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┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ C A R R I E R D E T E C T │
│ │
│ The PC Communications Journal For Every Modem User! │
│ │
│ Issue #1, May 1991 │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Table of Contents:
Welcome ............................................ 2
Product Evaluations ................................ 3
Commo v4.52 .................................... 3
Wildcat! v2.5S ................................. 5
Protocol Prowl ..................................... 8
rC-Modem v4.4 .................................. 8
Bonus Files ........................................ 10
Product Information .............................. 11
Feedback ........................................... 11
Carrier Detect is published by Michael W. Crosson.
Contents may not be reproduced without written permission
from the publisher. All brand and product names mentioned
in this publication are trademarks and registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
(c) 1991 Michael W. Crosson. All rights reserved.
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 1
W E L C O M E
Welcome to the first edition of Carrier Detect, The
Bimonthly PC Communications Journal. This is a journal
that will appeal to any PC owner that uses a modem. Each
issue you will discover something new as we chart the
sometimes stormy seas of the world of Telecommunications.
There will be candid product reviews inside every edition
to help you find the product that best meets your needs.
A special emphasis will be placed on programs that have a
great deal to offer, but for whatever reason have not yet
come into widespread use.
This journal has come into being because I feel that
telecommunications is all too often neglected in the major
computer magazines. When a communications article is
published, it seems the authors are out of touch. Like
most aspects of the computer industry, the communications
part of it changes rapidly. To stay informed of the
latest software and get the most out of what your already
use, you need a publication that is up to the minute and
geared toward you - the real world user. It is my hope
that you will find each issue to be informative and
entertaining.
Sincerely,
Michael Crosson
Publisher
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 2
P R O D U C T E V A L U A T I O N S
Each month Carrier Detect will contain several pro-
duct evaluations. Most of these will be software reviews
but from time to time hardware may be reviewed also. The
opinions expressed in Carrier Detect are solely my own or
the respective author of the article. Carrier Detect
strives to be as objective and fair as possible when
evaluating software. Judgments as to suitability are made
with the "typical" modem enthusiast in mind and are not
geared toward the complete novice nor the power user.
Exceptions to this are noted as such in the article.
Software reviews will include both commercial and
shareware offerings. Equal attention will be given to
Communication Programs and Bulletin Board Software. If
you are a software developer or just a loyal fan of a
particular package and would like to submit it for review,
please see the Feedback section at the end of the journal.
This month we review three programs, Commo, a
terminal program, Wildcat! BBS, and rC-Modem, an external
protocol. None of these programs are obscure and each of
them already has an established following. I chose these
particular releases for the first issue because I believe
each to be excellent examples of quality shareware
programs. They should be readily available at a bbs
system near you. In the unlikely event that you have
difficulty finding them, several sources of the files will
be listed. As a last resort you can always call
Prospector BBS and download the files.
* COMMO COMMUNICATIONS, version 4.52
Pros: Fast and easy to use
Small Memory and disk space requirements
Excellent macro facilities
Cons: Must edit the dialing dir and macro files
yourself
No script learning facilities
Memory is one of the PC's most precious yet limited
resources. Large environments, GUIs, multitaskers, and
TSRs can eat up so much memory that there is nothing left
for the main application that you wish to run. The pro-
blem is getting worse with the software industries trend
toward higher minimum memory/hardware requirements. The
good news is that Commo is a communications package that
successfully bucks this trend without sacrificing power.
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 3
Commo requires just 140K of free memory and offers many if
not all of the features of it's bloated competition. Some
of the best features of Commo include a complete scripting
language, flexible macros, external protocol support,
large dialing directories with a redialing function,
automatic Z modem and Mpt downloads, multitasking support,
and a nifty scrollback window. Commo's small but mighty
personality is achieved with tight programming and it's
origins in assembly language.
Commo is distributed as shareware and anyone can use
the program for thirty days to see if it suits their
needs. At the end of that time if you continue to use
Commo you must send the reasonable registration free of
$25 dollars. Like most shareware products Commo is often
found in a zipped file that should be named COMMO452.ZIP
or something close.
To install Commo the user first unzips the program
into it's directory. Then the user must edit the con-
figuration, dialing directory, and macro files to reflect
the desired options, entries, or settings. This initial
setup is perhaps the most difficult part of using Commo.
