461 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
461 lines
24 KiB
Plaintext
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BTN: Birmingham Telecommunications News
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COPYRIGHT 1988
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May 1988 Volume 1, Issue 2
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Table Of Contents
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-----------------
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Article Title Author
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Policy Statement and Disclaimer................Mark Maisel
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Editorial Column...............................Mark Maisel
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Transfer Protocols for PCB 12.1 and Others.....Ed O'Neill
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Rebuttal to Michele's T and W..................Bubba Flaval
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Telecommunications And Women, part 2...........Michele Cahoon
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Gamer's Corner.................................Osman Guner
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Known BBS Numbers..............................Mark Maisel
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Disclaimer and Statement of Policy for BTN
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We at BTN try our best to assure the accuracy of articles and
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information in our publication. We assume no responsibility for damage
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due to errors, omissions, etc. The liability,if any for BTN, its
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editors and writers, for damages relating to any errors or omissions,
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etc., shall be limited to the cost of a one year subscription to BTN,
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even if BTN, its editors or writers have been advised of the likelihood
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of such damages occurring.
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With the conclusion of that nasty business, we can get on with our
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policy for publication and reproduction of BTN articles. We publish
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monthly with a deadline of the fifteenth of the month prior to
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publication. If you wish to submit an article, you may do so at any
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time but bear in mind the deadline if you wish for your work to appear
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in a particular issue. It is not our purpose to slander or otherwise
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harm a person or reputation and we accept no responsibility for the
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content of the articles prepared by our writers. Our writers own their
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work and it is protected by copyright. We allow reprinting of articles
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from BTN with only a few restrictions. The author may object to a
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reprint, in which case he will specify in the content of his article.
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Otherwise, please feel free to reproduce any article from BTN as long as
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the source, BTN, is specified, and as long as the author's name and the
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article's original title are retained. If you use one of our articles,
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please forward a copy of your publication to:
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Mark Maisel
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Editor, BTN
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221 Chestnut St.
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BHM, AL 35210-3219
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We thank you for taking the time to read our offering and we hope that
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you like it. We also reserve the right to have a good time while doing
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all of this and not get too serious about it.
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Editorial
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by Mark Maisel
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The BBS community has been very responsive to BTN and I want to open
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this months issue with a big THANK YOU! I am working on some way to turn
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BTN into a CHEAP printed monthly for distribution through low cost
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subscriptions and retail stores. We will continue to remain primarily a
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download based magazine, that supports and hopefully is supported by its
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readers. The comments that we have received have been all positive and
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filled with good suggestions, many of which will be implemented over
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time.
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Our last issue certainly did arouse some attention. Tyros' survey
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results led the way in stirring up some interesting discussions. It
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certainly was not a scientific effort in polling, but then again it was
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never intended to be such. One good thing that has come out of the
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survey is that so many people have expressed an interest in it, that it
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is going to become an annual event and hopefully will be more precise
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and accurate due to so much more input from users as to methods and
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questions. Anyone who wishes to participate in the survey should
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contact Tyros on Channel 8250 or myself on any public board in town. I
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think I have active accounts on most boards in Birmingham. We will
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probably start organizing the next survey over the summer and prepare
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for a fall survey.
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We found an ideal person willing to respond to Michele Cahoon's
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Telecommunications and Women column and his reply to her first article
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is right here next to her second installment. Please read it over and
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tell us what you think. Who's right? If you have a similar or
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dissimilar opinion, please let us put it in print. We fully support the
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idea of using pen names if you would like to remain anonymous or if you
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just prefer to write under your handle.
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Our Gamer's Corner should inspire some intense competition on the boards
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that support game doors. I hope to see some folks get out there and go
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after our resident expert, Osman Guner. He plays them all; how he has
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time I don't know and his results speak for themselves. For those of
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you who don't know, Osman is the director of the ongoing chess
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tournament on America Online. If you would like a challenging match,
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then contact him there for a good game.
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Finally, if you are running a public bbs and would like some free
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publicity, then get me your board name, phone number, and baud rates
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supported, and I will see to it that you are added to our list of known
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bbs numbers. I want you to continue to enjoy BTN for a long time, so
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don't just sit there, keep reading!
