Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!hellgate.utah.edu!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!PENNDRLS.UPENN.EDU!GTHEALL From: GTHEALL@PENNDRLS.UPENN.EDU (George A. Theall) Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro Subject: Rainbow Echomail Digest Message-ID: <8910191259.AA29897@remote.dccs.upenn.edu> Date: 19 Oct 89 13:58:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 297 Rainbow Echomail Digest OCT 19, 1989 In this issue: RAINBOW VIDEO-FOSSIL (2 messages) PIBTERM 3.2.5 (RAINBOW VE (2 messages) COMPUSERVE DISCUSSIONS HE RE: RAINBOW USERS UNITE!! BURNING ICS RE: COMPUSERVE DISCUSSION RAINBOW USERS UNITED!!! RE: BURNING ICS RE: WANTED Articles posted to either INFO-DEC-MICRO or comp.sys.dec.micro are currently gatewayed automatically to the Rainbow Echo on Fidonet; thus, you do need not to take any special action to respond to articles in these digests. Please send reports of problems or suggestions for improvement of this digest to GTHEALL@PENNDRLS.UPENN.EDU (ARPA Internet). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 10-17-89 Subject: RAINBOW VIDEO-FOSSIL From: MARK BUDA In a message of <16 Oct 89 15:31:33>, Geoff Reed (1:343/3) writes: > I can use a bit of help... I recently switched to the latest version > of the rainbow video-fossil, and I seem to have developed a problem... > it works fine with Binkleyterm, but using msged on my point, I cannot > see the area names, or the text I am typing. I am also going to see if > I can get any help on this from Jim Nutt (msged author) but I need to > know if there is a newer Vfos_dec than 0.25 I use MSGED with the version of Vfos_dec befreo 0.25 without any problems at all. I know of other people who do the same. I cannot wonder if something is not set up correctly. - mark --- QM v1.00 * Origin: VAXCat; Merrimack, NH;Home of the Black VAXCat;(603)424-0923 (1:132/ ------------------------------ Date: 10-18-89 Subject: PIBTERM 3.2.5 (RAINBOW VE From: FRANK MALLORY I have the file PIBRB.ZIP here, but I am not a PIBTERM user and have no idea exactly what it consists of. It contains about a dozen files including PIBTER and eight files PIBTERM.000,...,PIBTERM.008. Looked at PIBTERM.000 with SEDT and found it was a binary file; whether encoded BASIC source code or an execut overlay, I know not. All these files are dated in May, 1986. --- msged 1.99L MSC * Origin: Silver Bullet - Silver Spring, Maryland - 301-622-2247 (1:109/123) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 (23:10) Subject: COMPUSERVE DISCUSSIONS HE From: DAVID STRICKLER In a message of < 9 Oct 89 15:24:38>, Bill Mayhew (1:101/1) writes: BM>I wanted to go on record as saying I feel a _little_ uncomfortable with BM>the CompuServe "traffic" I've been "generating" here. BM> I have no problem answering people's questions about CompuServe but I BM>have a feeling there may be people out there in Fidoland that don't BM>agree. If that's the case, and a consensus exists, I will gladly shut BM>up. I am not in the business of marketing CompuServe. BM> Of course if that happens, that means the only availability of the BM>answers to those questions will be on CIS itself, which is not always BM>adequate. For the record... I'm glad there's been some discussion about CIS. Although I don't like paying for online services, CIS has many things to offer Since many users of this conference don't know about CIS, the discussions have surely been enlightening to be sure.... DWS --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: Midnight DEC (1:101/45) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 (23:13) Subject: RE: RAINBOW USERS UNITE!! From: DAVID STRICKLER In a message of <08 Oct 89 00:00:47>, Van Vanhorn (1:343/30) writes: VV>Of course, the real question is not up to you and I. I don't recall VV>whether or not Stricks is the moderator of this echo, or if I am VV>confusing the three DEC echoes in my mind, but the moderator has sole VV>discretion on this one. It doesn't sound like Bill Mayhew has the VV>authority to negotiate for CIS, and neither you nor I do on the FIDO VV>side. The moderator has absolute authority over echo routing, and that VV>would include any gates to other systems or networks. Maybe we'll hear VV>from him in the next few days. VV> OK, OK... I