Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.st:38708 ont.micro:219
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,uw.sys.atari,ont.micro
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!bigsur!bcars241!brad
From: brad@bcars241.bnr.ca (Brad Shapcott)
Subject: Re: Accessing Compuserve in Ontario
Message-ID: <1991May31.134349.205@bigsur.uucp>
Sender: news@bigsur.uucp
Reply-To: brad@bcars362.UUCP (Brad Shapcott)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd., Ottawa, CANADA
References: <1991May30.215215.7087@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Distribution: ont
Date: Fri, 31 May 91 13:43:49 GMT

In article <1991May30.215215.7087@watmath.waterloo.edu> daroloso@watmath.waterloo.edu (Dani A. Roloson) writes:
>In order to access Compuserve in Ontario, do you have to make long-distance
>calls to Toronto?

No, you can use Datapac, which charges a connect-time fee that is comparable
to the discounted (2/3 off) rate for LD to Toronto.  It's been some time
since I used either CI$ or DP, but I do remember that the information for
doing so is on-line.  All you have to do is specify a port that connects
you to CI$ and then go through the logon sequence (oh yeah, last time
I was at Waterloo there was Datapac availble through a CALL XXX from the
campus terminals and also through a dial-in number).

Sorry that it's been too long for me to come up with specifics.

>Is it possible to get a listing of available Compuserve files and
>mail order them from Compuserve?

Never heard of this.  You might want to check out QuickCis which (again
going completely on memory) does automatic searching for downloads (and
news meassages and e-mail).  It should be on atari.archive.

>What is Compuserve's position on a non-member paying a member for the time
>and trouble of downloading selected files?

The distribution of files I assume is under the conditions set by the author
(for example PD, etc).  CI$ only has the right to charge for connect time
used to download.  This effectively puts a fee on something that the author
might be offering free of charge, but once its on your media you can follow
the author`s licence.  So CI$ really has no say in what a member does with
a program after receiving it (and I don't think they really care).

So if you pay someone to use THEIR connect time to do something for you I
don't think they care.  It's the CONNECT TIME that is charged for, not the
actual material being downloaded.

>Please email.

Would if I could.  Wouldn't get outside of the city limits if I tried, though.

>Dani Roloson

Caveat - if you are used to downloading from BBS systems, be prepared for an
unpleasant suprise.  Instead of the alternating RD/SD you are used to on
your modem's front panel, you'll get a lot of dead time as other users' on
the system get their time slice.  Downloads can be frustratingly slow even
at 2400 bd (my modem's speed).  And slow on CI$ means EXPENSIVE.

brad