At first I thought it to be very strange and even
confusing. All of Commo's support files are plain ASCII
text files, and it is up to you, the user, to edit them,
either with Commo's own internal editor or your own text
editor. There are no guided form or database entries like
most communications packages have and the best thing is to
keep the user manual handy when completing these steps.
There are many helpful sample entries already listed but
their content may not be entirely clear without at least
looking over the documentation. After getting used to
the concept that the files were just free form text I
began to appreciate the flexibility this approach allows
and now feel comfortable modifying and experimenting with
the entries.
Once Commo is up and running I found it to be a
delight to use! Most functions and commands are executed
by hitting various combinations of the alt key. Overall
they are quite intuitive and easy to remember. For
example, Alt-X exits the program and Alt-H hangs up the
phone. The program's response is excellent and everything
moves along very quickly. There are no slow screens to
paint or clunky pull down menus here. Online help is
extensive and is always called by hitting F1. Connecting
to a local bulletin board was a snap and as easy as tag-
ging the systems that I wished to call in the dialing
directory. Commo has built in VT102 and ANSI emulation
modes.
File transfers are accomplished in Commo through a
combination of a macro and an external protocol engine
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 4
such as DSZ by Omen Technology or Mpt by Matthew Thomas.
There are no built in file transfer protocols except a
facility to send or receive straight text files. The
author includes sample macros to use X, Y, and Zmodem
via DSZ, (which is a separate shareware package). If you
desire to use other protocols you must add the proper
command lines yourself, a major disadvantage for less
experienced modem users.
Commo's macro capabilities are to be applauded for
their simplicity and similarity to the English language.
The command set includes such easy to use keywords such as
LOOK, PAUSE, and SEND. Another major feature is that any
macro can be assigned to run from any key! There is a
serious omission in Commo that I hope will be addressed in
future versions, the lack of a auto-learn script learning
function. Although the language is easy to use, you are
required to write the entire macro and type it in the
macro support file yourself. A beginner might have
trouble with this, especially if he has no programming
background. It is much easier to add to or alter a script
that has a skeleton provided from an auto-learn function
than writing one from scratch. Another shortcoming is
that the macro language is not as rich as those in
programs such as Crosstalk or Telix which are almost self
contained programming languages.
All in all, Commo is an excellent telecommunications
program and a bargain for just twenty-five dollars. After
extensive use the program always did exactly as it was
supposed to do and i did not encounter any problems. I
think Commo is best suited for more experienced modem
users. While it is easy to use, a beginner may not have
the knowledge needed to take full advantage of this pro-
gram and may even mistake its flexibility for simplicity.
Others who are more experienced will appreciate just how
lean and mean Commo really is. It gets the job done with
a minimum of fuss yet can be as powerful as you want it to
be. With a little editing talent and some imagination you
can make Commo into the customized term program of your
dreams.
* WILDCAT! BBS, Version 2.50 (Single Line)
Pros: Easy to install
Mature product with excellent product support
Many internal protocols including Zmodem
Reliable and not prone to crashes
Cons: Limited flexibility
No support for Echo or Net Mail
Dated design and appearance
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 5
* (please note that version 3.0 is due for release later
this year and may address these shortcomings).
Wildcat! is one of the most established Bulletin
Board systems in existence. If you have been calling
public bulletin board systems for a long time, chances are
that one of the first ones that you logged onto ran
Wildcat! software. Since it's shareware introduction in
1986, Wildcat! has gone one to become one of the most
successful bulletin board systems. These days you can
even find Wildcat! stocked on the shelf of your local
Software Etc. It's success is well deserved, as Wildcat
is one of the most reliable BBS packages available in a
field that is crowded with offerings that are chock full
of bugs. There is nothing worse to a sysop then to return
to the home or office and see that your bulletin board has
crashed do to some mysterious bug, runtime error or other
problem. Wildcat sysops are a fortunate bunch, for they
don't experience this sort of problem much at all.
Mustang software took special care to make the usually
hairy BBS installation process as painless as possible.
