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Silicon Times Report Issue 0072
*---== ST REPORT ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
"The Original Online ST Magazine"
-------------------------------
January 30, 1989 Volume III No.72
==========================================================================
ST Report Online Magazine ½
------------------------------
Post Office Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida
32236 ~ 6672
R.F. Mariano
Publisher - Editor
_________________________________________
Voice: 904-783-3319 10 AM - 4 PM EST
BBS: 904-786-4176 ~ 12-24-96 HST
_________________________________________
** F-NET/FIDOMAIL NODE 350 **
Our support BBS carries ALL issues of STReport¿
and
An International list of private BBS systems
carrying STReport¿ for their users enjoyment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlights
----------
~ From the Editor's Desk ~ CPU Report
~ Stonehenge ~ FALCON F-16 Part III
~ Calamus ~ ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
**** MCI and LAW ENFORCEMENT CRACK DOWN ON PHREAKERS! ****
========================================================================
AVAILABLE ON: COMP-U-SERVE ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ THE SOURCE
========================================================================
From the Editor's Desk:
-----------------------
In the course of the past few weeks we have seen a few issues become
completely blown out of proportion because of the volatile nature of the
subject matter. One area the readers haven't seen and probably never will
are the man hours of effort put in by the sysops of the various services,
(Darlah Pine, Ron Luks, Clay Walnum etc), in trying desperately to keep the
peace and guarantee the flow of accurate information to you, the
reader/users. We must agree that all of us owe them a debt of gratitude
for the excellent job being done by them in keeping the information
as accurate and unbiased as humanly possible.
We, at STReport, wish to to take a moment to say thank you to the
folks who have expressed their appreciation of the "changes" to STReport.
To these folks especially and to everyone; may we assure you that we will
endeavor to continue along the lines we have embarked upon and that the
articles, reviews and essays will never be a mere "paragraph" and labeled
and article. The entire thrust of the "new" STReport is "originality" and
we believe we have ourselves on the right track. It is, in our opinion,
vital to the userbase to have the very latest news and information provided
to them in an unbiased and complete form but the reviews and essays must
take all sides of an issue into consideration, not just those of a favored
few. With this in mind, we actively encourage your participation in the
message bases on the services concerning your impressions of the current
events or reviews, Also, we welcome your comments in E-Mail and will, if
requested, publish contrasting or opposing views.
*************************************************************************
DELPHI INFORMATION SERVICES
===========================
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
-----------------
As a reader of ST Report Magazine, you are entitled to take advantage of
a special DELPHI membership offer. For only $29.95 ($20 off the standard
membership price!), you will receive a lifetime subscription to DELPHI, a
copy of the 500-page "DELPHI: The Official Guide," and a credit equal to
one free evening hour at standard connect rates.
Signing up with DELPHI
----------------------
Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access DELPHI
services via a local phone call.
Join--- DELPHI
--------------
1. Dial 617-576-0862 with any terminal or PC and modem (at 2400 bps, dial
576-2981).
2. At the Username prompt, type JOINDELPHI.
3. At the Password prompt enter STREPORT.
For more information, call DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005, or
at 617-491-3393 from within Massachusetts or from outside the U.S.
DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
**************************************************************************
CPU REPORT ½
============
Issue #6
By Michael Arthur
Remember When:
In 1985, the best advice given to a a new ST User was to drop their
ST onto a desk from a height of two inches once in a while in order to
reseat the chips on the motherboard?
CPU INSIGHTS¿
=============
Second Verse....Same as the First?
----------------------------------
In Issue 5 of CPU Report I recall that I mentioned that since that
issue was about IBM's MicroChannel, that a discussion about MS-DOS and
OS/2 would have to wait until another day. And since I discussed one of
IBM's replacements for their existing standards in previous issues, it is
only fitting that I discuss IBM's other emerging standard, OS/2, and an
alternative that might hinder its success....
When Microsoft introduced MS-DOS in 1981, one of its greatest
virtues was its support for an incredible (at that time) 640K of memory,
which was more than enough for any reasonable task. At that time, though,
Digital Research was offering M/PM, a multitasking version of C/PM, and
although it did not catch on, it caused many PC owners to desire that DOS
multitasked. And while rumors of a multitasking DOS persisted (often when
IBM/Microsoft was about to announce a new version of MS-DOS), nothing
became of them.
In 1984, these rumors surfaced yet again, when IBM was introducing
the IBM PC AT. By this time, as DOS programs had gotten larger and more
powerful, 640K of RAM was no longer the large amount of memory it used to
be, and PC users began to want support for more memory. This time, IBM
fueled the rumors by saying it was developing a new DOS that would fully
use the AT's abilities, foremost among which was the new 80286 chip.
At that time, QuarterDeck had come out with a program switcher called
Desq, and Digital Research was making Concurrent DOS, a program that could
multitask DOS programs. Although both programs used a windowing scheme,
as Concurrent DOS lacked essential features, and Desq didn't truly
multitask, they didn't become predominant.
But as time passed on, the "multitasking DOS" rumors were not
forfilled. Then, in 1986, Intel developed the 80386 chip, which featured
both an MMU chip and a virtual 8086 mode that allowed 8086 programs to
multitask. Seeing that the hardware was in place, many began to demand
that IBM provide the software to allow PC's to multitask.
Thus it was cause for celebration when IBM announced OS/2 along with
the PS/2 and MicroChannel in April 2, 1987. Just as promised, it used the
80286 chip's capabilities, supported up to 16 Megabytes of RAM, and most
importantly, multitasked. And although it didn't multitask DOS programs,
it did have a compatibility box to run them. But after the fanfare, some
flaws about OS/2 began to emerge that spoiled the good news.