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Transfer Protocols for PCBoard 12.1 and Other Systems
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by Ed O'Neill
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PCBoard 12.1 does a number of different protocol transfers internally.
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In addition to these, the SysOp can add protocol drivers as a shell, a
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program that's run outside of a memory resident program. These shell
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programs must meet three requirements: They must set the DOS ErrorLevel
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to flag the success or failure of the transfer. They must leave the
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communications port's settings intact on exit and they must be capable
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of accepting complete DOS file specifications in the standard
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Drive:\Path\Filename.Ext format. The parameters are passed to a batch
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program and are defined in PCBPROT.DAT as follows:
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A,I,128,ASCII
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X,I,128,Xmodem Sum
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C,I,128,CRC XModem
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Y,I,1024,Ymodem
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G,I,1024,Ymodem-G
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I,I,128,Imodem
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Z,S,1024,Zmodem
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K,S,90,PCKermit
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W,S,128,WXfer 4.0
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N,I,0,None
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The first letter denotes the selection you make when you register or
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when you pick menu selection (T)ransfer Protocol. It's kept in your data
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base record and is used each time you request a download. The second
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letter can only be S or I to define Internal or Shell transfers. The
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numeric defines the block size and is used to calculate the number of
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blocks and estimate the time of each transfer. Then there is the
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description you see when you make a selection.
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ASCII - Is used to transfer text files containing only printable
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characters or those in the ASCII numeric range from 32 to 127 or 32 to
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255 on some graphic devices (know as Extended ASCII). In addition to the
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printables, there will be some other "action" characters in the text: LF
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(10), CR (13) and sometimes HT (09). Some text processors change the
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individual bits in the words for pagination and may not be compatible
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with your processor. Also, some text files may contain ANSI Escape (27)
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sequences which will passively appear on your screen if your machine
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can't process them for color, sound and cursor positioning. This
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protocol will show as the most efficient (100%) but that assumes that
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every character transmitted is necessary and there is no overhead bytes
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for data integrity checks as associated with the other protocols. You
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may use your ASCII upload to send a composed message to the message
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bases or send an ASCII text file to the upload directory.
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XModem Sum - This protocol was developed in 1979 by Ward Christensen for
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the CP/M operating system and was know as MODEM and MODEM2. The simple
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check sum is fairly accurate but there is a mathematical probability of
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about 0.4% errors getting passed the check. The receiver must ACK
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(acknowledged) or NAK (not acknowledge) each 128 byte block and the
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sender must wait (half duplex) before sending the next block or
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resending the bad block. The delay while waiting for the ACK or NAK
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lowers the efficiency (Actual/Potential) of the transfer. On The
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Channel, this protocol is 70% to 80% efficient depending on line quality
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and the start-up delay. Yes! The clocks running while you type the name
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and start the transfer and affects the efficiency.
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XModem CRC - The CRC stands for Cyclical Redundancy Check, a polynomial
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calculation produced from the sum of the bytes in the 128 byte block.
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The result of the equation is passed as a two byte (16 bit) trailer to
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the block and is recalculated and compared on the receiving end with the
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NAK/ACK response. The efficiency of this transfer is consistently 5%
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better than sum correction even though the packet length is increased by
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one byte. I have no real explanation for this but I suspect that the
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improved error checking eliminates a few false, bad block retransmits.
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YModem - The most significant improvement with YModem is an increase in
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the block size to 1024 bytes. The automatic reduction in ACK/NAK
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handshaking with the larger data block automatically raises the
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efficiency to about 92%. There is also provisions to send 128 byte
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blocks to eliminate padding the last block to 1024 bytes. It uses full
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16 bit CRC error checking and has an optional block zero to send and
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receive file names, file path, file size and last modification date and
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time to the receiver. This is the method used in YModem Batch mode and
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overcomes XModem's and YModem's requirement of typing the name in on
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both ends.
