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Topic 41        Sun Apr 24, 1988
AMFORD                       at 09:40 CDT
Sub: Color64                                

  For questions about Color64 bbs.
19 message(s) total.
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 1         Sun Apr 24, 1988
AMFORD                       at 09:42 CDT
 
  
  I understand that Color64 supports sfd's, 8050's and such, and supports the
1764 and 1750.
  Can you get the IEEE interface and 1764 to work at the same time?

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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 2         Thu May 12, 1988
GELFLING                     at 01:27 MDT
 
I know of quite a few people here in Denver that run BBS's with a Flash!
interface and a ram expander...but to be honest, I was under the impression
that COLOR64 did not work with the ram expander Could be wrong though...C-Net
DEFINATELY supports the ram and IEEE devices, and the speed gained has even
tightwads like myself SERIOUSLY considering purchasing one. On a similar note,
many 64 users are using 512k ram expanders, either modified 1764s or the
1750...that equates to a ram disk half the size of an SFD formatted
disk...lots of room. anybody been able to use the ram expander as extra memory
rather than as a ram disk?  My board could use that shot in the arm big time! 
The Dark Crystal...303-322-2589...PCPable...
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 3         Tue May 17, 1988
D.RAY1                       at 05:01 EDT
 
Be careful attempting to use the REUs with additional equipment plugged into
the same port. The timing for the REU is very critical. Using extender cables 
more than a few inches long will disrupt the timing and the REU will not
function properly.
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 4         Thu May 26, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 02:07 EDT
 
Our C-Net (v. 11.1a) did not work with the BusCard II IEEE interface. There is
a memory conflict.  We were told to use the Skyles IEEE Flash!, which worked
better but not perfect.  Moving to s Lt. Kernal hard drive seemed to work the
best.

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 5         Sun Jun 05, 1988
AMFORD                       at 09:39 CDT
 
  
  That is the problem I am trying to avoid.  Software expecting certain
hardware, while the hardware sellers expect you to buy certain software.

  I would love to buy a hard drive, unfortunately, it you be just about as
cheap to switch the bbs to msdos and buy a new system that would allow me to
add mucho megs of disk space.

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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 6         Sun Jun 05, 1988
AMFORD                       at 17:38 CDT
 
  
  Another question about Color 64 bbs I know that there are 'blank' overlays
provided, what are sysops using in these overlays, (games, quizzes, triva,
etc???), and is there someplace we can get these overlays.   (just hate re-
inventing the wheel!)

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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 7         Sun Jun 05, 1988
COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz]    at 18:57 EDT
 
True, you can run an MS DOS system cheaper than a Commodore system, but it has
been my experience that your Commodore callers feel more at home when calling
a BBS running on an MS DOS system.

As for hard drives, Color 64 works well with the LtK/Xetec, ICT, and 9060/9090
type hard drives.  I have a few using CSI hard drives and  getting along OK,
but that drive seems to be just a bit buggy.

As for program overlays, we have lots of online games and utilities that were
written by other Color 64 Sysosp (as well as me) and most of them are
available on my BBS (Daily Exchange) or from other Color64 Sysops.  Luckily,
most Color 64 Sysops stick pretty close together, not allowing the pirates
access to these files.  We are also working on setting up a private download
directory here on GEnie so Color 64 Sysops will be able to call here to trade
their modules and avoid the annoying busy signals as well as keep LD costs
down.
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 8         Sun Jun 05, 1988
AMFORD                       at 18:11 CDT
 
  
  Thanks for the reply.

  Maybe at the end of the year I can talk the club (Commodore Users of
Bartlesville) into buying a hard drive.  Best I can do is pick up $100 SFD's
every once in a while.

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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 9         Mon Jun 06, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 01:20 EDT
 
Our user group is currently running C-Net 11.1a for our BBS with a Lt. Kernal
hard drive.  I'm not happy with it .... it locks up regularly, and X-Modem
transfers refuse to work with the Amiga, timing out every 12 blocks.