OS/2: Trouble in Paradise
Now I am not talking about bugs, or inadequate features. I mean
mistakes made in the choice of its features themselves, more commonly
known as design flaws. And although OS/2 is a very powerful operating
system, with a task-switching algorithm/priority scheme that is more
sophisticated than Unix's, a vast array of facilities for InterProcess
Communications (or IPC's, which allow tasks, or processes, to communicate
with each other), and is, like the MicroChannel, based on previous
minicomputer technology, the fatal reality may be that OS/2's foundation
itself is not as sound as its many capabilities.
Foremost among these design flaws was the decision to support the
80286 chip, instead of the superior 80386 chip. The most obvious reason
is that the Virtual 8086 mode would allow a 386-specific OS/2 to multitask
both OS/2 and DOS programs at the same time. And as you may know, the
current situation (with the DOS Compatibility Box stopping all OS/2
programs while it runs only one DOS program at a time) has not been seen
as favorable. One of the other reasons deals with programming for OS/2.
The 80286 chip normally can only address 16-bit data segments that
are 64K in size. This is often a hindrance to programmers, especially
when writing large applications. In comparison, the 80386 chip supports
32-bit data segments that can be 4 Gigabytes in size. Also, one of the
main allures of OS/2 was the potential to port minicomputer applications
over to it so they could be run with microcomputers, and those programs
definitely use data segments larger than 64K....
Another problem with OS/2 is that it is far too large. OS/2 with the
Presentation Manager requires 2.5 Megs of RAM just for itself, and since
OS/2 programs are likely to be larger and more powerful, an OS/2 system
would probably require around 7 Megs of RAM for optimal performance. One
corollary to this problem is that as OS/2 itself is large, it is also very
slow. Disk access is 50 percent slower in OS/2 than with DOS, and it is
apparent that an OS/2 version of a program will tend to be slower than a
DOS version of the same program. It seems that either OS/2's algorithms
are not that optimized, or that OS/2 itself is simply so large that it
slows down the machine. And given the fact that versions of Unix for the
80386 don't slow the CPU down as much as OS/2, maybe it's just that the
80286 isn't capable of providing efficient multitasking....
Around the time that people were discovering the flaws in OS/2,
Microsoft Windows was introduced. Immediately IBM Users began wondering
when OS/2 would employ Windows, and IBM promised that a windowing OS/2
(now known as the Presentation Manager) would be available soon. But
while many IBM Users waited for the Presentation Manager, a few were
seeking other ways to obtain a windowing multitasking operating system
which would correct the handicaps found in OS/2.
OS/2 and DESQview
While IBM/Microsoft were developing OS/2, and the IBM industry
waited for a multitasking system, a company called Quarterdeck Office
Systems continued to improve and modify Desq, their old program switcher,
to remedy its deficiencies. When the 80386 chip was made, and IBM did not
modify OS/2 so it would support it (and as actual programming on OS/2 did
not start until Early 1985, while the 80386 was announced in Early 1986,
IBM could have done this), Quarterdeck began to dream of a new Desq, which
would not only multitask DOS programs but become almost an operating
system unto itself. Ironically, this product became available just a few
months before IBM had started shipping OS/2 1.0.
The product that emerged, renamed DESQview, was now capable of much
more than its predecessor. Not only did it utilize the 80386's virtual
mode to support multitasking, but the wizards at Quarterdeck were even
able to get it to perform DOS multitasking with the 80286, 8086, and 8088
chips, something which was considered completely impossible. And in
addition to this, DESQview only has about 1% of overhead, meaning that it
will run DOS programs about as fast as DOS itself, as well as being able
to multitask them. Microsoft Windows, on the other hand, takes up over
10 percent overhead for its environment.
DESQview also has support for the Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded
Memory Specification, or LIM EMS 4.0, so that it can handle up to 32 Megs
of RAM. And when used with a 80386, DESQview uses the 386's MMU (memory
management unit) to provide memory protection, so an "ill-behaved" program
doesn't crash or interfere with the system.
And seeing that any operating environment, even a DOS multitasker,
needs to have third-party support, Quarterdeck designed the DESQview API
(Application Program Interface) Toolkit, which allows programmers to
directly use DESQview's multitasking capabilities, as well as other things
found in a true operating system. The API lets applications use its IPC
facilities to exchange data between its own tasks and other DESQview-based
programs Also, since DESQview is a text-based windowing system, the API
lets programmers access its menuing and windowing routines to design
Macintosh-like features into DESQview-specific programs. Also, DESQview
supports PharLap's DOS Extender, which allows 386-specific DOS programs to
take full advantage of the 32-bit data segments of the 80386, be larger
than 640K, and multitask along with normal DOS programs. OS/2, in
comparison, does not yet support the features of the 80386....
But even though Desqview has so much going for it, there are a few
factors that give OS/2 a great advantage as an operating system in the
long run. One is that even though DESQview multitasks current DOS
programs, has guidelines to help make future DOS programs more powerful,
and will quickly support new technologies, it is working within an aging
standard, while OS/2 gives a newer, more sophisticated standard that was
built from the ground up for technologies such as multitasking.
A good example of this is OS/2's LAN Manager. Because Local Area
Networks (or LANs) are becoming very popular, and OS/2 is a single-user
operating system, IBM and Microsoft designed a LAN Manager for OS/2 which
would handle every aspect of LAN Management, from the sharing of resources
and data, to ensuring the LAN's smooth operation. Many LAN Makers are
producing handlers to let their networks be controlled by the LAN Manager,
and although DESQview will soon support some of the more popular LANs,
OS/2's LAN Manager provides the type of comprehensive organization of a
Network that only an operating system can perform. Also, DESQview's API,
while allowing DOS programs to have some features of OS/2, cannot provide
the same type of functionality that OS/2 is capable of, simply because
OS/2 was designed from the beginning to support the sophisticated features
that future programs will need....
