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From: bob@astph.UUCP (Bob Ford)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Spooling to a printer attached to a terminal port
Message-ID: <40@astph.UUCP>
Date: 18 Sep 90 18:16:57 GMT
References: <855@zeusa.UUCP> <1607@mitisft.Convergent.COM>
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies
Lines: 47

In article <1607@mitisft.Convergent.COM>, dold@mitisft.Convergent.COM (Clarence Dold) writes:
> in article <855@zeusa.UUCP>, hendrik@zeusa.UUCP (Hendrik Vermooten) says:
> 
> > My ARNET multi-port card can do this by creating a "pseudo-tty" that you
> 
> The ARNET intelligent cards interleave data headed to printer and screen, and 
> properly handle incoming keystrokes.
> Without the ARNET intelligence, it is still possible to print to the serial
> port on any VT100 compatible terminal, but the terminal is useless for the 
> duration of the print job.  If you don't also "lock" the keyboard, you could
> have keystrokes echoed to your printout as well.

We also have several Arnet Smartport 8's.  The board's intelligence 
is highly debatable, however!  When we try to do transparent printing 
under Korn shell, or using vi, the terminal locks up until the print
job is over - opaque printing!  Arnet claims this is a feature, not a
bug.  Does anyone out there in Netland know how to make transparent 
printing work with this board while using vi or ksh?

Also...... we have tried to get SLIP to work with the Smartport
8.  No way!  The board locks up, and doesn't work at any speed.
BTW, we are running TCP/IP under ISC's 2.2 UNIX.   SLIP runs
fine at 38400 baud between two Comtrol Ultra 16 boards.

Arnet's Tech Support Department has been totally  unhelpful in
solving the problem. They have made the following claims:

1.	There is a bug in SLIP (But why does SLIP work with the
	Comtrol boards?)
2.	ISC isn't supporting SLIP, and won't help them to get it
	to work on their board (But, ISC has explicitly told us that
	SLIP *is* supported, and that they *will* work with Arnet
	to help them resolve the problem!) 

Needless to say, we are trying to get a full refund for our Dumbports,
so we can buy more Comtrol boards.   Arnet's "Rock Solid Warranty"  
states that, "If a product still fails after a reasonable number of
attempts to remedy the defect or malfunction, you may elect for a
full refund of your purchase price."  We are finding out that it is
difficult to get Arnet to follow through on this claim.  

In summary,  don't be fooled by Arnet's slick marketing - their
"incredible" support is incredibly poor!  
-- 
Bob Ford             (814) 234-8592x6
astph!bob@psuvax1    psuvax1!astph!bob
Philadelphia Phillies