(reprinted from Driven)
======================================
From: zcmm1121@rpool8.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (Daniel Dallmann)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: 9600baud without swiftlink!
Date: 2 May 1995 10:06:49 GMT
Organization: Comp.Center (RUS), U of Stuttgart, FRG
Lines: 24
Message-ID: <3o507p$1g90@info4.rus.uni-stuttgart.de>
NNTP-Posting-Host: rpool8.rus.uni-stuttgart.de
Its possible to send and receive at 9600 baud, without a swiftlink
you just need a raw-C64 + normal RS232-Interface wired in a little
different way...
The trick is using the serial ports of both CIAs.
If you make it this way you can go up to 9600 with a active VIC
(maybe twice as fast with the VIC switched off)
I planned to post the whole article now but i don't got it ready :)
look at http://131.188.190.131/~poldi/fastrs232.html
for more details...
I'll post a sample mini-terminal very soon
bye Daniel
--
* Daniel Dallmann is zcmm1121@rpool1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de
* Poldi on IRC (#kassel)
* http://131.188.190.131/~poldi/index.html
* ftp ://131.188.190.131/pub/poldi
* PS. Keep on running little C64 !!! :)
======================================
Welcome to USENET! The above is one of thousands of messages that are posted to USENET every day.
But, what IS USENET? As more people start to explore the great networking experiment gone right called the Internet, this question is being asked more frequently. So, we will leave no stone unturned to bring you the details of the origins and use of USENET.
It is easiest to start this explanation with what USENET is NOT.
USENET is NOT the Internet. Like the Internet, USENET is an experiment designed to allow people to communicate more effectively with one another. USENET uses the Internet, among other means, to achieve this goal. However, the two are indeed distinct.
USENET is NOT a formal network. Any computer that can attach itself to another computer that sends and receives USENET messages (called a "USENET feed") can send and receive USENET messages.
USENET is NOT UNIX-centric. USENET is a protocol, not an implmenentation. Any computer system that correctly implements the protocol can exchange USENET messages.
USENET is NOT a company, organization, group, or consortium. There is no central authority on the USENET. USENET is run pretty much by the people for the people.
So, now that we know what USENET isn't, here is some information on what it is.
USENET was developed to facilitate discussions in "discussion groups", called newsgroups. Unlike electronic mail, in which communication normally takes place between two individuals, newsgroups are akin to the old cork bulletin board. Messages are "posted" for all to see, and any response to the original message is available for all to peruse as well. As with most regular cork bulletin boards, each posted message on the USENET newsgroup ages, and is eventually removed. Since there are a wide variety of topics that can be discussed, USENET newsgroups are named according to topic and organized in a heirarchial fashion. Each newsgroup name is of the form:
category.sub_category.sub_sub_category. ....
Each sub category is separated from the others with a period ".".
To help readers find newsgroups easier, the category field is one of the following types:
comp: discussions about computers, hardware, software, bugs, and computer related information.
biz: discussions about business, sales, and product, as well as product announcements.
sci: disussions about scientific subjects, information, or issues.
rec: discussions about recreational activities or hobbies
news: newsworthy information, usually pulled from various newspaper and other sources
talk: debates, lengthy discussions, and discussions about debates.
alt: alternate groups. Usually for topical interests, or new groups before they move to other categories
misc: the groups that defy this organization.
The sub-category designations depend on the category.
Each category usually has a test sub category (as in misc.test). This allows first time users who wish to verify that they can place a message on USENET to do so without cluttering up other newsgroups. Some sites around the world will mail the user an email message detailing when and where the places message arrived.
Along with categories, USENET also has a concept of circulation which is called the distribution. Most categories have a default distribution of world, which means that the information will be sent to all USENET sites around the globe. However, alt, misc, and sometimes news categories sometimes have a smaller distribution area, since the topics covered may be specific to a particular area.
To be a part of USENET, one must have access to a USENET "newsreader", as USENET is alternately called "netnews", and the articles are "news postings". The newsreader allows one to view the articles, respond to the article publicly (called a follow-up), or respond in private (email). In the past, one needed a UNIX account with a newsreader program like rn, nn, or tin. However, now, commercial on-line services like Compuserve and Genie offer USENET access, some bulletin boards offer USENET as part of the regular message sections, and newsreader software exists for platforms other than UNIX.