Also, most major DOS companies are making OS/2 products NOW, meaning
that it will shortly have a vast software base. In comparison, while
major software companies are considering using DESQview's API for their
products, DESQview-specific software probably won't be seen until after
OS/2 software is readily available. Of course, since DESQview can already
multitask DOS software, this might not be that important. But combine all
this with the fact that both IBM and Microsoft are putting their united
support behind it, and OS/2 has a good chance of being an emerging
standard. But ONLY if one of its most grevious handicaps is corrected
immediately....
Most of the potential of OS/2 as a replacement for DOS will go
unrealized if programmers cannot use new technologies with it, and if
users cannot use it with new systems. IBM and Microsoft have announced
that they are finally developing a 386-specific version of OS/2 that will
take advantage of its capabilities. These included 32-bit data segments,
being able to multitask both OS/2 and DOS programs, and using the 80386's
special features for faster, more secure multitasking. However, this
version of OS/2, which should have been made in the first place, will not
be available until Late 1990. And it is reported that Intel is preparing
to shortly announce the new 80486 chip, which will replace the 80386 as
the state of the art. And assuming that IBM/Microsoft won't do an
80486-specific version of OS/2 until 1991, when Intel will probably be
announcing an 80586 chip, it is more than likely that OS/2 will never
truly be at the forefront of computer technology, as IBM tries to make it
catch up with the status quo of the high end of the market. And as other
products (such as DESQview or Unix) will definitely take advantage of new
technologies at a quicker pace, OS/2 could be overtaken by a system like
Unix. Unless, of course, Big Blue wishes otherwise....
With OS/2, IBM presented the final segment of its plans for the
microcomputer of the Nineties. The other two segments, the PS/2 and
MicroChannel, have also faced stern criticism and strong competition,
partly because of the industry's tendency to be cautious of new
technologies. But there are other startling similarities between the
MicroChannel's situation and OS/2's. In both cases, IBM offered a powerful
new standard which was vastly different from anything in its field, which
garnered a great deal of controversy in the IBM world. With the
MicroChannel, though, the criticisms were not centered on any inadequacies
or faults it had, but on whether the PC world can afford to completely
switch to a new standard. OS/2, though, has several deficiencies that
hamper its usefulness. And even though it is supposed to be the operating
system of the future, its inability to support state of the art products
such as the 80386 limits its being feasible in high-end systems, where it
would be most useful.
Also, unlike the EISA bus, there isn't anything wrong with DESQview,
making it a powerful alternative to OS/2. But even though DOS as an
operating system will be around for a very long time, the fact is that for
high-end users, DOS has already become obsolete. So at least for the high
end of the market, a sophisticated operating system such as OS/2 will be
needed. And even though Unix is a viable option, the dissention within
its own ranks could cause OS/2 to win by default. So is the real issue
whether IBM missed the fundamentals with OS/2, forgetting the little
things that make a product popular in striving to make a more powerful
system, or how seriously did they misjudge the needs of average IBM Users?
But ponder, if you will, on these two questions:
1) When referring to all types of computers (whether being micros, minis,
or workstations), is this mostly an IBM world that we live in?
2) How DOES the Amiga's Operating system work, anyway?
----======***======----
CPU REPORT CONFIDENTIAL¿
=======================
Mountain View, CA Hunter Systems Inc. has introduced a new product for
----------------- 68020 Unix systems called XDOS. This software is
able to convert the binary code of an MS-DOS program
into 68020 binary code that is runnable under the
Unix operating system.
Houston, TX Motorola's new 68040 chip is almost ready. Features
----------- of the new chip include a built-in floating point
unit and 64-bit processing, and speeds of 40 MHZ and
above.
Motorola plans to begin giving samples of the chip
in the Second Quarter of 1989, and to start shipping
it in the Fourth Quarter. Cost: $750 to $900 in
commercial lots. Ref: 1/16/89 Electronic Buyers News¿
Westlake Village, CA YARC Systems is shipping McCray, a coprocessor card
-------------------- that allows the Mac II to run at over 50 MHZ. Using
AMD's 29000 processor and 29027 floating point chip,
applications can run up to 10 times faster than a
normal Mac II. Furthermore, if you installed more
than one of the $4295.00 boards in a Mac II, they
would work in parallel, further increasing speed.
Ontario, Canada ISD Marketing is said to be preparing to ship both
--------------- the MS-DOS/GEM and Amiga versions of Calamus by the
Second Quarter of 1989.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STonehenge
Atari ST Memory Expansion Alternative.
Contact: Ron Schreiner (312) 520-8003
A solid state disk drive for the Atari ST is now available
as a kit from RONSAT Technologies Inc. The STonehenge
kit, based on an "Application Specific Integrated Circuit"
(ASIC), emulates a hard disk by interfacing the ST's DMA
port with a block of DRAM.
The STonehenge advantages over internal memory expansion
include; ability to utilize lower cost 200 nano second
DRAM parts; memory expansion in 256KB increments (8
DRAMs/bank); does not depend on the ST's power supply;
it's external, you don't take your ST apart; data is
preserved even though a ST power cycle.
When the kit is fully assembled it provides up to 2 meg of
very fast external storage. If you need more than 2 meg,
the DMA pass thru feature can be utilized to daisy chain
more kits or mechanical hard drives.
Software developers will find that STonehenge's speed and
after crash data integrity make it a very attractive place
to keep their development tools. Animators will enjoy
STonehenge's ability to sequence image files at animation
rates.
The STonehenge kit priced at $169.95 includes;
a. STonehenge ASIC,
b. Double sided PCB,
c. 20MHZ crystal,
d. DB-19 connector,
e. Documentation,
f. Software,
g. PGA socket for the ASIC.
