Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!xenitec!zswamp!root
From: root@zswamp.fidonet.org (Geoffrey Welsh)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Clarification on MNP4 and Everex 24+
Message-ID: <6779.27B72B77@zswamp.fidonet.org>
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 91 10:47:34 PDT
Organization: Izot's Swamp BBS - Kitchener, Ontario

In a letter to All, Larry Snyder (larry@nstar.rn.com ) wrote:

 >the buffers are great for file transfers - but for 
 >interactive use
 >with on-line hot keys - they can create problems.   I wish 
 >there was
 >a way on the fly to enable and disable the buffers from 
 >within the BBS
 >hostware - without leaving the system open for users to play 
 >with the modem configurations (maybe there is such a way?)

   Not that I know of.  Certainly it helps to be able to cut the HST's buffers 
back to 128 bytes when not in MNP mode, as that cuts the hotkey response delay 
for 2400 and 1200 baud callers to less than a second; hopefully the data will 
move quickly enough at 9600 that the dumping of the buffer won't take long.

   Perhaps we can start a new trend in software: leave the modems set to clear 
the transmit buffer on reception of a BREAK signal (and, if possible, NOT to 
pass the BREAK on) and have the software send a BREAK as soon as it receives a 
hotkey response to a menu?  That way, no matter what the buffer size there 
shouldn't be more than half a second delay in responding to user input.

   The Telebits aren't particularly well suited for this, what with their half 
duplex lines, etc... I remember Toby saying something about full-duplex PEP via 
echo cancellation promised but not forthcoming; the folks at Telebit might be 
better served trying to divide the existing scad of carriers between the two 
directions, dividing them 1:1, 3:1, 7:1, etc. as the volume of traffic in each 
direction warrants.

   (i.e., divide the number of carriers to accomplish full duplex, not time 
division on unidirectional broadcast).

   Thoughts?

   Geoff
 

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