am the moderator, and I *DO* approve of *ALL* links so long as users and sysops of this echo encur no extra costs because of the link. This is to say that if a sysop wants to spend his money to link into another source, that's fine, but the cost should be their's - not other users or sysops. Hope that help clarify things... --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: Midnight DEC (1:101/45) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 (23:18) Subject: BURNING ICS From: DAVID STRICKLER In a message of <07 Oct 89 18:16:21>, Tony Bustos (1:102/138) writes: TB>As for DEC, I'm sure it could be fixed - for (clearing throat) a TB>reasonable fee. I picked up a DF03 for $50 (the case looks nice) that TB>operates fine at 300 baud, but no go at 1200. I called DEC repair & TB>asked the young lady there if it would be worth repairing. She assured TB>me that it was and put me on hold while she looked up the rates. When TB>she returned she said it could be one of two things wrong. One of the TB>two boards would have to be replaced, but she didn't know which. TB>Whichever the problem, she said it would cost either $550 or $650. I TB>forget if that was with or without labor. When I stopped laughing, I TB>told her about my Courier 2400 I had just bought new for $350. Try pushing in the HS button on the DF03. If you really need it repaired, but another for $50 (common price these days). TB> TB>She said perhaps I should go buy another... TB> I often wonder if those DEC ppl really know what the open market holds. Ignorance is one thing, but I would be embarassed to quote prices like that... But then again, DEC has never been shy about their prices! --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: Midnight DEC (1:101/45) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 (23:31) Subject: RE: COMPUSERVE DISCUSSION From: DAVID STRICKLER In a message of <10 Oct 89 22:55:27>, Van Vanhorn (1:343/30) writes: VV>On the FIDOnet side, we are proud of what we have built as well. We VV>offer a service at a good price, lots of information and generally very VV>reliable. From time to time, one echo or another gets messed up, but VV>normally not for long. Nodes come and nodes go, but that is the nature VV>of a volunteer organization. That's the most honest assesment of FidoNet I have heard in years. I know you were comparing it to CIS, but I just had to comment on your 'well-b opinion. Thanks for understanding that this is a 'volenteer organization'! DWS --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: Midnight DEC (1:101/45) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 (23:35) Subject: RAINBOW USERS UNITED!!! From: DAVID STRICKLER In a message of <13 Oct 89 10:04:00>, GEORGE THEALL (1:273/203) writes: GT>messages from here to IDM/csdm, though I'm now thinking about creating GT>a GT>digest both to cut down on the number of messages posted daily, to GT>minimize my work, and to make it clearer to the people on IDM/csdm that GT>the messages are not from me directly. (Several people have emailed me GT>directly asking that I send them the graphics programs from Dover GT>Graphics, for example.) Any suggestions for minimizing the problem wrt GT>messages gatewayed to this echo? GT> A program would be the smartest idea, but I'm not sure exact;y who would write it, or how it would work. I log onto CIS about twice a year... --- msged 1.99S ZTC * Origin: Midnight DEC (1:101/45) ------------------------------ Date: 10-17-89 (15:11) Subject: RE: BURNING ICS From: BILL MAYHEW > I often wonder if those DEC ppl know what the open market holds. Almost certainly, in the case at hand and most others, they don't. The people you *speak* with when you call DEC typically have no interest in outside prices; they simply come in at 8:30, put in their hours, and leave at 5pm, doing their job (hopefully) well... but most of them (at _this_ level of employee) have no interest in the DEC-related "open market". The real problem of course occurs at the level where prices are set, but they too are largely insulated. They view their competition as IBM, not as Moe's Modem Repair or ModemCity. All that said, there is also some truth in the fact that the DF03, being old technology, is inherently relatively expensive to repair compared to today's