The Documentation and Software can be ordered separately
for $10.00 (refundable with future purchase).
The builder of the kit must provide the DRAMs, a 5V 2A
power supply, and a few miscellaneous components that are
readily available from electronic suppliers.
Additional support kits that provide all the components
are also available.
For more information or to order contact Ron Shreiner
at Technologies Inc.
Voice: (312) 520-8003 Modem: (312) 520-7812
Orders placed by modem receive a 5% discount.
Dial-in (312) 520-7812, hit carriage return
<return or enter> until "Login: " is the prompt
then enter "info"<return>.
VISA/MASTER card now accepted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
STR Features¿
------------
FALCON F-16
===========
Part III
by William Y. Baugh
Falcon is a fantastic new program from Spectrum Holobyte that
incorporates solid 3-D graphics and speed to make the ultimate in flight
simulators for the ST.
From the start, the game presents the feeling of being enrolled at Top
Gun. You start by selecting an appropriate name for yourself in the Duty
Roster section, something a new hot-shot pilot would be proud of, then move
on to the rank and mission selection. You have five rankings to choose
from, the reality level increasing as the ranks get higher. The ranks are,
First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lt. Colonel and Colonel. The First
Lieutenant ranking is the training level where you can learn and perform the
missions without worrying about running out of weapons or fuel and being
shot at or shot down. As Captain, unlike First Lieutenant, you have to
worry about fuel and weapons, but the MIG's can only fire their guns, no
missiles and SAM's will launch but will not lock on to your plane. As you
progress from Major to Lt. Colonel, more and more features are added until
the actual feel and problems of flying a F16 are culminated at Colonel
level.
The missions are well planned and thought out. Difficulty increases as
you move down the listing and as your ranking gets higher. The missions
range from bombing three buidings 3 miles from your base to taking on one,
two and even four MIG's! There are twelve missions in all, each building
upon the experience gained from the previous mission. Doing the missions in
order is recommended at the beginning to understand each specific weapon and
to familiarize yourself with the "lay of the land" as well as your
Governments fighter. Training is a must, because the Brass does not take
kindly to you crashing one of their "borrowed" jets. Also from this area
you may select how many MIG's will be on the screen at one time (from 0-3).
This option is great for the novice, since it is bad enough having one MIG
on your six, let alone three.
From the mission selection area, you procede to the Armament section where
you get to meet the ever present, crusty crew chief, Sarge. From Sarge you
procure the needed weapons for your mission. Depending upon the ranking and
other factors, there may be very few or none of the weapons you desire. The
F16 has, as all planes do, a weight limit. This limit effects the selection
and amount of weapons you carry on a mission. As stated before, First
Lieutenants need not worry about weaponry. You start with an unlimited
supply of every weapon available to allow you to concentrate on the missions
and the plane with no extraneous concerns. At the higher levels, the
distribution of weight becomes critical to the flying abilities of your
fighter, so listen to the remarks from Sarge...he's been around much longer
than you.
Weapons available to you are the M61-A1 Vulcan internal cannon thatis
initially armed with 5000 rounds and may be used in air-to-air battles or
air-to-ground strafing. Two sidewinders are offered, the AIM 9J and 9L
series. Both are heat-seeking missiles, the only difference between the two
is that the 9L series are more advanced with filters to screen out other
heat sources (such as flares) and need not be fired at the MIG's six.
Another missile, the AGM-65B are optically guided missiles with TV cameras
in the nose of the missile to aid in locking onto a target. These missiles
are used for air-to-ground strikes only. The last two weapons are bombs,
the Mk 84 2000lb Drag Bomb and the Durandal Anti-Runway Bomb. Following the
weapons are first an ALQ-131 ECM (Electronc Counter Measure) pod that allows
the pilot to try and jam the radar of incoming SAM missiles and second,
external fuel tanks for extra fuel if it is needed for a long mission.
Now for the fun part. After clicking on takeoff from the Armament
section, you are presented with the view from the cockpit with the HUD
(Heads-up display) prominently displayed in the middle of the screen. The
HUD is like another window inside of the cockpit window that aids the pilot
in tracking enemy planes, landing, etc. The HUD is one of the most
important and functional features of the F16. It displays almost all of the
needed information directly in front of the pilot. There are eight
different HUD's, each for a specific weapon or the ILS for landing purposes.
The primary discretes found in each of the eight HUD's are as follows;
airspeed indicator, altimeter, flight path ladder aiming reticle and the
heading scale. These functions must be monitored at all times for
successfull flying. Below the HUD are the actual gauges such as RPM,
attitude indicator and threat warning system. In the center of the screen
is the COMED (Combined maps/electronics display). This allows the pilot to
view either the radar screen or an overhead map of the entire mission area.
Also when using the AGM-65 Mavericks, the optical targeting is shown through
the COMED screen. Changing the view from left to right will display more
guages such as fuel and warning lights.
All of the commands are entered through the keyboard. Actual flying can
be accomplished by mouse, joystick or the keyboard. Most people seem to
prefer either joystick or keyboard. The mouse is too cumbersome to actually
be useful, especially in a dogfight. When the ESC key is pressed, a menu
bar appears. From here, all options of the simulator may be chosen. You
have the option to either have full landscape down to only having "dots" or
no features at all. Sounds may be restricted to just weapon and engine
start-up to continuous engine to no sound. Differing training maneuvers may
also be selected to get hands on experience or to practice if you are
rusty.
One of the nicest features of the program is the ability to choose how the
fighter is viewed. You have the front, right, left and rear views from the
cockpit along with a view from the tower. Also there is an "out of cockpit"
view that shows the F16 from the rear. The view may be panned from right to
left and also zoomed. The final view is from a satellite that is directly
above the plane. This view may also be zoomed. These differing views can
give you great detail of an ongoing battle, or just be enjoyed while flying
along.