  Problem is, our Sysop has put quite a bit of work into customizing our C-Net
system.  In fact, that's one thing I like about it ... the BASIC modules. 
Before I can convince him to change to something else, I need some facts to
present.  

  What makes Color 64 a better choice for us than C-Net?  There are no Color-
64 systems around here, so I've never seen it and know next to nothing about
it.  Is there a press release or something that I could read?  What do the
sysops using it like and dislike?  How does it compare to the ICE BBS, which
is another one that's been recommended.

  Thanks,

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 10        Mon Jun 06, 1988
D.RAY1                       at 02:55 EDT
 
Color 64, in my experience, is much more dependable than C-net. I am an
assistant sysop on a Color 64 BBS (Bladerunner, Portage, In. 762-4612 or 887-
2206). From what I have seen Color 64 can be easily customized. Also, Greg's
support is great.
 As a user I have accessed C-net boards and have not had any good experiences.
There is a board in our area running C-Net for the 128 and it seems much more 
dependable. The 64 version is always crashing. Our user group ran C-net and 
had lots of problems with crashes, etc.
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 11        Mon Jun 06, 1988
COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz]    at 20:14 EDT
 
The problems with the xmodem files aborting every 12 blocks is because of the
way the Xmodem is written in Cnet.  They read 12 xmodem blocks into a buffer,
then they send them... after 12th block is sent, they immediately start to
read the next block without waiting for an ACK. As we all know, Commodore 64
will not hear anything on the modem  channel while the disk drives are
active.. the ack is lost.  Now the BBS is sitting waiting for an ack for block
12, but the term has already  sent at ACK.  After about 10 seconds or so, the
terminal on the other end sends a NAK (since it did not get any data for 15
secs or so), Cnet resends block 12.  The other term is expecting block 13 - a
well written terminal  will send an ACK to get the BBS to go onto the next
block and disregard that 13th block.. but not all xmodems are smart enough to
do that.

You may ask how do I know this??  That was on of my goals when designing my
xmodem was for it to be bullet proof enough to download even from a Cnet
system.  I had to work and work before I figured out what Cnet must be doing. 
In all fairness, I am sure the xmodem problems are fixed in later versions of
Cnet.  Surely all they had to do is wait for the ack before they read the next
block and read only one block at a time. As for info on Color 64, I just
recently uploaded an updated info file about my system.  It pretty much tells
you what our system is all about. No one BBS package is perfect for everyone -
just think how boaring it would be if we all used the same software!!  But I
would be greatful if you take a few minutes and check out my software.  You
dont see ads in magazines full of big promises, I rely solely one satisfied
customers spreading the word about my software.  So far it has worked.
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 12        Tue Jun 07, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 03:18 EDT
 
Thanks for the 12 block C-Net Xmodem explanation.  Makes perfect sense!
  Are there any star Color-64 systems in PC-Pursuit area codes?  I'd like to
call a few and pass the buffers on to our sysop.

  Thanks,

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 13        Tue Jun 07, 1988
COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz]    at 20:34 EDT
 
There are hundreds of Color 64 Systems all over the country.. many in PC
Pursuit areas - but I am afraid to say that mine is not.  Anyway, I will let
one of the others leave their numbers here - if you are willing to call via
AT&T, feel free to call my system (703 466 2120 - 3/12/2400)

Thanks for your time!!
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 14        Thu Jun 09, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 00:19 EDT
 
Greg,

  I downloaded the Color64 text file from the library .... sounds nice! You
mentioned you use a 2400 baud Hayes modem on your BBS.  Did that mean the BBS
is able to run at 2400 baud, or that you just use it in 300/1200 mode?  The
reason I ask is that our club just voted to purchase a 2400 baud Supra modem
to replace the 1670 we're currently using with C-Net.  The idea was for future
expansion, in case we moved from the 64 to a 128 or Amiga that would support
2400 baud.  That's why it caught my attention.

