Date   : Thu, 13 May 1993 09:59:45 BST
From   : "M.J.Ebourne" <M.J.Ebourne@...>
Subject: screens and modems and stuff

> Horizontal resolution increase I too don't think can be done. If my A User
> Guide is correct, there is no way to increase the video clock rate further.
> You can squeeze a few extra characters on the edges tho! :-) (I think I got
> mode 0 up to 86 characters before it gave up).

Indeed.. Not a lot of use though...

> I like your colour idea Mark! With two mode 0 screens flipped between, one
> red, one green, that at least gives 4 colours for the same res. I'm not sure
> whether this would look better with interlace on or off, off I guess?

Sounds interesting... I should imagine most of this is giving some pretty
horrible flicker though...

> The new version still does not handle shrunk or reduced files, but as these
> will now be even RARER with deflation on the rise, I have even less
inclination
> to implement them now! :-)

Oh, definately... Anyone with any sense uses deflate... Amazing compression
ratios...

> >MNP2 is pretty sad tho'...although I suppose its the only level before its
> People.... Should I even bother with MNP2? Or should I go straight to
> V.42 with additional hardware? It is true that MNP2 is not a patch on V.42,
> and it is ALSO true that it may not even work with V.42bis on most modems.
> I'm inclined to just go for the big one! :-)

MNP2? Bin it... Go straigt for V42... Much nicer. (Even better V42bis. :-))

> >We should be launching a PD viewdata terminal of a very advanced nature
soon,
> >no doubt Martin Ebourne will tell you all about it...MARTIN!...
> >Basically, should cope with baud rates up to AT LEAST 38400, mouse
controlled
> >windows, scrolling (continously updated) information bar, xmodem(-1k),
Ymodem

Yeah, well, erm, basically it'll be nice 'n fast & very trendy... :-)
Just like the host really. :-)

> Very nice indeed! Viewdata is all but forgotten in NZ unfortunately. I take
> it it is still a common communication form in UK?

Just so long as we're around it is. :-)

> How about making the V.42 support hardware a standard and support it both in
> your program and in tequilacomm?

Urg, erm no thanks. The idea of Challenger Terminal is to go **FAST** to
keep up with decent modems... Hence V42 is already in hardware.

Also the minor problem that Acorn have just released the RO3 PRMs & I should
have my set today, so at last I'll be able to program that damn A5000. Hence
I'll be doing less on the Beeb. :-(

> >It really is good the amount of stuff thats now being done for the beeb in
> >the comms scene...
> 
> It is indeed! Especially because it can handle it very well! It makes an
> excellent terminal (And with custom software, you always have the features
you
> want! :-)

It can handle it better than my A5000. Bah!

-- 
Martin Ebourne                             Email: mje@...        
Electronics, Southampton University