Once airborne, the true realism and meticulous programming shines. The
3-D scaling of the mountains, bridges, enemy planes and SAM sites is
amazing. There is absolutley no jerking or large scale pixel movement;
only smooth and even scrolling. The response of the fighter is smooth and
fast. There is no lag time in responding to joystick or keyboard commands.
This becomes very important during bombing runs where minute movements are
needed to line up properly on to dogfights where every second counts. Every
option and control available to an actual pilot is at your disposal. Most
of these are weapon oriented and aid greatly in the heat of a dogfight. For
example, snapshoot (a line from the reticle that shows where your bullets
will hit if fired that instant, this changes with speed and degree of turn)
and LCOS (Lead Computing Optical Sight) are available when using the
M61-A1.
The only minor problem I have found is when using AGM-65 optical aiming
system, the computer seeems to have a problem locking on to the specific
target. It seems to want to veer off to either side. This causes problems
in that you must lock-on and clear the target multiple times while diving at
the target, most of the times with a MIG hot on your six. Other than this,
the other weaponry is spectacular! Watching an AIM 9L scream towards a MIG,
or watching from the rear view a Mk 84 punching craters in the cantilever
bridge is very impressive. This is the first simulator I've ever seen that
not only does a decent explosion when a target is hit, it actually shows
craters in the ground if you missed, pieces of the bridge or building still
remaining if the hit was not solid and having MIG's flame all the way to the
ground rather than having them dissappear with the initial explosion. These
features along with digitized voices for warnings, cautions (a little
odd...), pull-up warning and the tower crew add so much to the enjoyment of
the game.
Unlike Jet (From Sublogic), the only scoring given is on final completion
of your mission. Whatever was listed in your mission briefing must have
been accomplished and to get the maximum points, you must land safely. I
think landing is the most difficult aspect of the entire game. I'll have
survived completion of the mission, shot down three MIG's to only end up
crashing on the runway or running off the end of it and be court-martialed.
Landing with the ILS HUD helps, but on higher levels, you start on your
approach only to have a MIG appear on your six. You can't ignore him, so
you must engage (if you have the fuel to do so). Once on the ground,
selecting "End mission" from the menu will take you to a screen that
displays the number of merits and ribbons (if any) that were earned. Also
along the bottom are the number of MIG's that you have shot down.
The only other problem I have run across is when using SH's code wheel.
This is the protection scheme for the game. You have a large stationary
wheel, with a smaller inner wheel that turns. On the wheels are icons that
you must pair up to get the letter code from one of six boxes. The problem
arises when trying to figure out which icon the program is asking for,
because the resolution is not the same on the color monitor as on the code
wheel. If you choose wrong the first time, you get another chance with
another pair of icons. If you inadvertantly choose wrong the program will
execute anyway. This isn't apparent until you are flying and suddenly are
plastered by a mystery MIG that you can't see or shake. The code wheel
isn't too difficult and after playing a few times, it becomes second
nature.
If you enjoy flight simulators, or haven't even tried one before, this
program is for you. The documentation, programming and the shear enjoyment
of playing this simulation makes it a must for any ST owner. Check it out,
I don't think you'll be dissappointed...and remember, watch your six.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
STR Review¿
==========
CALAMUS
=======
A preliminary overview
by R.F. Mariano
Through the course of the next three weeks we will present an ongoing
view of the fantastic features of this "very professional" program.
Calamus uses the most advanced programming technology available
today. The producers of Calamus have pledged to the userbase a system of
continual advancement of the software on almost a daily basis. (Now that
is refreshing news!) In fact, ISD has promised the finest kind of support
to it's registered users.
Until now, in order to produce truly professional looking documents,
proposals, handbooks, catalogs and most any type of presentable
documents ranging from one to hundreds of pages one was forced to use more
than program to accomplish similar results (if at all). Calamus is the
answer to obtaining oustanding results without having to resort to using a
myriad of different graphics and text processing programs to achieve the
"professional" quality appearance all of us desire.
Calamus is not copy protected, but each copy of Calamus has a unique
and indestructable serial number that is kept on file. When you wish to
order additiional fonts for your copy of Calamus, they must be installed
against your serial number and that can only be done in house. In contrast
to Calamus itself the fonts are protected. They can only be used with the
program they were issued against. A registered user may order any number
of new fonts from ISD as they become available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL¿
======================
> Richfield, MI ***** PHREAKER - HACKER - PIRATE POPPED! *****
-----------
The now infamous Elwood who disrupted a CIS conference has suffered
the loss of ALL his computer equipment, records, disks and the BBS he ran
(The Crypt) is now defunct. While serving the Search Warrant investigators
remarked "we are gonna need a truck"! The Warrant alledges that he was
monitored hacking out illegal L/D codes by Michigan Bell for MCI. The
seizure of the computer and all the related equipment and materials owned
by Elwood is all that has occured, he has not been formally charged in any
wrong doing yet. It appears the entire matter came about because of an
anonymous tipster or so the Search Warrant declares.
> New York, NY **** ATARI STOCK MELLOWS ****
------------
According to the most recent tables available, the rate for the Atari
Stock is at 5.25....in my humble opinion, this is the time to buy up a tidy
sum. Rumor has it that Garry sold a bunch of his...
> Ontario, Canada ***** ISD BROADENS IT'S OFFERING *****
---------------
It looks like ISD Marketing of Ontario Canada, the people who
market Calamus, are IMPORTING "Laser Brain" (the Epson FX-80 emulator
from Germany) in the next few weeks. It's good to see a company willing
to look ahead to the future and support the ST.
