Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a218
From: a218@mindlink.UUCP (Charlie Gibbs)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: VT100v2.9 losing characters (Was Re: 68000 Multitasking)
Message-ID: <4191@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 19 Dec 90 19:41:24 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 43

In article <1439@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>
U3364521@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (Lou Cavallo) writes:

>I believe I do have my preferences buffer size setting set quite high (same as
>yours I think, I'd have to check) but I routinely lose characters when I use 1
>of the versions of the VT100 v2.9 (I think it is the A version).
>
>*However* I am running it at 9600 baud over a terminal server line. :-)

     Oh.  That _is_ a little different.  When I'm not reading news
with it, I use my A1000 as a terminal to our Unix box here at work.
I use Aterm (the p.d. version) on BBSes because I like its interface
better, but on the Unix box I use VT100 v2.9 because it does a better
VT100 emulation.  I run it at 9600 bps and do get the odd overrun.
Most of the time it's OK; Xmodem transfers work fine, and most
commands produce little enough output that I don't get into trouble.
However, if I run a program that uses cursor positioning and packs
the screen full of information, I might lose it about 80% of the way
through.  And, of course, things like an ls -l of a large directory
are bad news too, unless I use something like pg or control-S.

     If I get really desperate I can always stty 2400 (yuck!) - I
never have any problems keeping up then.  Or I suppose I could bring
my 2500/20 in to work - it's fast enough to keep up at 9600 bps -
but then I'd have nothing to play with at home.

     In short, don't worry about your serial port.  I've had my share
of sparks and worries too, but it just keeps chugging along.  It's
just that that poor little 68000 is running out of steam.

     Speaking of sparks, I've taken my 1000 to club meetings twice a
month for four years and haven't fried anything yet.  The trick, I
think, is to be sure you unplug your power cables last when taking
your machine apart.  That leaves a good solid ground attached to
everything while you unplug the delicate data and video connections.
When reconnecting everything at the other end, plug the power cables
in first to re-establish that ground and get everything at the same
potential.  I usually hear a spark when I plug the first cable into
the back of the monitor, and I feel much better when that spark is
through a nice solid ground pin rather than a video signal line.

Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.UUCP
"I'm cursed with hair from HELL!"  -- Night Court