https://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=Choosing_Modem_Software&feed=atom&action=historyChoosing Modem Software - Revision history2024-03-28T10:56:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.0https://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=Choosing_Modem_Software&diff=28721&oldid=prevNetfreak at 00:00, 25 December 20202020-12-25T00:00:51Z<p></p>
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<tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>make it work. Some commercial online services, such as</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>make it work. Some commercial online services, such as</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class='diff-marker'>−</td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>America Online and Prodigy, require special software to</div></td><td class='diff-marker'>+</td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">[[</ins>America Online<ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">]] </ins>and <ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">[[</ins>Prodigy<ins class="diffchange diffchange-inline">]]</ins>, require special software to</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>obtain access. Most BBSs and other online services can be</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>obtain access. Most BBSs and other online services can be</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>accessed by almost any telecommunications software</div></td><td class='diff-marker'> </td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>accessed by almost any telecommunications software</div></td></tr>
</table>Netfreakhttps://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=Choosing_Modem_Software&diff=28720&oldid=prevNetfreak at 00:00, 25 December 20202020-12-25T00:00:07Z<p></p>
<a href="https://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=Choosing_Modem_Software&diff=28720&oldid=10464">Show changes</a>Netfreakhttps://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=Choosing_Modem_Software&diff=10464&oldid=prevNetfreak: Created page with "<pre> C H O O S I N G M O D E M S O F T W A R E A modem needs some kind of telecommunications program to make it work. Some comme..."2019-07-23T21:52:52Z<p>Created page with "<pre> C H O O S I N G M O D E M S O F T W A R E A modem needs some kind of telecommunications program to make it work. Some comme..."</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div><pre><br />
<br />
C H O O S I N G M O D E M S O F T W A R E<br />
<br />
A modem needs some kind of telecommunications program to<br />
make it work. Some commercial online services, such as<br />
America Online and Prodigy, require special software to<br />
obtain access. Most BBSs and other online services can be<br />
accessed by almost any telecommunications software<br />
program. There are dozens of good general purpose<br />
telecommunications software programs available. There are<br />
also some real lemons.<br />
<br />
There is a Terminal program that comes with Windows 3.1.<br />
It is what is called a "bare bones" telecommunications<br />
program. In fact, in my humble opinion, it should only be<br />
used to download another telecommunications program. The<br />
Windows Terminal program has Xmodem and Kermit as the<br />
only transfer protocols. That was fine ten years ago but<br />
will not do in today's world of high speed modems. Below<br />
are a few features you should look for in a<br />
telecommunications program.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE <br />
<br />
ZMODEM PROTOCOL<br />
<br />
The Zmodem protocol has become the industry standard. You<br />
will want this feature in your telecommunications<br />
software. Zmodem has excellent error checking and can<br />
even resume an interrupted file transfer if you select<br />
this option on your communications software. This ability<br />
is sometimes referred to as "crash recovery." <br />
<br />
<br />
SCREEN CAPTURE<br />
<br />
The telecommunications software that you select should<br />
have a screen capture feature. This is often called a<br />
capture log. With screen capture turned on, your<br />
telecommunications software saves whatever scrolls across<br />
your screen to a text file. Then, when you are off-line,<br />
you can use LIST (shareware), an editor, or a word<br />
processing program to review the screen capture file. A<br />
screen capture text file is often called a capture log<br />
file. <br />
<br />
<br />
SCROLL-BACK BUFFER<br />
<br />
A scroll-back buffer allows you to review past screens.<br />
This feature is real handy when important information has<br />
passed by, and you need it immediately while online.<br />
Often, a scroll-back buffer is activated by pressing a<br />
key combination such as <ALT> B. Then, you can use your<br />
arrow keys to scroll-back. A good scroll-back buffer will<br />
also have a search feature. <br />
<br />
<br />
TERMINAL EMULATION TYPES<br />
<br />
Terminal emulation is the ability of your<br />
telecommunications software to emulate different types of<br />
terminals. This peculiar term comes from "dumb terminal"<br />
which consists of a keyboard, a monitor, and no brains<br />
(or memory). These dumb terminals were used to connect to<br />
mainframes and minicomputers. These often required a<br />
particular manufacturer's dumb terminals. Hence, the term<br />
"terminal emulation." Your telecommunications program has<br />
different terminal emulations, so your computer can talk<br />
to a variety of host computers.<br />
<br />
Almost all telecommunications software will emulate TTY,<br />
ANSI, and DEC VT100/101/102. It is nice to have even<br />
more. If you want to connect to the Internet, it is<br />
important to have VT100 (or VT102) terminal emulation. <br />
<br />
<br />
MACRO CAPABILITIES<br />
<br />
A macro is a series of keystrokes that are executed when<br />
a certain key or key combination is pressed. If the<br />
telecommunications software has macro recording<br />
capabilities, it can make it much easier for you. You can<br />
store data such as your name, password, etc., as a macro.<br />
Suppose you assign your name to the function key labeled<br />
<F5>. Then, you can press <F5> to type your name.<br />
<br />
<br />
SCRIPT LANGUAGE <br />
<br />
A script file is a collection of commands, instructions,<br />
or text that can be executed by your telecommunications<br />
program. A script is particularly useful when you want to<br />
log on automatically to a BBS or online service. Often,<br />
the better telecommunications programs have an automatic<br />
script writing feature.<br />
<br />
<br />
WINDOWS OR DOS?<br />
<br />
If you are primarily a Windows user, you will probably<br />
want to use a Windows based telecommunications program.<br />
Some people, who like DOS, think that using a Windows<br />
telecommunications program is a little like turning on a<br />
light switch with a broom handle. It is really a matter<br />
of personal choice. If you are comfortable in DOS, you<br />
may find that you can get online work done faster with a<br />
DOS based program. <br />
<br />
<br />
COMMERCIAL, SHAREWARE, OR FREEWARE?<br />
<br />
Commercial software programs are sold by traditional<br />
software vendors. You will find commercial software at<br />
your favorite super computer store or software specialty<br />
store. However, some of the best telecommunications<br />
programs are available for trial use as shareware.<br />
Shareware is a method of marketing software for the<br />
program's author. Shareware programs are copyrighted. The<br />
manuals for these programs are usually found on the disk<br />
in the form of a text file. You can print the manuals,<br />
using your printer. You can obtain these programs for<br />
trial use from shareware distributors for a copying fee<br />
of just a few dollars per disk. You can also download<br />
shareware programs from BBSs and online services.<br />
Shareware programs require a separate payment to the<br />
author if found useful. The wonderful thing about<br />
shareware is you get to try it out before you buy it. <br />
<br />
According to Boardwatch magazine, the majority of modem<br />
maniacs use shareware terminal programs. A freeware<br />
software program has copyright restrictions; however, the<br />
author is not requesting a registration fee. Freeware<br />
programs can be found from the same sources that offer<br />
shareware programs. Here are some of the better full-<br />
featured DOS-based telecommunications programs available<br />
in shareware: Telix, Qmodem Test Drive, and Telemate.<br />
Ripterm is an easy to set up freeware program. If you are<br />
looking for Windows shareware telecommunications<br />
programs, you should take a look at MicroLink for<br />
Windows. <br />
<br />
Some commercial DOS-based telecommunications programs<br />
that are excellent include: Procomm Plus, Qmodem Pro for<br />
DOS, and Crosstalk Mark 4. Some of the best full-featured<br />
commercial Windows telecommunications programs include<br />
Procomm Plus for Windows, Qmodem Pro for Windows, and<br />
Crosstalk for Windows. <br />
<br />
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[[Category:Computing]][[Category:Modems]]</div>Netfreak