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YModem-G - This is a stripped version of YModem for error correcting
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modems. The ACK/NAK handshake is eliminated with the assumption that the
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data coming from the port is corrected. There are several ways of doing
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this but it is a hardware function and differs from one modem to
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another. If the file transmission is not ACKed at the end of the
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transmission or if an error is detected, this protocol just aborts and
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must be restarted.
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Imodem - I can't tell you much about this protocol. I do know that it is
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designed for error correcting modems. It's available the national
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services, in ProComm Plus and in QModem. I understand that it takes
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advantage of the error correction of the newer modems and is very
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efficient but, to date, I have not used it or been able to find any more
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information on it.
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ZModem - This is my personal favorite. It is a proprietary protocol
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written by Chuck Forsburg of Omen Technologies and is only available in
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his products. The good news is that DSZ, a IBM-PC/XT/AT compatible
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product, is available from this BBS and others to add ZModem to your
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transfer arsenal. This protocol is the best of all worlds. It
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incorporates the superior concepts of XModem, YModem and Batch protocols
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and implements them in a full duplex, streaming protocol. This means
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that the sender is no longer required to wait for the ACK before sending
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the next block. It just clips along, block after block, and resends any
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bad ones after sending the entire file. The ACK/NAK procedure is done in
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full duplex to further raise efficiency to 95% even over mediums with
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huge propagation delays like satellite relays. The batch capability of
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ZModem, also, lends itself to error recovery. It can actually restart an
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error ridden, aborted transfer making DSZ and ZModem the state of the
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art in protocols. The 32 bit CRC, twice the resolution of YModem's 16
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bit one, practically eliminates the chance of an error sneaking past the
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check.
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PCKermit - Kermit is slow. It is, however, implemented on several
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different types of PCs, minis and mainframes and should only be used in
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the absence of another, more efficient, one. I have it only for those
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that don't have anything else. The small packet size, 90 bytes, and half
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duplex acknowledgements make it very inefficient but it is better than
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nothing. Note that this shell program will not properly set the DOS
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ErrorLevel and you will be charged with aborted downloads. Sorry! I'll
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replace it as soon as I find a better one. Some system have a remote
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Kermit file server but not this one. In all fairness, the server does
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make Kermit more useful and desirable.
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WXfer V4.0 - This is Marty del Vecchio's implementation of Windowed
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XModem. A windowed protocol is capable of changing the block size based
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on the transmission errors. If you have a clean line and get zero
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errors, the software raises the block size in 128 byte increments. This
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is really only good for large files on clean lines. With small files and
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noisy lines, it's much more like XModem. This implementation of WXModem
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is not fully compatible with ProComm Plus. I suggest that you get this
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exact version if you want to try it.
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None - Use this setting if you're trying out different protocols and
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wish to be prompted when you request a download. Obviously, you cannot
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download with your protocol set to NONE but you can use any of the other
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letters to avoid getting the menu each time you download. The format is
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- D FileName.Ext (L) - where (L) is the single letter protocol
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designation desired.
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How do you do it? Here are some sample command lines for DSZ:
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dsz sz -w zcom*.zoo (ZMODEM send, 4096 window for 1200b PC Pursuit)
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dsz sz -r giant.arc (ZMODEM crash recovery: resume interrupted transfer)
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dsz sb *.arc (YMODEM (128 byte blocks) send)
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dsz sb -k *.arc (YMODEM-1k send)
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dsz handshake on sb *.arc (YMODEM-g or YMODEM send, hardware handshake)
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dsz sx -k naughty.bit (XMODEM-1k single file send)
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dsz rb -y (YMODEM receive, erase old file if any)
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dsz handshake on rb -g (YMODEM-g receive)
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dsz rz C:/uploads (ZMODEM receive with specified directory)
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dsz rx -c foo.bar (XMODEM-CRC or XMODEM-1k single file receive)
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You simple pick the one you want and add a line to a batch that you run
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from your communications package.
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Here are the exact lines from the batch files I use for ZModem transfers
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from ProComm Plus, the first for receiving and the second for sending.
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They must be placed in a batch and the batch name added to your external
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protocol list as ZMODEM-D.BAT and ZMODEM-U.BAT respectively. DSZ must be
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available in your path or in your default directory and is called from
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the batch.