I've spent hours attempting to install some packages with
no luck at all. With Wildcat! the whole thing took just
under 30 minutes. To install Wildcat! is a matter of sim-
ply following the instructions that appear on the screen
after running the install program. Wildcat!'s files are
shipped compressed on three 360K diskettes and once
installed, the program takes up about 1.5 megs of hard
disk space. Even the modem installation is easy because
Wildcat! comes with predefined modem settings for many
popular modems. If you are using a high speed modem such
as the USR Dual Standard, you know what a timesaver this
is. Of course you may alter these or enter your own if
you do not find an suitable in the choices offered.
Wildcat! has a great deal to offer both its sysops
and callers. One of Wildcat!'s strong points is the
emphasis on security. The program allows up to 50 differ-
ent security levels and nearly every option can be set to
for a minimum access level before allowing the caller to
access that function, message base, or file area. Daily
time limits and file ratios are also options that can be
controlled with security levels. One nice touch is that
the optional internal generic menu system will not display
a menu choice if the caller cannot access it.
The file section of Wildcat! is also a strong point
of the software. It allows for defining up to twenty-six
areas. The file area records are maintained by a B-tree
indexed database, a system that allows for many advantages
over more primitive systems that used a simple text file
to keep track of the files (In fact all the main data
files in Wildcat! - the User, Message, and File records
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 6
are all supported by a similar database scheme). File
searches are fast, and each file record contains a lot of
pertinent information such as the Uploader of the file,
date uploaded, time needed to download the file, number of
times downloaded, two description lines and more. Many
transfer protocols are available internal to Wildcat!
including: Xmodem, Ymodem, Ymodem-G, Kermit, Sealink, and
the ever popular Zmodem. Batch modes are also available
if the protocol supports it and the caller can specify up
to fifty files at a time to download. The sysop can add
up to ten external protocols including Bimodem to allow
even more flexibility. In operation, all of the internal
protocols worked well when tested. The internal Zmodem
of Wildcat! is not as speedy as the one in DSZ, but the
differences were slight. There are a few features that
are missing from Wildcat! contained in more robust BBSes.
These include goodies such as an archive editor that can
check, view or otherwise manipulate compressed files on
the system and a protocol editor to eliminate the need for
batch files to run external protocols. However, all these
kinds of things are not essential and can be handled with
doors or external events.
The message section of Wildcat! does not fare quite
as well. Like the file area, you can define up to twenty
six areas which are called "folders" in Wildcat!. All the
normal message commands are present, you can read, enter,
scan, reply, forward, and delete messages. The problem
lies in the design and appearance of this area of the
software. It hasn't really changed much from it's
original implementation and its beginning to show its age.
The editor is a rather outdated line oriented one similar
to one you might use on GEnie but with word wrap. There
are no colors, no uploading provision of prepared messages
or included files, no quoting of the previous message -
just the basic commands of a bare bones editor. Most
other BBS system now incorporate all these features in a
full screen editing option or at least allow the sysop to
add an external one. In addition, I think don't think the
message area is especially easy to use. While it has many
of the same options as other systems, the commands don't
seem to be as logically arranged or as user friendly. I
have watched many callers become completely confused in
the message areas and not be able to accomplish what they
wanted to do until i broke in for a chat and explained the
process. One last problem with the message area is the
lack of true support for echo and net mail. Wildcat! has
no internal support for echo or netmail beyond offering a
menu option that runs a batch file to start an external
program for this purpose such as Echodoor.
In other areas Wildcat! is a mixed bag. It has the
ability to run doors (which are external programs such as
online games), but they can only be called using a batch
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 7
file that completely exits the software and then reloads
it again when the caller is through. In addition, these
doors must all be run from the doors menu, a serious
limitation to the system's flexibility. In fact none of
the menu functions in Wildcat! can be altered beyond
changing the command letter that calls the function. Some
BBS packages feature menu editors that let you add and
delete menu choices at will and some even allow stacked
menu command macros that execute several steps from one
command key. Wildcat! does support many ANSI menu screens
so although you can't change the choices at least you can
change the appearance of your BBS.
Wildcat remains an attractive choice for potential
sysops despite it's shortcomings. It is not the snazziest
BBS nor the most powerful BBS but it is a solid choice for
those that are more concerned with trouble-free operation
than flash. Business' that are looking for BBS software
would be wise to consider Wildcat! seriously. In addition
to the single line version that I reviewed, it is possible
to purchase a Network version, (allowing up to 10 lines),
and a Professional version, (allowing up to 250 lines).
