TELCOM.THD --- Copyright 1987 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. This thread is a set of messages regarding DIRACC -- but the intent is to archive a set of cautions regrading use of the PCSG Chipmunk program TELCOM.CO. With great amounts of TLC, you may be able to use this program to download to a Chipmunk disk -- but the cold start is probably a matter of minutes away! The messages in this file discuss this problem and some alternate ways to download ot the Chipmunk. Message range: 153565 to 153751 Dates: 7/28/87 to 7/31/87 Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 I have downloaded all the files again and will try them all over. One thing that might make a difference: I'm using the Q-PORT/DAC with 0MENU AND a Chipmunk TELCOM.CO turned on for downloading. I'll experiment and let you know of any difficulties. I'll also taylor the program for my use as I did with the original, adding my own function key definitions to be turned back on at the end of the program run. Thanks again for your support! Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 Just did some testing and found out the following: Using 0MENU in the off mode, TELCOM.CO in the on mode and Q-DAC installed, I tried toggling back and forth between F6, F7 and ^F7. The downloading worked properly, being sure to ^F7 before hitting F2 to download. Hitting ^F7 with a download in progress turns off the download. F7 goes to text but DOES NOT list the files. I didn't try entering a file, because I wasn't sure which ones already existed. F6 goes to basic, but I didn't run a program to test. I presume that part works. F6 again didn't seem to put me back online, although the screen cleared as it did with the original program (DIRACC.100 series). The system locked-up, forcing me to hit F8 for BYE to regain control (^Q and ^C didn't work to get the system functioning again). I also tried testing the F6 and F7 with ^F7 both on and off. I'm not sure at what point the system locked. Is there a way to throw in beeps or something when ^F7 is toggled, as it seems like there's a slight delay when using all the F keys now, almost as if the program is polling to see if the keys are being hit (is that right?). What would REALLY be neat is if there could be an indication, say, in the upper right of the screen when the ^F7 scroll mode is off, i.e., the text flashes all across one line as opposed to scrolling up the LCD. Please let me know about all this, and I'll keep playing with it. Thanks. Michele Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 OK, try this: the system locks up with the previously mentioned configuration when going into basic without having hit ^F7, i.e., with the scroll NOT disabled. I BYE'ed again and went to Q-DAC to remove the program's installation but when I hit R(emove), the system locked up, forcing me to cold start to regain control (nothing worked, not ^C, reset or anything!)! Fortunately, I have everything prepared for such an event and it isn't nearly as disastrous as it once was. I believe I can still download to disk with Q-DAC installed, but the trick is to avoid BASIC like the plague! Please let me know what you uncover about this, and I'll let you know of any more glitches. Thanks! Fm: Phil Wheeler 71266,125 To: M. Miller 76606,25 A big 'Aha!'. The Chipmunk TELCOM.CO is a well-known Dog. We have all had cold starts with it, even when running with no other software such as DIRACC. I think Tony knows how to avoid them, but Denny and I both gave up on it -- in my case after disassembling to look for the problem, and even calling the President of PCSG to ask for a fix (such an optimist I am!). Are you having any similar problems when not using TELCOM.CO? I suspect not. Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: M. Miller 76606,25 I agree totally with Phil. When TELCOM.CO was the only program I could use for downloading to disk, beads of sweat would form on my upper lip wondering where the next cold start would appear. I had to follow an exact keystroke sequence and if I strayed, *poof*, logged off into la la land. First, I *must* determine if you can use the program without TELCOM.CO installed. Given you symptoms, I'd say there is a very good chance that it will. Everything you've described would be what I would expect to happen while TELCOM.CO is active. The program just can't handle advanced meddling. There is one other thing that might cause you problems. If you find that you are getting dumped off the system after comming back from TEXT or BASIC, it is most likely that the switch settings in the modem are not correct. I outlined in Q-PORT.PCH where to look in the WorldPort manual for the instructions. The first switch to be concerned with is switch #4. That should be in the ON position. If you still get logged off, you may also have to set switch #3 ON. Let me know what happens after you try the program "clean". Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Phil Wheeler 71266,125 Yeah, I was able to use TELCOM.CO with very few cold starts, undoubtedly a learned operating technique based on the theory that if it hurts to do that, I don't do that! After experiencing the first few cold starts, I stopped doing whatever it was that caused them, by being very careful about turning the program "On" before signing on the service, and "Off" after signing off. FIRST thing! I did not attempt to do anything while actually online. -- But I haven't used the program in a long, long time. I use one of the Xmodem programs now, or in rare cases, the commercial program X-Tel. Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Phil Wheeler 71266,125 Actually, Phil, TELCOM.CO has been a complete pain in the byte for me! It has cold started my machine on numerous occassions. I am delicate with it and use it only for downloading to the chippy - turn it on, download, turn it off and REMOVE IT - QUICK - BEFORE THE WORLD BLOWS UP! Is there some program in the DLs that will accomplish the same thing without killing my system - let alone causing me to kill ME!? Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 I'm not sure what settings my Worlport switches are set to, but I'll look at Q-PCH and check them out for a match. By the way, Q-PORT/DAC cuts me off when visiting basic WITHOUT TELCOM.CO even loaded in RAM!!! Text works just fine, with the exception that files are not listed when hitting F7. I'm no programmer, but I'll look for the line to add the "Files" command, or, perhaps, you can tell me where it should go? It's at least some comfort to know that I wasn't the only one having "cold [start] sweats" and TELCOM.CO nightmares! How do you manage the download to chippy problem now? What program do you use? Is it in a DL somewhere? Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: M. Miller 76606,25 All of the Xmodem programs in DL3 will let you download directly to the Chipmunk disk. I'm using the latest version, XMDM26.100 with great success at 1200 baud (external modem). Denny's function key "Scroll On/Off" patch can be added to the program. My external modem is not one of those that disconnects when the program switches into Xmodem mode. Denny can tell you about the WorldPort switch settings to avoid that problem. Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: M. Miller 76606,25 If you are getting into TEXT ok, but BASIC is cutting you off, that is caused by the WorldPort. You need to set SW#4 to ON. The reason you no longer get "Files" in TEXT is because I am using a trimmed down version of DIRACC that cuts the size down to about 125 bytes as opposed to 500. It wouldn't be possible for you to add that back in since the program is written in machine language. I can add the code back in when I reassemble the program, but I'd like to wait a while to see if there is an actual bug directly related to the program, which would require me to redo it. The time overhead is a little lengthy for just one small change. In the meantime, you can go into BASIC and hit F1 for a list of files. I was in the same boat as you with TELCOM.CO until SXM.100 was uploaded. At that time, I switched to it and my online tenison level dropped to zero. It worked ok, but I had to modify it for xmodem downloads (SXM.CHP). Note that this program is for the internal modem only. I then started using X-TEL and have been using it ever since. The newest version of an xmodem program in the DL's is XMDM26.100 but it doesn't work with the WorldPort as is. If you decide to use that program, I can give you a simple patch that will make it "sorta" work. It really needs Q-PORT added to it, but the size would get out of hand if I did that. Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Although I have had some success with TELCOM.CO if I use it delicately (like watching a 6 month old baby play with fire!), I will check out your suggested program. I have never had the need for XModem transfers, because I have never had a problem up or downloading using the M100's standard method. There's always room for change, however. Thanks for the suggestion. Fm: M. Miller 76606,25 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 I will try switching that #4 switch and see what happens. I'm out of town this weekend and may not have the time to get back to you until next week. I was going to look into changing the program myself but I'm unknowledgeable with regard to M/L programming. Perhaps there's a way to delete the BASIC access entirely and have F6 toggle the scroll and F7 go into text? Or, perhaps it's time for X-TEL? I really do like to utilize the vast resources of the M100 Forum before I go plunking down the $$$. Thanks again for your help. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: M. Miller 76606,25 I agree... there are some of us who are blessed with clean telephone lines (most of the time), who can download using capture technique most of the time. The Xmodem programs offer the additional benefit of using the error-checking Xmodem protocol, but in this case it's recommended because it's a BASIC program, and a BASIC program can directly address the disk drive. That allows downloading direct to disk, and eliminates the need to use TELCOM.CO, with the attendant sweating. You can still use capture technique with the Xmodem programs, since they are basically a terminal emulator, but Xmodem is there if you need/want it.