Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!oliveb!tymix!antares!pnelson
From: pnelson@antares.UUCP (Phil Nelson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Multiple Serial Ports (Re: vt100 v2.9)
Summary: X.25 might be nice, but I still want 2 ports
Message-ID: <323@antares.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jan 89 07:29:09 GMT
References: <8812150227.AA09671@postgres.Berkeley.EDU> <14049@oberon.USC.EDU> <3102@sugar.uu.net> <14097@oberon.USC.EDU> <13054@cup.portal.com> <554@sunkisd.CS.Concordia.CA>
Reply-To: pnelson@antares.UUCP (Phil Nelson)
Organization: Tymnet QSATS, San Jose CA
Lines: 65

In article <554@sunkisd.CS.Concordia.CA> boom@concour.CS.Concordia.CA (Hendrik J. Boom) writes:
>What we really need is not multiple serial ports for the Amiga, but an
>X25 packet-mode port and affordable X.25 service from the carriers.
>X.25 calls are packetized and error-checked, follow international
>standards, and multiple calls can go over a single physical connexion
>simultaneously.

1st, PLEASE EVERYONE REMEMBER THAT I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR TYMNET!!!

Whew, now that I have that out of the way,

 I want another serial port! (sorry, I'm shouting again, but that's how I
feel about it). I have several reasons, some of them have already been
discussed here, I hope no-one minds if I list them again...

1. I want to talk to other RS-232 devices in my house. I have a Co-Co
   running a BSR home controller, it has a serial port, someday (after I
   learn 6809 assembly) I want my Amiga to talk to it. Or, if that's too
   tough, I will buy a BSR controller that talks ASCII and program direct.
   Either way, I need another serial port on the Amiga if I want to be able
   to modem at the same time.

2. I want my Amiga to dial the (Voice) phone for me. I know I could probably
   do this just using the sound chip and holding the phone up to the speaker,
   but maybe I don't want to do it that way. Maybe I want to use my outdated
   autodial modem, which otherwise will be gathering dust after I buy the new
   extra-high-speed whatever. Note that to do the latter, all I have to do is
   plug it in and write a SIMPLE (even I can do it) BASIC program to send the
   ASCII commands to the port. Or, I don't even have to write a program, the
   Gizmoz Rollodex (for one) is already set up for this, but I don't use it,
   since I have separate phone lines for voice and data.

3. I don't want to pay for what I can get for free. Don't get me wrong,
   the dial-up multiple circuit idea is a good one, obviously well suited to
   the Amiga, and thanks for reminding me, I really should be trying to talk
   someone into writing an X.PC (Tymnet's multiple-circuit ASYNC packet
   protocol) driver for the Amiga, but, even after I have all this
   hypothetical multi-channel capability, I don't want to be hooked into
   using (and paying for) outdial to play FirePower with my neighbor while
   my data is downloading from somewhere. I probably couldn't use FirePower
   on a multi-port anyway, but you get the idea, I hope.

 A n y w a y , (that was long, wasn't it?) you need more than an 8520 chip
to do the HDLC, plus you're going to need a sync modem. If you have all that,
and someone writes the X.25 driver (much too tough for me, I can't even do
the X.PC driver) you can call up Tymnet X.25 (I'm not making any promises
about affordable, though).

 By the way, the X.PC protocol is public domain, anyone can write a driver.
I don't know why no-one has done one for the Amiga, maybe it's my fault, I
should have promoted it, or learned more about low-level stuff and done it
myself, or something...

 Of course, there is a catch to Tymnet X.PC; Someone would have to pay net
charges for all those multiple circuits. And about prices going down, well,
I don't know (it's not my department). I wouldn't hold my breath, especially
if the FCC decides to have another go at us. So don't say I didn't warn you,
if you do X.PC, it will cost you money to use it, OK?

extra disclaimer: I really don't know anything special about Tymnet prices,
I'm just a virtual fireman (A.K.A. Network Technical Support).
-- 
Phil Nelson at (but not speaking for)                  OnTyme:NSC.P/Nelson
Tymnet, McDonnell Douglas Network Systems Company       Voice:408-922-7508
UUCP:{pyramid|uunet}oliveb!tymix!pnelson             LRV:Component Station