> Los Angeles, CA **** TOS 1.4 HAS THE HOOKS! ****
---------------
When your favorite programmer decides to write a handler to read
partitions larger than 16mb, TOS 1.4 (the release version) will be ready
for the job. Indirectly, it has been made known that the hooks are in at
this time and all the rough edges are being smoothed.
> Sunnyvale, CA *** ATARI SEZ: "NOTHING ON TRADE-IN DEALS ...YET" ***
-------------
A Rumor has been circulating that Atari is about to begin a trade in
program involving 8bit equipment, 800XL, 130XE etc...against the purchase
of ST computers. At this point in time, Atari has NEITHER denied nor
verified the rumor...our opinion is it would be a terrific promotion and an
excellent way to kick off the "1989 - ATARI'S QUEST". Not to mention all
the 8 bit gear that will be available for sale "behind the curtain" in
the eastern bloc nations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BITS, BAUD RATE, AND BPS
Taking the "Mystery" Out of Modem Speeds
by Michael A. Banks
(Copyright, 1988, Michael A. Banks. All rights reserved.)
Modem transmission speed is the source of a lot of confusion, even
among informed computer and modem users. The root of the problem
is the fact that the terms "baud" and "bits per second" are used
interchangeably and indiscriminately. I strongly suspect this is a result
of the fact that it's easier to say "baud" than "bits per second," though
misinformation has a hand in it, too.
If you've found yourself confused by the relationship of bits and
baud rate, or if you think that a modem's baud rate is the same as the
number of bits or characters it transmits per second, please read this
article carefully; I guarantee to clear up the confusion and disabuse you
of any false concepts ...
Bits per second (bps)
Bits per second is a measure of the number of data bits (digital 0's
and 1's) transmitted each second in a communications channel. This is
sometimes referred to as "bit rate."
Individual characters (letters, numbers, etc.), also referred to as
bytes, are composed of several bits.
While a modem's bit rate is tied to its baud rate, the two are not
the same, as explained below.
Baud rate
Baud rate is a measure of the number of times per second a signal in
a communications channel varies, or makes a transition between states
(states being frequencies, voltage levels, or phase angles). One baud is
one such change. Thus, a 300-baud modem's signal changes state 300 times
each second, while a 600- baud modem's signal changes state 600 times per
second. This does not necessarily mean that a 300-baud and a 600-baud
modem transmit 300 and 600 bits per second, as you'll learn in a few
lines.
Determining bits per second
Depending on the modulation technique used, a modem can transmit one
bit--or more or less than one bit--with each baud, or change in state. Or,
to put it another way, one change of state can transmit one bit--or more
or less than one bit.
As I mentioned earlier, the number of bits a modem transmits per
second is directly related to the number of bauds that occur each second,
but the numbers are not necessarily the same.
To illustrate this, first consider a modem with a baud rate of 300,
using a transmission technique called FSK (Frequency Shift Keying, in
which four different frequencies are turned on and off to represent
digital 0 and 1 signals from both modems). When FSK is used, each baud
(which is, a gain, a change in state) transmits one bit; only one change
in state is required to send a bit. Thus, the modem's bps rate is also
300:
300 bauds per second X 1 bit per baud = 300 bps
Similarly, if a modem operating at 1200 baud were to use one change
in state to send each bit, that modem's bps rate would be 1200. (There
are no 1200 baud modems, by the way; remember that. This is only a
demonstrative and hypothetical example.)
Now, consider a hypothetical 300-baud modem using a modulation
technique that requires two changes in state to send one bit, which can
also be viewed as 1/2 bit per baud. Such a modem's bps rate would be 150
bps:
300 bauds per second X 1/2 baud per bit = 150 bps
To look at it another way, bits per second can also be obtained by
dividing the modem's baud rate by the number of changes in state, or
bauds, required to send one bit:
300 baud
--------------- = 150 bps
2 bauds per bit
Now let's move away from the hypothetical and into reality, as it
exists in the world of modulation.
First, lest you be misled into thinking that "any 1200 baud modem"
should be able to operate at 2400 bps with a two-bits-per- baud modulation
technique, remember that I said there are no 1200 baud modems. Medium
and high-speed modems use baud rates that are lower than their bps rates.
Along with this, however, they use multiple-state modulation to send more
than one bit per baud.
For example, 1200 bps modems that conform to the Bell 212A standard
(which includes most 1200 bps modems used in the U.S.) operate at 300 baud
and use a modulation technique called phase modulation that transmits four
bits per baud. Such modems are capable of 1200 bps operation, but not 2400
bps because they are not 1200 baud modems; they use a baud rate of 300.
So:
300 baud X 4 bits per baud = 1200 bps
or
300 baud
------------------ = 1200 bps
1/4 baud per bit
Similarly, 2400 bps modems that conform to the CCITT V.22
recommend (virtually all of them) actually use a baud rate of 600 when
they operate at 2400 bps. However, they also use a modulation technique
that transmits four bits per baud:
600 baud X 4 bits per baud = 2400 bps
or
600 baud
------------------ = 2400 bps
1/4 baud per bit
Thus, a 1200-bps modem is not a 1200-baud modem, nor is a 2400-bps
modem a 2400-baud modem.
Now let's take a look at 9600-bps modems. Most of these operate at
2400 bps, but (again) use a modulation technique that yields four bits per
baud. Thus:
2400 baud X 4 bits per baud = 9600 bps
or
2400 baud
------------------ = 9600 bps
1/4 baud per bit
Characters per second (cps)
Characters per second is the number of characters (letters, numbers,
spaces, and symbols) transmitted over a communications channel in one
second. Cps is often the bottom line in rating data transmission speed,
and a more convenient way of thinking about data transfer than baud- or
bit-rate.