To illustrate a typical newsgroup, I will choose the USENET newsgroup "comp.sys.cbm". Newsgroup names are typically referenced in lower case, although either all caps or all smalls is OK. This newsgroup is the flagship forum for Commodore 8-bit information. The newsgroup, as with most established newsgroups, has a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file, which is used to help keep already answered questions or overstated information from cluttering up the newsgroup.
New users to the newsgroup are encouraged to read any and all FAQ files before placing any messages (called posting) on the newsgroup. Before posting a new article, users should check to make sure the article topic is appropriate for the newsgroup, information which is usually in the FAQ. For comp.sys.cbm, anything relating to Commodore 8-bit hardware or software is considered appropriate. Amiga information is not necessarily inappropriate, but a number of Amiga newsgroups exist that are more appropriate. The same is true for Commodore emulator articles. The newsgroup "comp.emulators.cbm" was created in 1994 to provide a place for these people to congregate.
It will not take too long to see the ease of use and power of USENET. Even within the comp.sys.cbm newsgroup, thousands or readers will see any information or request you post on any given day. The USENET is a great place to get questions answered, so people ask questions on USENET. Also, USENET is a great place to disseminate information about your newest games, programs, hardware, coding trick, WWW site, email address, or demo. Even though some newsgroups frown on sale posts, comp.sys.cbm encourages people to offer personal or corporate Commodore-related items for sale in the newsgroup, as long as the post is tactful.
The comp.sys.cbm newsgroup has become the "watering hole" for many people. Lest you think otherwise, USENET has no geographical boundaries. People from all over the world show up every day to read the newest information available on the Commodore computer, its peripherals, and its software. the newsgroup becomes the on-line equivalent of a "hack session". Many people, many computers, eager minds, and no boundaries. Everyone leaves with a sense of accomplishment.
However, don't get the idea that comp.sys.cbm is it. By no means. As earlier stated, there is comp.emulators.cbm, which discusses emulating the Commodore computer on other platforms. Then there is comp.binaries.cbm, which distributes uuencoded binary files of programs of interest to Commodore owners. This brings us to moderated newsgroups.
Newsgroups like comp.sys.cbm and comp.emulators.cbm are what is called "unmoderated" newsgroups. This implies that the poster is ultimately responsible for making sure the posting is appropriate to place on the newsgroup. Newsgroups like comp.binaries.cbm are "moderated" newsgroups. The method of posting does not change, but your post is not immediately available for perusal by other USENET readers. Your post is first mailed to the newsgroup moderator, who checks it for appropriateness, and then marks it as approved and sends it to the newsgroups. In comp.binaries.cbm, the moderator makes sure the post is a program of description for a program, checks the program for any corruption, and verifies the work is not copyrighted.
There are many USENET newsgroups. In fact, at last count, I counted 10,000 of them. The majority of them are unmoderated, so be careful when posting to one. Otherwise, the "flames" will start rolling in.
Flames. The major form of punishment on USENET. A flame is a message composed with the intent to embarrass, hurt, or humiliate the receiver. Flames are usually mailed to people in response to a USENET post, but some do indeed get posted to USENET. Flames are usually sparked (no pun intended) by inappropriate postings to a newsgroup, or commercial for sale postings in just about any newsgroup. (comp.sys.cbm allows commercial posting from small businesses selling Commodore-related items, but not non-Commodore items or services). For most people, flames are the network equivalent of a public humiliation, so most people strive to never provoke a flame message. However, just as there are fools in the world, there are those who thrive on flames. And there is a groups just for them: "alt.flame".
A common source for flames is posting test messages to non-test newsgroups. Please don't try this. As stated, there are test newsgroups set up specifically for this purpose, so use them instead. Thousands of people do not want to read "this is a test. Please ignore" articles.
What is so special about flames? Well, since USENET has no central authority, there is no "USENET police" to go after inappropriate posting owners, for-sale ads in some newsgroups, and other infractions that occur on USENET. So, the USENET community uses the threat of flames to keep people in line. Anyone can send a flame message, but most people can't bring themselves to do it unless there is a definite reason, so the abuse of flame mail is minimal. Since it isn't abused very much and it serves to humiliate people when done on USENET, flames are the weapon against proper use of the USENET "called proper "netiquette").