Finally, Wildcat! is available in a shareware 'test drive'
that includes most of the features of the commercial one.
Wildcat! sysops also enjoy excellent technical support
from Mustang. They offer a free voice support line where
you just pay for the call, a multi-line BBS that operates
twenty-four hours a day, and an area on GEnie. Plus as
one of the advantages of being a survivor in the BBS
market, there are plenty of experienced and loyal Wildcat!
sysops that are always willing to lend a helping hand to a
newcomer. It also follows that many excellent doors and
utilities are available that enhance and compliment
Wildcat!. One last gesture of goodwill on the part of
Mustang to win the hearts of BBS sysops every where is the
inclusion of a fifty dollar coupon in each new box of
Wildcat! that is sold. The coupon may be spent on the
next major release, Wildcat! utilities, or a convenient
auto-update plan.
P R O T O C O L P R O W L
Protocol Prowl is an area that will appear regularly
in Carrier Detect. Here you can expect to find reviews or
user tips on both new and familiar file transfer
protocols. This month we review rC-Modem Version 4.4, a
relatively new protocol that offers some unique features
that may be valuable to some communication enthusiasts.
* RC-MODEM, Version 4.40
RC-Modem is a external protocol by Lavio Pareschi
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 8
that offers all of the features that helped to make Z
Modem so popular and then some. On many BBS systems this
protocol is referred to as simply C Modem. RC-Modem
boasts a great depth of features as far as protocols go.
These include: crash recovery, variable sized data blocks,
full duplex operation, batch operation and a unique
terminate and stay resident (TSR) option.
I especially like the efforts that the protocol goes
through to send intelligent packet sizes. RC-Modem
actually keeps a record of certain variables of every
transfer performed: the accumulated seconds, errors due
to noise and total number of calls. From this information
it attempts to determine the optimum size of the data
blocks and minimize the losses due to over head on control
and repeated blocks. If you don't understand this, don't
fret as it is all invisible to the user. All you have to
know is that rC-Modem is going through some pretty neat
maneuvers to insure that you are transferring your data as
efficiently as possible.
The crash recovery is nice also although not quite as
convenient as Z modem's. If a transfer is interrupted in
progress, rC-Modem will properly save the last data byte
received and then save the file with the extension of
.BAD. All the caller has to do is resume the transfer
once again and rC-Modem will pick up where it left off.
RC-Modem can resume transfers started with other protocols
that aborted midway in the transmission as well, but first
you have rename the file with the .BAD extension, a step
that seems a unnecessary since Z modem and others do not
require this.
Perhaps one of the highlights of the protocol is its
TSR option. With rC-Modem it is possible to load it into
memory at boot up or before your communications session
and then have it "pop up" over whatever program you are
working in to transfer a group of files. This feature
could be a boon to people who use the communications
modules of integrated packages such as Microsoft Works,
but don't want to use the slow and error prone protocols
that are contained in these packages (usually Xmodem or
some variation). This version appears to use 85K of
memory when loaded as a TSR. Not a tiny amount but
reasonable considering that most protocols require at
least 65K of memory just for normal operation.
RC-Modem is easy to set up for use with popular
communication and BBS packages. It even offers several
methods for installation. The easiest way is to use the
rcsetup program that is included. It will ask you a
series of easy questions and thereafter all you need to do
is shell to dos and type rC-Modem (or better yet create a
batch file). It can also be used without the
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 9
configuration file and run from a command line with the
desired parameters or in the previously discussed TSR
mode. Even the command line method can be easy to use.
For example:
rcmodem /p=1/rx
- tells rC-Modem to receive a file on Com Port 1
rcmodem /p=1/tx c:\path\filename
- tells rC-Modem to send the file named above on
Com 1
RC-Modem operates well in practice and i have run
into no problems installing it on either BBS systems or
term packages including Telix and Commo. It is fast and
does not seem prone to aborting in mid-transfer like some
protocols. When I have used rC-Modem it usually transfe-
rred files at about 236 characters per second over clean
lines with a 2400 non-error correcting modem. This is
about the same as Z modem under the best conditions. I
have tried it in a network environment (Telenet) and it
worked well also. This protocol was designed with the
goal of improving transmissions over noisy lines (like
those found in Brazil where it is from), so if you live in
one of these areas you will want to check this protocol
out and urge local sysops to install it. During a trans-
fer rC-Modem displays an attractive and informative pro-
gress screen that even includes a graph showing the per-
centage of completion. There is a command line option to
tell rC-Modem to use BIOS calls rather than direct screen
writes in case you are computing in a multitasking
environment. RC-Modem is a effective and trustworthy
means to transfer files from PC to PC. It isn't one of
the more common protocols found on BBS systems in America
but it deserves to be. Try it yourself and see if it
isn't a welcome change of pace.
