14, Kenneth Duke wrote to Kari Suomela:


 KD> So, you're saying that when a user is on your BBS, you just type AT
 KD> commands, and it tells you whats going on?   I don't think so!

Never had a need for that. :)

 KS>> I run all internals! :)

 KD> So, I guess you either have 1 or 2 in a machine?  I've ran 6 here. All

Had 4 for a long time.

 KD> So, If, say this person was running under Linux, and had a modem that
 KD> required software... Linux wound never find it.......  Read up!

I am talking about *real* modems, which do not need software. I run them under 
OS/2, Linux, Win9x and NT. <G>


 KS


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From: Rodrigo Cesar Banhara                             18-Oct-99 06:36:15
  To: Harry Bush                                        18-Oct-99 21:15:09
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

 -=> Quoting Harry Bush to Steve Hayes <=-

 HB> Don't trust ignorant windowized marketroids... ;)  You can easily get
 HB> _normal_ modems, both internal or external.  Take a look for example
 HB> at http://www.mall-la.com/truc/truc.htm  .

What are the url of modem makers? I dont know nothing about it.

 HB> Yep. Old good Courier V-Everything.  Works OK, specially on very bad
 HB> lines where other modems goof.

The my modem is 'V-Everything' & Sportster (but not 56k,
v90, etc)... it is a modem of '96, but it is almost an
V-Everything. The best modem at time of purchase! :)

Now I am thinking in purchase another, USR too, sure!!

33k6 is very low if compared with 56k & 56k is low too...

Anyway, 56k is less turtle-speed which 33k6, right? -8)

== Rodrigo Cesar Banhara == rcb@iconet.com.br ==

... The difference between adult & child is the price of the toy.

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From: Rodrigo Cesar Banhara                             18-Oct-99 06:36:15
  To: Roy J. Tellason                                   18-Oct-99 21:15:09
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

 -=> Quoting Roy J. Tellason to Steve Hayes <=-

 RJT> The wires you refer to consist only of a serial cable and power for
 RJT> the modem. It's not *that* big a deal,  really.  It's got some
 RJT> advanages,  too.  If you have a program that's going to require some
 RJT> fiddling to make it work right,  you can watch the lights on an
 RJT> external and see what's going on,  you can also flip the power switch
 RJT> on it to reset it without having to cycle power on the computer,  and
 RJT> there's also a bit more protection for those surges coming in on the
 RJT> phone line that may make it as far as the modem.

Good reasons for purchase an external modem for my OS2... 8)

 RJT> I was at one local store recently,  looking around at what they had.
 RJT> I was also thinking about working there,  but walked away from that
 RJT> idea when I found that _ALL_ of their people did both sales and tech
 RJT> work,  a situation that doesn't strike me as a good one.  They had a
 RJT> bunch of scanners there,  and some at fairly good prices,  but _all_ of
 RJT> them were parallel-port types,  and no other choices were available.  I
 RJT> also noticed a bunch of cdrom burners, and asked about SCSI for either
 RJT> of these items.  I was informed that they don't carry any SCSI _at
 RJT> all_,  and in a tone that suggested that they not only don't carry it
 RJT> but wouldn't be willing to order it,  either.  I don't think that when
 RJT> I finally get around to shopping for those items I'll even be
 RJT> considering going back there...

Like more 50% of shops here in Brazil, I think...

== Rodrigo Cesar Banhara == rcb@iconet.com.br ==

... ERROR! ORG.ASM not found.   Should I fake it? [Yes/No/Retry]

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From: Rodrigo Cesar Banhara                             18-Oct-99 06:36:15
  To: Kenneth Duke                                      18-Oct-99 21:15:09
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

 -=> Quoting Kenneth Duke to Steve Hayes <=-

 KD> And as you were stating, with a external, you don't have to worry
 KD> about what operating system you plan to run... As long as there's a
 KD> free com port, you'll be fine..  Internals, you'll worry about, "are
 KD> there drivers for this"...

It made me think about a USR 56k external for my OS2...