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for downloading -> DSZ handshake both pB4096 rz -r
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for uploading -> DSZ handshake both pB4096 sz %1 %2 %3 %4 %5
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Check you DOS manual if you don't understand the use of the %# in the
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batch.
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The others, PCKermit, SeaLink, MegaLink, WXfer, WXModem, ext. will
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operate in a similar fashion. They, generally, will give you command
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line examples by running them with a ? /h -h or other help switch. See
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the documentation with each driver available in Conference 9 - Directory
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2. You can, also, get command line examples from within the ProDOOR and
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duplicate them on your end.
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Telcommunications and Women:
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A rebuttal by Bubba Flaval
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"Beg pardon?"
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"I'm serious. There is an article in the first issue of the BTN by some
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woman about why we should get more women involved in BBSing."
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Reluctantly, I sat my Budweiser down and transferred my attention from
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this months Hustler magazine to the printout my friend had handed me.
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"She can't be serious!"
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"I think she is, though."
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I reread the article and decided that whoever Michele Cahoon was, she
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had some wrong ideas and it was apparently up to me to try and
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straighten it out before she confused a lot of good people. I looked
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out the window where my new 4 X 4 sat needing another coat of wax and
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decided that this dippy broad needed attention first. I fired my system
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up, loaded my word processor in, and started composing the Truth:
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The small percentage of women involved in BBSing needs to stay a small
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percentage. The ones involved in it now are indeed fairly unobtrusive,
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(for you women reading this that means they keep their heads down) which
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is proper behavior for a woman involved in a man's field). After all,
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who wants to read a message base full of messages like "I think that the
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Toni permanent is the best, don't you agree."
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As far as women on bulletin boards using a man's name; Why not! As long
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as they leave sensible messages. I would rather read a message about
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how to change the plugs in my RV or upload using a new protocol than
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talk about permanents! If one of them forgets and logs a message about a
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new hair care I ask the SysOp to check them out and delete them if
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possible.
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Teenaged boys are SUPPOSED to go through 'turbo hormonal changes.'
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Because of these changes they do have a tendency to hit on women on the
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boards (unless they are under a man's name). This makes them a valuable
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asset to telecommunications; They keep these 'free thinking' women from
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infesting our boards. Otherwise these young male 'hunters' would be
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nailed into barrels and fed through the bunghole (of the barrel) until
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such time as they gain more control.
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Women SHOULD be intimidated by computers! They can't even follow simple
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directions to the laundromat let alone the sophistication involved in
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operating a terminal. Here is a simple way to test this: Tell your wife
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(or girlfriend) that DEVICE=ANSI.SYS and that this statement goes into
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the CONFIG.SYS file and I guarantee her eyes will cross!
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I suggest that she keep looking for the solutions. I personally think
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the solutions are for women to not concern themselves with these things
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that are beyond their ken (understanding, for you women!) and that they
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keep up with women type things, such as: Hair care, raising kids,
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recipes, etc...
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I'm pretty much of a free thinker and pride myself on being current with
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the times so I'll not make the recommendation that my father would have
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made ("Keep 'em barefoot and pregnant!") but at times I can see a little
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of the wisdom of the saying.
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Toni hair care, indeed! Now, if all of this is finally clear to
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everyone... I have a truck I need to get waxed.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Telecommunications and Women
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Part two of ?
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by Michele Cahoon
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This issue we will address a cure for 'turbo hormones' of young boys.
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One thing women, we must be very direct, firm and most of all quick to
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cut the remarks of these young boys. If more of us would not play their
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little games of flirting with one another they would be less apt to
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continue with these comments. I have personally experienced alot from
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these kids. Most of the "hits" have been when I was BBS-ing on a board
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with two nodes. All of a sudden a chat request has been issued. There
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are several ways to handle this:
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1. When you first log on turn the availability for chat to unavailable.
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The disadvantage to this is any friend who might try to chat will not be
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able to reach me either.
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2. You can ignore the chat request. This almost always leaves you with a
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nasty message of protest because you didn't answer their request for
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chat.