  If it *does* support 2400, how well does it work?  I was under the
impression that the 64 wasn't able to support true 2400 baud.

  Thanks,

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 15        Thu Jun 09, 1988
COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz]    at 20:25 EDT
 
I have been running 2400 baud for about a year and a half, and yes it works
GREAT.  Depending on the quality of your modem and the quality of the phone
lines, you will get anywhere from error free transfers to maybe 10% retries.

I am surprised that you did not know the C64 is quite capable of doing 2400
baud.  I would say it is safe to say that 25% of my  customers are already
2400 baud (the prices of the 2400 baud modems are coming down fast).
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 16        Fri Jun 10, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 00:39 EDT
 
Greg,

  Great news about the 2400 baud.  A year or two ago I had read a message
thread somewhere stating that the combination of the clock speed required for
the 40 column VIC chip and lack of a hardware UART made 2400 baud
 *very* touchy on the 64.  I have tried a few null modem transfers between the
64 and Amiga, and trying at at 2400 baud got me closer to 50% retries.  That's
why I assumed it was unusable.

  Thanks for the enlightening correction. <grin>

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 17        Fri Jun 10, 1988
CHARRINGTON [Courtney]       at 22:07 PDT
 
Dave-
 Several years ago I wrote what may have been the first 2400 baud terminal
program for the 64. I did it becuase C= said it couldn't be done. I figured
just about everything C= publically says is wrong, therefore it was possible.
In fact it was uploaded here. I think I named it 2400 term or some such
nonsense.
 Aloha,
 Courtney
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 18        Sat Jun 11, 1988
D.SCHMOLDT [Dave/SysOp]      at 01:09 EDT
 
I never said it couldn't be done, I just said I had heard it couldn't be done
reliably.  I'm lucky here .... my lines are super clean and I never get
garbage or re-sends.  So talk of x% re-transmits on a download scare me.
<grin>

  Dave
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Category 9,  Topic 41
Message 19        Sun Jun 12, 1988
AMFORD                       at 07:05 CDT
 
  
  Dave,
    I called the ICE BBS (headquarters) a couple of times.  First time, I
thought I had logged onto a Cnet bbs! About the only difference was the lack
of  color (tried, but did not find that option).  Hopefully, it works better
for C64 sysops.

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Topic 44        Fri May 27, 1988
COLOR64BBS                   at 20:34 EDT
Sub: Color64BBS Support Area!               

New Color 64 BBS Private Support Area
1 message(s) total.
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Category 9,  Topic 44
Message 1         Fri May 27, 1988
COLOR64BBS                   at 20:41 EDT
 
I am glad to announce that DEB has been kind enough to setup a private Color
64 BBS support area right here in our Commodore Flagship!!
<RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ?s

Access will be limited to SYSOPs of Color 64 BBS systems (registered systems
only) and hopefully we will soon be able to have private file transfers.

Anyone wanting access to this section, leave me a private letter here Leaving
your package number or ID#/PSWD from the Daily Exchange will minimize the time
it takes to validate your access.

Many thanks to DEB for setting aside this space for us.  Hopefully this will
allow everyone easy and quick access to Color 64 BBS support!
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Topic 49        Sun Oct 02, 1988
R.OWENS1 [Merlin]            at 19:56 CDT
Sub: Address for COLOR 64                   

Need the address, phone # for information on COLOR64 BBS.
1 message(s) total.
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Category 9,  Topic 49
Message 1         Mon Oct 03, 1988
COLOR64BBS [Greg Pfountz]    at 19:52 EDT
 
My address is 14 Longdale Rd, Bristol, VA 24201.  And my BBS# is 703 466 2120
(300/1200/2400).  Also, there is a file in the download area here (file# 5880)
that will describe Color 64 in detail along with purchase information at the
end of the file.

If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them to COLOR64BBS here on
GEnie.  I try to call on a daily basis.
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