NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/ott/general/1683

Text File | 1993-01-24 | 3.2 KB | 60 lines

Newsgroups: ott.general
Path: sparky!uunet!uunet.ca!infotax!dave
From: [e-mail] (David Blackwood)
Subject: Re: Freenet & Datapac
Organization: Revenue Canada, Taxation; Office Communications Division
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 03:38:54 GMT
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <colinm.727837252@cunews>
Lines: 49

In article <colinm.727837252@cunews> [e-mail] (Colin McFadyen) writes:
>In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Russell McOrmond) writes:
>>  P.S. You might want to indicate your comments on the Gandalf modems
>>to Dave Sutherland in private email.  When talking to Andrew the
>>discussion so far seems to always turn away from the real issues and
>>to the fact that they are donated.  When some new users calls up and
>>gets a 'CONNECT 2400....crackle, pop...NO CARRIER' they won't care who
>>donated what, that they can type the 'magic number for freenet access'
>>like  'AT&K0' for ZyXEL's, they will just no longer attempt to call
>>the Freenet.
>
>>  Special init strings for modems being required to call the Freenet
>>is likely going to kill it if the problem is not solved quickly.  If
>>anyone has money to donate, donate a simple 2400bps modem like one of
>>the Intel chipset modems (Supra 2400bps, Intel 2400bps, etc - Something that
>>doesn't have ANY error control and is extremely simple and
>>compatable).
>
>  The donated Gandalf modems are very simple modems that don't do
>data compression or error correction.  The FreeNet modems have been moved
>off of the Gandalf Starmaster data switch to a new terminal server
>which will greatly improve performance.  On Feb. 1st, when FreeNet
>goes public, people will be informed to connect at 8,N,1 (300,1200,2400)
>baud with no compression or correction. (Until then use 7 even ;-)
>
>  As for Freenet being killed by these modems, tell that to the 3300+
>people that connected last week!!

I don't care who donated the modems or how many people connected last
week, an extremely large number fail to connect each week because a) we
have told them to use 8n1 and b) we have not told them to turn of data
compression and error correction negotiation.  This is inexcusable and
is entirely the fault of the board of directors of the freenet.  There
is no excuse to have accepted a terminal server or modems that are
clearly second rate if they simply drop carrier or transmit garbage when
people try to connect using normal standard settings on their systems.
The excuse that they were donated and we don't wish to offend a sponsor
or that we can't afford any better is just that, an excuse.  2400 bps
modems sell today for less than $100.  Most volunteer, private BBSs
without any source of revenue operate at V.32 or V.32bis.  If we can't
accomodate public demands for 8 bit access, 9600 and 14,400 bps access,
access rather than busy signals, then the FreeNet could quickly become a
victim of its own success.

--
D. J. Blackwood            Room 1139, 400 Cumberland Street
Systems Integration Manager    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  K1A 0L8
Office Communications Division    voice: [phone], fax: [phone]
Revenue Canada, Taxation    email: uunet.ca!revcan!dave, [e-mail]