products. Heck, take your average 5-year-old midsize car (and DF03s are actually more like 10 years old!), break it in a serious way (e.g. an accident) and I guarantee you'll find that it costs more to repair it than it does to buy a new Hyundai! The same is also true for some types of mechanical failure... but the analogy breaks down because cars are still (mostly) repaired at the component part level, whereas electronics are repaired at the board level. That's because the cost of the technicians to the repair companies for an average repair is higher than the cost of the product being repaired. To the small user that has more time than money, this is unpleasant... but a fact of life. [Now how did that soapbox get under my feet?] -Bill --- ConfMail V4.00 * Origin: Still Servicing the Rainbow - Maybee Forever (1:101/1) ------------------------------ Date: 10-16-89 Subject: RAINBOW VIDEO-FOSSIL From: GEOFF REED GR> I can use a bit of help... I recently switched to the latest version GR> of the rainbow video-fossil, and I seem to have developed a problem... GR> it works fine with Binkleyterm, but using msged on my point, I cannot GR> see the area names, or the text I am typing. I am also going to see if GR> I can get any help on this from Jim Nutt (msged author) but I need to GR> know if there is a newer Vfos_dec than 0.25 Well, apparently there are a few mites in msged, but the video problem was with the vfos_dec. Unfortunatly..... --- msged 1.99L MSC * Origin: StarShip_Inconnu, Cruisin' the Stars (1:343/3.1) ------------------------------ Date: 10-17-89 (10:10) Subject: RE: WANTED From: AMER NELSON About your Rainbow requirements: Puget Sound Computer -- 4033 Stone Way, North -- 632-6211 had an ad in last Sunday's (Oct. 15) Seattle Times. I had dealings with the firm 4 years or so ago and they seemed knowledgeable and had fair prices. They advertised 256K 120ns drams for $4.95 (call for other chip prices). They may or may not have 150ns chips which are as fast as you need for the Rainbow. They also advertised a Seagate 40MB drive kit for $339. I assume it is the ST-251 which DEC sells as an RD32. You should be able to knock a bit off the $339 price since you won't need their cable or controller. You will need a DEC contoller, HD cable and skid plate. One caveat -- most people who buy from DEC get HDs without ANY bad sectors. I don't think the same can be said for generic Seagate drives sold by discounters and computer shops. (I know my 20 MEG drive purchased through DECUS had no bad sectors and has, as yet, not developed any -- or so Norton Utilities says.) You could call International Materials Exchange -- 617-497-2290 -- to see if they still have any Data General color monitors which they advertised as VR241 clones made by Hitachi. I bought one over 2 years ago and it works fine. You only get 640 by 240 pixels on your display, but at $199 that's still pretty good. The trouble is that they had them soooo long ago -- I don't even know if the place is still in business. Several d:BUG members have made their own custom cable which is required to attach the monitor to a Rainbow. Newman Computer Exchange -- 313-994-3200 -- has Rainbow Graphics Options for $75 per their latest catalog. I've purchased two used graphics boards from Newman and both have worked flawlessly. ++ Amer ++ (P.S. -- HOW MUCH FOR THE A/B BOX) --- * Origin: Glacier Peak Rainbow, Bellevue, WA - 206/644-8431 (Opus 1:343/3) ------------------------------ Date: 10-17-89 (21:00) Subject: PIBTERM 3.2.5 (RAINBOW VE From: DOUG MURRAY Going through my pile of disks, I came across Pibterm 3.2.5. I really like the package, I found it just in time for a project that I had to do with the Rainbow and some electronic mail service. Well to get on with it, the point of this message is that the documentation indicated that the source for Pibterm should be distributed with the executabl So here is the question... Does anyone have the sources to Pibterm(most recent version for the 'bow) available for File Request? Essentially what I want to attempt, is to change the character translation module to allow 3 to 1 char translates. I would appreciate either the sources Thanks, Doug! --- * Origin: R&D BBS 'The VAX Heaven' {819/778-3856} 9600 =HST= (Opus 1:163/226) ------------------------------