8-bit Software Disc Magazine Issue 13 - June 1991
(c) Duncan Webster 1991 (all rights reserved)
COMMUNICATIONS
We start this month by mentioning the people who have been silently
supporting 8BS in the background without much of a mention from me.
No doubt the communications buffs amoungst you will know of the
existence of Resolve Communications, Darcworld and TAS.
To put things into perspective, Resolve Communications is the present
base system for all electronic messages to 8BS (soon to be joines by
TAS). Beleive it or not, Resolve is the reason 8BS came into
existence to the communications world, and this was shortly followed
by the Micro User for non comms BBC owners. Resolve is run by John
Carpenter and contains a plethera of information including an 8BS
section (what else?), Music 500 and Music 5000 support, Hitch Hikers
Section, Monty Python section, Commodore Amoeba (oops - AmiGa) section
(plus all other micros also supported) and stacks of downloadable
material amoungst other sections too numerous to list here. Resolve
comms is on 0582 832653 and supports Viewdata and scrolling, although
viewdata is most recommended.
Darcworld is run on an Acorn Archimedes and does not support viewdata.
BBC comms enthusiasts can still log onto the board in scrolling or
"terminal" mode, but this can take ages on the slower modems.
Darcworld has not been properly explored by me, so I cannot accurately
comment on the contents of the board itself. For the comms enthusiast
reading this, Darcworld runs on V32 (9600), V22bis (2400), V22 (1200),
V21 (300), MNP (1 through 5). There is an advert for Darcworld on
this months disc if you would like to know more then you can *TYPE the
filename T.DarcWld on drive 0.
TAS has only recently "joined" 8BS and is a viewdata system run by
Dugald Holmes. Like Resolve, there is a whole host of information and
special interest groups plus a lot of downloadable material (including
some for the Psion Organiser). However Unlike Resolve, users of TAS
can join 8-bit Software directly by completing a "response frame"
although this has had limited success as of late due to the lack of
advertising material on the board itself. TAS also carries a
"subscription fee" of 5 pounds per annum. This fee is by no means
mandatory, but does grant you access to the more privalaged facilities
within the system such as fax, closed user groups etc. TAS is on 0372
743809 (viewdata only).
If you are not into communications, then the details above may seem a
little garbled and confusing. 8BS was going to run a small series on
the basics of communications, but it appears that another magazine has
got there first, and it would seem pointless in explaining things
twice.
If you are worried about the expense of communications, then listed
below are the charges that I pay. I do not use communications during
the week - only weekends for about 5 hours p.w.
Modem (second Hand) and software chip ....... #10.00
Subscription to Mercury Communications ...... # 8.50 per annum
Telephone call charges (itemised) ........... #17.00 per month approx
You are looking at a total outlay in the region of #200.00 per year
running costs just for phone bills. Getting the equipment and going
on-line is the easy and inexpensive part. If anyone who is thinking
of going on-line and would like to ask some questions then please
write in and I will do my best to answer.