B O N U S F I L E S
In some issues of Carrier Detect you will find
accompanying 'bonus' files within the Zip archive. The
files will usually be related to the products discussed in
the current issue. Hopefully the files will find a niche
in your telecommunication toolbox and make your day more
productive and easier!
In this issue I've included a macro file for Commo
that will allow you to transfer files with nearly every
protocol available! As mentioned in the review, Commo
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 10
requires this file to perform file transfers and the
sample one from the author is set up to work with just
Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem and Mpt. Since every protocol uses
different commands and syntax, creating this file yourself
would take a long time and a great deal of trial and
error. Protocols seem to be something that many modem
users have trouble installing so hopefully this file will
assist many established Commo users and persuade others to
try out this excellent program with a minimum of fuss.
I have tested all of these protocols using this macro
file on my system and it works well. Please note that you
will need to have the protocol engines somewhere in your
path for the transfers to work properly. Also, whenever
possible, the protocols will place a downloaded file in
the directory that YOU specify in the Commo configuration
file. The commands assume you are using a 1200 or 2400
baud modem. If you are using a high speed modem, (espec-
ially under locked baud rate conditions), a few of the
protocols require different command line options that you
will need to change. Most of these relate to handshaking
and the use of a locked comm port. If you do experience
trouble using any of the protocols with this macro file I
will be happy to help you if you contact me on Prospector
BBS.
F E E D B A C K
I am interested in getting as much feedback as
possible regarding this issue of Carrier Detect and
welcome suggestions or any other comments you may have.
If you are a software publisher or shareware author and
would like to submit your program for possible inclusion
in future issues you are welcome to do so also. Finally,
if you are interested in contributing an article or review
please let me know! I can be contacted at the follow
following locations:
Prospector BBS
(916) 921-9949, 2400-14.4K baud, 24 hours a day. First
Call Access to Carrier Detect files.
Bill Logan, Co Sysop of Solitude BBS, (602) 747-5236,
Tucson Arizona - For providing the original version of the
Commo.Mac file. One where the protocols were organized!
P R O D U C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Following is product information for the products
reviewed in this issue of Carrier Detect. If you are
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 11
interested in purchasing or evaluating any of the products
please note the publisher's address listed below. In
addition, shareware programs featured in Carrier Detect
will be made available to first time callers on:
Prospector BBS
(916) 921-9949, 24 hours, 1200 to 14.4K (v.32bis)
COMMO
Distributed as Shareware
Version - 4.53 (latest at time of distribution)
Cost - $25 registration fee
Published by - Fred Brucker, Post Office Box 9103, Santa
Rosa, CA, 95405
Available for download to first time callers at:
Directory Assistance BBS (707) 538-8780 (node 2).
Also Available on:
GEnie in IBM RT as COMMO453.ZIP (file 22376)
WILDCAT!
Commercial and Shareware versions distributed
Version - 2.55S (not available as shareware)
Cost - $129
Published by Mustang Software, Box 2264, Bakersfield, CA,
93303 Toll-Free Ordering (800) 999-9619
Available at most Software Etc. stores
Shareware Testdrive version available for download at:
Mustang Software BBS (805) 395-0650
Also available on :
GEnie in BBS RT as WILD-TD.ZIP (file 3666)
RC-MODEM
Distributed as Shareware
Version 4.40
Cost - $24 registration fee
Published by Lavio Pareschi, Centro Cultural Hanns Ludwig
Lipmann, CCHLL-BBS, CXP 34045, Rio De Janiero, Brazil
CCHILL BBS 0055 (21) 285-6228 (node 1)
0055 (21) 265-7380 (node 2)
Available on :
GEnie in IBM RT as CMODEM44.ZIP
Carrier Detect - Issue 1 - Page 12