If flames are the weapons on USENET, smileys are the peace offerings. You have seen them before. The little sideways faces drawn with ASCII characters called "smileys", even though some of them aren't. Since USENET is a discussion forum, people found early on that discussions are as much facial expressions as they are words. So, since networks remove the facial expression aspect, it was reintroduced with the use of smileys. If a user posts a sarcastic remark that he or she wants taken with a grain of salt, a few ":-)" faces sprinkled at key points in the message will assure people understand his intent. There are thousands of variations:
";-)" winky
":-(" grouchy
">:->" devillish
":-I" so-so
And the list goes on and on. Usually, although thousands of smileys have been thought up, only a few variations are used regularly.
Along with smileys comes abbreviations as a method to express one's self. Abbreviations are used to speed up often repeated phrases we use in real life. Everyone has a favorite way of greeting and saying goodbye to someone. Well, the same approach holds true in USENET. If the greeting is long, it is sometimes abbreviated, like:
Gday good day CUL8R See you later TTYL Talk to you later
Other times, the abbreviations are used for phrases many people use everyday on the USENET:
ROFL roll on (the) floor laughing OTOH on the other hand IMHO in my humble opinion IMNSHO in my not so humble opinion YHBT you have been told HAND have a nice day.
It is not necessary to use these if you don't want to. However, using too many can make your message hard to read, so use these sparingly.
Some other common protocols used in USENET including SHOUTING THAT IS DONE WITH ALL CAPS, as well as *emphasizing* text with _underlines_, asterisks, or -dashes-. And, if you really have to curse, it is best done in this f*&%ing way.
Whether you access USENET through the Internet, though commercial on-line services, or through local bulletin board systems, you will find that it takes time to get "into" the discussion. At any given time on any given newsgroup, anywhere from 5 to 1000 discussions will be going on simultaneously, and all will be at various stages of completion. Some are winding up while others are winding down. However, don't worry. You don't have to jump in before you are ready. You can just "lurk" in the newsgroup until you figure out what is going on.
"Lurking", or eavesdropping on a newsgroup, is a common practice. In fact, USENET encourages people to lurk in newsgroups, for it is generally known that people cannot stay silent forever, and USENET thrives on discussions. Lurking is defined as reading the articles in a newsgroup or newsgroups, referred to as "browsing", without actually posting any replies of follow-up articles. Of course, USENET users hope that you will eventually add to the discussion, but lurking is good for many reasons:
Each newsgroup operates under a slightly different set of rules. In some groups (like comp.sys.cbm) is ok to post for-sale ads, but don't even think about doing that in sci.electronics (an electronics discussion newsgroup). Some groups, like alt.hackers, require you to end the post with an obligatory hack you have done, called an ObHack. And all newsgroups allow discussion on only a certain range of topics. For instance, it is permissible to discuss Commodore drives in comp.sys.cbm, but not IBM drives, unless you are attaching an IBM drive to a Commodore.
Each newsgroup has its resident hothead, the dunce, and the class clown. It pays to steer clear of some individuals, and lurking provides you the opportunity to find out who these people are before posting.
Occasionally, a topic comes up that spills over the lines differentiating one newsgroups from another. In these rare cases, USENET allows a person to post the same article in multiple newsgroups. This is called "cross posting". Bear in mind, however, that not only is this rare, some access providers don't provide the capability or allow this to be done.
On USENET, each discussion is called a "thread". This is in reference to the imaginary line that ties all the articles pertaining to this discussion together. The thread usually has a subject title and can be followed from beginning to end. However, as with most discussions, the topic of the discussion usually drifts, and eventually the topic has changed completely. Bear this in mind when you view a thread discussing sports cars and the subject claims the discussion is about computers. You can usually tell by the messages how the topic drifted, but not always.
So, I hope that explains the USENET to you. However, the best explanation of it is gained by using it. No amount of words written here can describe the experience of holding a discussion on a topic with people all over the world. So, if you can, go access USENET today. Here are some places to start:
news.newusers.questions news.announce.newusers comp.sys.cbm comp.emulators.cbm comp.binaries.cbm alt.hackers alt.folklore.computers comp.sys.amiga.advocacy