Determining the number of characters transmitted per second is easy:
simply divide the bps rate by the number of bits per character. You must
of course take into account the fact that more than just the bits that
make up the binary digit representing a character are transmitted when a
character is sent from one system to another. In fact, up to 10 bits may
be transmitted for each character during ASCII transfer, whether 7 or 8
data bits are used. This is because what are called start- and stop-bits
are added to characters by a sending system to enable the receiving system
to determine which groups of bits make up a character. In addition, a
system usually adds a parity bit during 7-bit ASCII transmission. (The
computer's serial port handles the addition of the extra bits, and all
extra bits are stripped out at the receiving end.)
So, in asynchronous data communication, the number of bits per
character is usually 10 (either 7 data bits, plus a parity bit, plus a
start bit and a stop bit, or 8 data bits plus a start bit and a stop bit).
Thus:
300 bps
----------------------- = 30 characters per second
10 bits per character
1200 bps
----------------------- = 120 characters per second
10 bits per character
2400 bps
----------------------- = 240 characters per second
10 bits per character
Common speeds
The most commonly used communications rates for dial up systems
(BBSs and online services like CompuServe, DELPHI, and GEnie) are 300,
1200, and 2400 bps. A few older systems-- especially Telex systems
communicate at 110 bps, but these are gradually going the way of the
dinosaur. 4800 and 9600 bps modems are generally available, but few
online services or BBSs accommodate them. This will be changing in the
near future, however, with the cost of high-speed modem technology
decreasing as the demand for it increases.
Modems with even higher bps rates are manufactured (19,200 and up)
but these are not used with dial-up systems; the upper limit on
asynchronous data transmission via voice-grade telephone lines appears to
be 9600 bps. The use of higher transmission rates requires special
dedicated lines that are "conditioned" (i.e., shielded from outside
interference) as well as expensive modulation and transmission equipment.
#
If you found this article useful, you may want to pick up a copy of
the book from which it was excerpted:
THE MODEM REFERENCE
by Michael A. Banks
Published by Brady Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN # 0-13-586646-4 $19.95
In addition to explaining the technical aspects of modem operation,
communications software, data links, and other elements of computer
communications, the book provides detailed, illustrated "tours" of major
online services such as UNISON, CompuServe, DELPHI, BIX, Dow Jones
News/Retrieval, MCI Mail, and others. It also contains information on
using packet switching networks and BBSs, as well as dial-up numbers for
various networks and BBSs.
You'll also find hands-on guides to buying, setting up, using, and
troubleshooting computer communications hardware and software. (And the
book "supports" all major microcomputer brands.)
For more information, contact:
Michael A. Banks
P.O. Box 312
Milford, OH 45150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last update 10/30/88
--------
OFFICIAL ST REPORT BBS LIST
===========================
This is the OFFICIAL STReport BBS list. This will be updated constantly
and published quarterly.
Please call and support these systems. If you are not on any of the pay
services, call these boards and pass the word.
We appreciate each and every BBS listed here and express our sincere
thanks for their ongoing support.
Reg No. Area Phone Number BBS Name State
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
------------------------------------------------------------
STR001 - 904 786-4176 The Bounty ST BBS Florida
STR002 - 216 784-0574 Stairway To Heaven Ohio
STR003 - 312 690-3724 Lions Den Chicago
STR004 - 609 451-7475 C.C.B.B.S. New Jersey
STR005 - 219 223-8107 Manitou BBS Indiana
STR006 - 718 648-0947 Dateline BBS New York
STR007 - 718 604-3323 New York City BBS New York
STR008 - 301 437-9813 Ratcom BBS Maryland
STR009 - 916 962-2566 Shadow Haven BBS California
STR010 - 918 835-5198 Tektron BBS Oklahoma
STR011 -
STR012 - 201 298-0161 J.A.C.G. BBS New Jersey
STR013 -
STR014 -
STR015 - 305 747-9196 Alternate Universe Florida
STR016 - 813 821-3188 ST Petersburg PO Florida
STR017 - 505 897-4306 Asylum BBS New Mexico
STR018 - 808 423-3140 Wonderful World of Oz Hawaii
STR019 - 219 674-9288 M.O.U.S.E. BBS Indiana
STR020 - 404 945-6021 Buford Byte Size Georgia
STR021 - 813 726-3449 Harbor Lights BBS Florida
STR022 - 912 244-1726 Talisman BBS Georgia
STR023 - 617 674-8361 Westport! BBS Mass.
STR024 - 817 444-3023 Rivendale BBS Texas
STR025 -
STR026 - 315 638-8569 The D.E.N. New York
STR027 - 505 525-0388 Atari C.A.L.C. New Mexico
STR028 - 201 723-0824 Wild West BBS New Jersey
STR029 - 216 758-0284 Command Headquarters Ohio
STR030 - 707 252-0631 Irata California
STR031 - 617 675-8503 S.W.A.T. Mass.
STR032 - 703 560-6318 The Ark Virginia
STR033 - 615 665-1217 Vanishing Point Tennessee
STR034 - 301 967-2207 Orion Connection Maryland
STR035 - 207 784-0631 M.A.C.H. BBS Maine
STR036 - 516 698-7456 WQNR BBS New York
STR037 - 713 923-7392 W.A.S.T.E. BBS Texas
STR038 - 504 244-0768 Milliways BBS Louisiana
STR039 - 617 586-8840 Lost Byte Mass.