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3. Answer the chat and when the second or third question is, "How old
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are you?", respond with something like my favorite; "I'm 99 years old,
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200 lbs and have 5 kids and 20 grandkids!". You almost always get left
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rudely in chat by yourself when the questioner is a kid.
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These are just a few helpful hints and suggestions. Just remember gals,
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we are people too and should be treated with the same respect. So if
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more would get involved I think that the turbo kids will lay low after
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enough women clip them off at the knees! If you have any little secrets
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to help other women and the turbo kid dilemma. Send your response to
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Channel 8250. We will definitely take notice of all!
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GAMERS CORNER
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by Osman Guner
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TIPS ON POWER STRUGGLE
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----------------------
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Supporting Board Phone Status
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---------------- ---------------- ------
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Apple Valley (205) 854-9661
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(205) 854-9662 Up
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Magnolia (205) 854-6407 Up
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This game have some similarities to Trade-Wars and also some
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differences. It is played in a 3-dimensional universe (10X10X10 grid).
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Unlike Trade-Wars one does not need to draw a map of the universe, since
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sectors are given 3-dimensional coordinates. The maximum amount of
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cargo-hold one can obtain is 1000. It is advisable to have this number
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of holds since it will increase your trading capacity in a limited
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number of turns per day. The prices of items are fixed, so you might
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want to find out which items will sell for more credits. It is also a
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good idea to purchase items in multiples of 10; otherwise you may end up
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with bits and pieces of various items and can not take full advantage of
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your 1000 cargo-holds. With the credits, you can buy cruisers,
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fighters, and ground troops. Since cruisers are 8 times more expensive
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than the fighters but 10 times more powerful, it may be advantageous to
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build up on cruisers first. Sooner or later, however, you will have to
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build up on ground troops too, to be able to occupy (own) a planet.
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There are 3 power planets located at sectors (4,4,4), (7,7,7), and
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(10,10,10,). When you are strong enough, you should try to invade and
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occupy one of those power planets which produce the power product
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Nebulae. By keeping the production level of the planet above 1000, one
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can build up on military power much more rapidly. The production level
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can be kept high by developing the planet with agricultural products.
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The agricultural planets may be developed by industrials, the industrial
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planets by mining products. Hence, it is a good idea to keep the
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neighboring planets well developed and even to protect them with some
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ground troops. If you use full 1000 holds and keep the power planet
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developed making sure that it produces more than 1000 nebulae at all
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times, you can build as much as 200 cruisers, or 1600 fighters, or 640
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ground troops in a single day (50 turns). The ultimate goal in Power
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Struggle is to occupy all three power planets and to bring peace to the
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universe by ending the power struggle...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Known BBS Numbers for the Birmingham Area
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NAME NUMBER BAUD RATES SUPPORTED
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68FREE 933-7518 300,1200
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APCO BBS 226-1841 300,1200,2400
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America Online 324-0193 300,1200,2400
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American BBS 674-1851 300,1200,2400
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Amiga Alliance 631-2846 1200
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Apple Valley Node 1 854-9661 300,1200,2400
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Apple Valley Node 2 854-9662 300,1200,2400
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Birmingham BBS Node 1 251-2344 300,1200
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Birmingham BBS Node 2 251-8033 300,1200
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Bus System BBS 595-1627 300,1200,2400
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Channel 8250 785-7417 300,1200,2400
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Commodore Club-South 853-8718 300,1200,2400
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Fortress BBS 664-9040 300,1200
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LZ Birmingham 870-7770 300,1200,2400
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Magnolia BBS 854-6407 300,1200,2400
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Misty Mountain 979-8409 2400
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Music Alley BBS 969-2416 300,1200,2400
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Point of No RETURN 664-9609 300,1200,2400
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ST BBS 836-9311 300,1200
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Southern Regiment 647-9176 300,1200,2400
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Sperry BBS 853-6144 300,1200,2400
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The Connection Node 1 854-9074 1200,2400
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The Connection Node 2 854-2308 1200,2400
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This is hardly a complete list of local bulletin board systems but these
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are a good start. If you have any to add, please let me know.
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