The speed of external is different of internal?!
(speed modem-cpu not modem-modem)

== Rodrigo Cesar Banhara == rcb@iconet.com.br ==

... Death is life's answer to the question 'Why?' - anonymous

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From: Wayne Steele                                      16-Oct-99 10:01:09
  To: Dan Egli                                          18-Oct-99 22:44:06
Subj: THDPRO/2

Hi Dan,

 DE> Anyone know the latest ver of THDPRO for OS/2 and where in Zone 1
 DE> I can freq it or where on the 'net I can find it?

Latest I think was V13... I guess have a look on pcmicro...

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From: Steven Thompson                                   18-Oct-99 15:36:26
  To: Kenneth Duke                                      19-Oct-99 06:07:25
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Hello Kenneth.

18 Oct 99 06:14, you wrote to Kari Suomela:

 KD> So, If, say this person was running under Linux, and had a modem that
 KD> required software... Linux wound never find it.......  Read up!

Those modems are called Winmodems...  That's why we buy REAL modems.

Steve.

... TV Truth: Drinking beer attracts beautiful females.
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From: Mike Roark                                        14-Oct-99 17:51:02
  To: John Tyler                                        19-Oct-99 21:23:15
Subj: We Did It!!!!

Hello John!

Wednesday October 13 1999 07:43, John Tyler wrote to All:


 JT> Sorry for the mass posting..but I would like to announce that on
No need.. It's an important event!!

 JT> October 12, 1999, at 10:16pm; John & Krishna gave birth to a healthy
 JT> baby girl. She weighed in at 6lbs-6oz. Her an the mother are doing
 JT> GREAT!

Congratulations! And I hope she is introduced to the computer soon.. ;-)

Have a good day!!
Mike
Internet bcomber@cave.fido.de
This OS/2 system uptime is 0d 23h 45m 49s 31ms (en).

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From: Roger Nelson                                      18-Oct-99 15:55:11
  To: Rodrigo Cesar Banhara                             20-Oct-99 06:33:18
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

Rodrigo Cesar Banhara wrote in a message to Harry Bush:

 RCB> What are the url of modem makers? I dont know nothing about it. 

Here is the CompUSA URL where you can do a keyword search for modems:

http://www.compusa.com/compusa/default.asp

I have 2 internal modems at the moment.  Both are USR and they are 33.6 and a
56k Faxmodem using the V.90 56k standard and x2 technology.  The only
complaint I have is with 3COM's marketing.  They leave a lot to be desired in
the way of customer satisfaction, but nobody's perfect.

Regards,

Roger 
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From: Rodrigo Cesar Banhara                             21-Oct-99 04:08:00
  To: Roger Nelson                                      21-Oct-99 06:53:07
Subj: Can one still buy a real modem?

 -=> Quoting Roger Nelson to Rodrigo Cesar Banhara <=-

 RN> http://www.compusa.com/compusa/default.asp

I go see it.

 RN> I have 2 internal modems at the moment.  Both are USR and they are
 RN> 33.6 and a 56k Faxmodem using the V.90 56k standard and x2 technology.
 RN> The only complaint I have is with 3COM's marketing.  They leave a lot
 RN> to be desired in the way of customer satisfaction, but nobody's
 RN> perfect.

Ya, no one is perfect... My USR 33k6 is very good, I go buy a 56k.

== Rodrigo Cesar Banhara == rcb@iconet.com.br ==

... An unarmed society is a frightened society.

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From: Scott Little                                      20-Oct-99 20:28:22
  To: All                                               21-Oct-99 21:51:25
Subj: buffers?

Hi all,

is there any way to change the buffers for the modem ports, either via SIO or
OS/2 itself?

-- Scott Little, 3:712/848@fidonet | slittle@bbs.slittle.com

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From: Bob Juge                                          21-Oct-99 16:46:04
  To: Scott Little                                      21-Oct-99 21:51:25
Subj: buffers?

Scott Little wrote in a message to All on Wed Oct 20 1999 at 20:28:

 SL> is there any way to change the buffers for the modem ports, either
 SL> via SIO or OS/2 itself?

No, SIO's buffer size is fixed at 4K receive and transmit.  Ray determined
that 4K was optimum, and made no provision for adjustment.

                                   - Bob
Internet  : bob@juge.com
Telnet, Vmodem, WWW or FTP to juge.com

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