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From: jma@beach.cis.ufl.edu (John 'Vlad' Adams)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Choosing a modem & comm software
Message-ID: <25380@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Date: 12 Nov 90 07:50:33 GMT
References: <9011091510.AA00206@.nairobi.inel.gov.inel.gov.>
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Reply-To: jma@beach.cis.ufl.edu (John 'Vlad' Adams)
Organization: UF CIS Department
Lines: 40

Well, as to modems, it really depends on what your worksite has.
If your worksite has V.32 9600 modems, then you would do well
to get a modem such as the USR Courier Dual-Standard.  Retails
for around a $1000, so it can be picked up mailorder for a good
hundred less (and probably more.)  The nice thing about the dual
standard is that a *LOT* of Amiga-oriented boards have HST modems
which the dual standard will talk to and get transfer rates of
1400 to 1700 CPS (characters per second) over a standard phone line.
Else, you could get any V.32 9600 modem which would at least talk
to other V.32 modems (including Telebit modems which are common
on UNIX boxes.)  Vanilla V.32 modems can be found for $400 and up,
but cannot talk to HST modems.  V.32 gets about 1000 CPS.

At the least, you'll want a 2400 modem.  Most any is ok, just check
the warranty.  The Practical Peripherals PM2400SA MNP-5 (error
correcting/compressing protocol) is great with a five year warranty.
However, it cannot be locked at 9600 baud in RTS/CTS mode on
the standard Amiga serial.device.  And without 9600 buard RTS/CTS,
you won't get the best benefits of the MNP.  MNP5 has the ability of
doubling the transfer rate (under optimum conditions).  With my
2400 MNP-5 Microcom modem, I get about 415 CPS on text file transfers
and 250-270 CPS on lharced files and 270-310 CPS on IFF files.  
(Yes, my Microcom will lock at 9600 RTS/CTS without a hitch.)

As to software.   Well, I'll assume you need VT-100 emulation
if you are talking to Suns and NeXT machines.  I'd recom{end
VLT or VT100.  Both provide good vt100 emulation, plus they
are AREXX-compatible for scripting.  Jr-Comm 1.01 is supose
to have a decent vt100, but it doesn't have hooks for 
Arexx yet.  Handshake 2.12a has a flawless vt100 emulator,
but it doesn't have Arexx, and I also believe it doesn't have
Zmodem.

Um, I'm losing my train of thought, so I'll stop here.
Let me know via email if I could be of any more help.
--
John  M.  Adams   --**--   Professional Student on the eight-year plan!     ///
Internet:   jma@beach.cis.ufl.edu   -or-   vladimir@maple.circa.ufl.edu    ///
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