🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec30.193133.3446@cid.aes.doe.CA>, ynecgan@cid.aes.doe.CA (Greg Neill) writes:
> 
> Hello,
>   I am having some trouble with my communications software under
> Windows.  I have tried XTALK as well as the TERMINAL program that comes
> with Windows, and both show symptoms of not being able to keep up with a
> 9600 baud interface.  The hardware platform is a '386DX at 33MHZ with an
> internal Hayes 9600 baud modem.
> 
>   Typically if, say, a full page of output is being received, then
> portions (whole lines) will be missing.  Refreshing the page
> (retransmitting it) sometimes works, but most often there are other
> 'holes' left in the data.  Looks suspiciously like a buffering problem.
> 
>   So what gives?  Is it the software?  Is Windows sucking so much CPU
> that my machine can't handle 9600 baud transfers?  
> 
>   Maybe someone can recommend a NON Windows communications package?
>  

I have successfully used a 14,400 baud fax/modem under windows, while
multi-tasking other semi-CPU intensive apps (Word 2.0, Lotus 4 win, XTGold).
I have had no problems like the one you describe.  I am using a 386-40 with
4MB RAM, and Windows 3.1.  My comm program is PC-Plus for Windows.  A friend
of mine using the same exact setup with a different modem and different
m/b manufacturer (still 386-40 though) cannot do this, he drops characters
as you describe.  The only explanation I can think of is that my modem uses
the new 16550 UART chip and his has the older 16450 UART chip.  You might
check this on your modem (if it's internal).  If it's a 16450, you are out
of luck.  However, if you have an external modem, you should be able
to replace the UART chip on your I/O card with the 16550 for about $12.
The 16450 only has a 1-byte buffer, whereas the 16550 has 8 or 10 byte buffer,
I don't recall which, that seems to solve this problem.  The only other
thing I could think of is that the 33Mhz is somewhat slower than the 40Mhz that 
I use, so it could be bogging down more.  9600 baud is a substatial 
transfer rate, and it requires constant attention to catch all the characters,
and/or a larger buffer than 1-byte (hardware buffer).

I don't think that using a DOS-based comm program under Windows will help,
it will probably actually hurt your chances of multi-tasking while downloading.

-Jason Worley