STR040 - 303 796-0539 The Vault Colorado
STR041 - 404 796-3805 Garden City Oasis Georgia
STR042 - 609 939-6247 Satelite BBS New Jersey
STR043 - 206 848-3371 The Reef Washington
STR044 - 816 761-2190 Elysium BBS Missouri
STR045 - 315 454-9612 Atari Hotel New York
STR046 - 212 617-0153 The Bunker New York
STR047 - 201 247-8252 E.B.B.B.S. New Jersey
STR048 - 402 466-5339 Griffon's Nest Nebraska
STR049 - 011 494-12997 Kisa Monitron Sweden (46)
STR050 - 011 0340-51117 First Star Sweden (46)
STR051 - 718 253-8602 Outsiders New York
STR052 - 805 773-5907 Hot Rodders California
STR053 - 203 776-9723 New Haven BBS Conneticut
STR054 - 502 964-2964 Bargain Basement Kentucky
STR055 - 609 931-3014 Gateway New Jersey
STR056 - 602 846-7357 Network 23 Arizona
STR057 - 313 547-0440 Cosmic Stompers Michigan
STR058 - 804 379-4156 Midnight Express Virginia
STR059 - 314 647-3290 Gateway City BBS Missouri
STR060 - 312 457-2219 Bluemoon BBS Illinois
STR061 - 617 625-5348 Mall Five Opus Mass.
STR062 - 312 430-4234 Runequest BBS Illinois
STR063 - 205 772-8526 Bloom County BBS Alabama
STR064 - 205 461-7893 H.A.U.G. BBS Alabama
STR065 - 812 985-2083 West Terrace BBS Indiana
STR066 - 502 778-9846 WAEL Kentucky
STR067 - 502 964-2924 Atari Scene Kentucky
STR068 - 614 471-8559 ACEC BBS Ohio
STR069 - 614 471-9209 Pandora BBS Ohio
STR070 - 918 251-5450 Help BBS Oklahoma
STR071 - 716 875-7376 Bates Motel New York
STR072 - 516 884-4140 Ol' Hackers BBS New York
STR073 - 203 443-5200 Phantasmal Alchemy Conneticut
STR074 - 402 466-5339 S.T.U.N.N. BBS Nebraska
STR075 - 201 929-9351 CoaSTline BBS New Jersey
STR076 - 703 665-0087 Infonet BBS Virginia
STR077 - 201 388-1676 White House BBS New Jersey
STR078 - 616 245-8259 Exte Michigan
STR079 - 404 968-4380 Dark Crypt Georgia
STR080 - 601 388-3490 C.A.U.U.G. BBS Mississippi
STR081 - 601 374-0709 Irata II Mississippi
STR082 - 612 522-2687 T.A.I.G. BBS Minnesota
STR083 - 219 336-3774 Pipeline BBS Indiana
STR084 -
STR085 - 808 261-2184 Muskrats Den Hawaii
STR086 - 507 60-0530 BugBBS Panama
STR087 - 219 875-8205 One Stone BBS Indiana
STR088 -
STR089 - 305 734-6026 Atari Computer Club Florida
STR090 - 216 441-3816 Mega Vision BBS Ohio
STR091 - 419 289-8392 Balloon Works Inc Ohio
STR092 -
STR093 - 011 470-22183 Sorman Information Sweden (46)
STR094 - 206 631-8056 Knotts Nook BBS Washington
STR095 - 312 889-1240 C.L.A.U.G. BBS Illinois
STR096 - 915 757-0788 House of Chance Texas
STR097 - 714 653-0447 Thunderbeast California
STR098 - 203 445-4094 Spiders Web BBS Conneticut
STR099 - 219 693-3485 Acorn BBS Indiana
STR100 - 606 271-1466 Missing Link BBS South Dakota
STR101 - 704 253-3614 Office BBS No. Carolina
STR128 - 805 239-8710 The LookOut BBS California
STR129 - 201 286-6189 AtlantiST New Jersey
STR130 - 201 271-8765 Great Fire Breather New Jersey
STR131 - 918 622-1121 Future City BBS Oklahoma
STR132 - 805 872-0377 Home Bace California
STR133 - 201 752-9466 Piscataway Express New Jersey
STR134 - 718 373-4669 Blue BBS New York
STR135 - 216 376-7618 Rubber City Atari Ohio
STR136 - 317 243-2177 Dog House BBS Indiana
STR137 - 907 338-5005 Public DOmain BBS Alaska
STR138 - 309 797-5926 Checkmate BBS Illinois
STR139 - 707 437-6366 Elsinore Brewery California
STR140 - 602 435-9645 Think Tank Arizona
STR141 - 813 823-1471 MegaPlex BBS Florida
STR142 - 314 696-3506 AHE***BBS Missouri
STR143 - 201 343-1426 Launch Pad BBS New Jersey
STR144 - 416 648-8359 19th Hole BBS Ontario, Can.
STR146 - 213 631-7328 L.B.C.S. BBS California
STR147 - 314 581-3801 Brickyard BBS Missouri
STR148 - 215 289-5247 Star Fleet Command Pennsylvania
STR149 - 201 938-6906 Starbase I New Jersey
STR150 - 805 929-1624 My House California
STR151 -
STR152 - 816 637-6163 Schwarzer Drache Missouri
STR153 - 201 689-4550 Kilroy's Castle New Jersey
STR154 - 415 565-9742 Eagle BBS California
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Please help us keep this list up to date, it will be made available on a
regular basis for verification. If you have any additions or deletions to
make, please let us know at the BOUNTY 904-786-4176 or, in E-Mail to ST
Report on any of the major services.
Thank you for your continued support!
Ralph......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS WEEK'S 'QUOTABLE QUOTE'
============================
Law of Satisfaction
===================
"WHAT GOES AROUND........COMES AROUND!!"
"1989 - ATARI'S QUEST"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ST-REPORT¿Issue #72 "Your Independent News Source" January 30, 1989
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ½ copyright 1989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those
of ST Report¿ or CPU Report¿. Reprint permission granted, unless noted
otherwise. All reprints must include ST Report or CPU Report and the
author's name. All information presented herein is believed correct, ST
Report or CPU Report, it's editors and staff are not responsible for
any use or misuse of information contained in this publication.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
