🚀 go-pugleaf

Eric Hobbs asks:

>     I am a two-and-one-half month new user of an Atari STfm. The VT52
>emulator that came with it puzzles me. This may sound like a trivial
>question to a ST experts out there, but what does this accessory do,
>and how do I use it???
>What is it capable of? 
>
>I have no manual for it so any responses would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm trying to remember, but I don't think my ST came with any documentation
for the VT-52 emulator ACC either...
 
Essentially, all it does is let the ST emulate a DEC (Digital Equipment Co)
terminal.  The VT-52 terminal is a fairly standard unit,  and the ST itself
uses VT-52 commands for a lot of its screen handling.
 
When you click on the VT-52 ACCessory, your ST becomes a VT-52 terminal.  You
can send and receive text through a modem connected to the serial port of
the ST.  If the computer you're connected to can send VT-52 "escape codes",
your screen will act just like a real VT-52 terminal.
 
If you have an autodial modem connected to the ST, you can send it's commands
by just typing them on the screen, for example  ATZ to reset it, or 
ATD5551212 to dial it.
 
Unfortunately, ALL the VT-52 emulator can do is send and receive text.
(As indeed a real VT-52 terminal does...)  It CANNOT "upload or download"
programs to your ST from CompuServe or local BBSs, it can't "capture" text
and save it to your disk, and it can't maintain a "phone directory" of
numbers to call automatically.
 
The VERY best thing to do with the VT-52 emulator is to put it back into your
disk case, and say "Hmmm.. that was interesting", then go out and buy
a commercial terminal program like FLASH from Antic (they're running some
kinds of deals on it now), or Interlink from Intersect Software. (There
are also Public Domain programs like UniTerm an VanTerm available)
 
These programs are LIGHT YEARS beyond the VT-52 emulator, and give you far
more features (truly useful features...)
 
Actually it was kind of nice for Atari to have included the VT-52 emulator
with the ST, as it helped to demonstrate another facet of the ST's usefulness
But...  to do anything really useful, you need to move on to something more
capable...
 
BobR