Need testers for a new BBS

[Mad Hatter]

Hi guys Ive been working on trying to put up a TI/Geneve related BBS. Ultimately I want this to be accessed via the internet (TELNET), however before I have time to get my UDS-100 configured I have a USR 56k modem hooked up. I only have one land-line therefore cannot call into my own BBS. If any of you guys with modems could call and let me know if you can connect okay I would appreciate it.

It's running Tim's S&T BBS software on a Geneve 9640, so it will look just like the Hidden Reef. I don't have any of the BBS customized yet so it's still bare-bones.. I've only been working in this for a few days now. Thanks

 

I will probably have it up for testing til Thursday May 26th, here is the number:

 

(six-zero-two) 955-4491

Edited May 22, 2011 by Mad Hatter

[marc.hull]

Hi guys Ive been working on trying to put up a TI/Geneve related BBS. Ultimately I want this to be accessed via the internet (TELNET), however before I have time to get my UDS-100 configured I have a USR 56k modem hooked up. I only have one land-line therefore cannot call into my own BBS. If any of you guys with modems could call and let me know if you can connect okay I would appreciate it.

It's running Tim's S&T BBS software on a Geneve 9640, so it will look just like the Hidden Reef. I don't have any of the BBS customized yet so it's still bare-bones.. I've only been working in this for a few days now. Thanks

 

I will probably have it up for testing til Thursday May 26th, here is the number:

 

(six-zero-two) 955-4491

 

I called in and connected but go no further. I am using a 1200 baud modem though......... What are the settings you are using ?

[Mad Hatter]

I have a USR 56k, 8-N-1. I think I may still need to tweak my RS-232 cable for use with S&T. Did you connect at 1200 or 300?

[marc.hull]

I have a USR 56k, 8-N-1. I think I may still need to tweak my RS-232 cable for use with S&T. Did you connect at 1200 or 300?

 

Ya know I didn't pay attention to what the settings on my end were and I can't remember if Telco defaults at 300 or not. I'll play with it a bit more tonight and let you know. So do you plan on keeping it exclusively telenet or do you plan on keeping the modem connected ?

[Mad Hatter]

Not really sure, I guess that depends on how much success I have with setting up my UDS-100 with the system. I guess in an ideal world I could add a 2nd RS-232 card and keep the modem connected as well (if the software allows for this).

 

I have a USR 56k, 8-N-1. I think I may still need to tweak my RS-232 cable for use with S&T. Did you connect at 1200 or 300?

 

Ya know I didn't pay attention to what the settings on my end were and I can't remember if Telco defaults at 300 or not. I'll play with it a bit more tonight and let you know. So do you plan on keeping it exclusively telenet or do you plan on keeping the modem connected ?

[+Vorticon]

Tried this afternoon. No answer...

[Mad Hatter]

I've been having some trouble with the high-speed modem used on the Geneve.. pretty sure I need to add/change some pinouts for my cable. So for now I have a Hayes Smartmodem 2400 connected to the system.. hopefully that will work for the time being. Let me know if anyone has any luck. It should still be up for a couple days. Thanks guys

[+Vorticon]

OK. I got connected, but nothing happens after that...

[marc.hull]

I've been having some trouble with the high-speed modem used on the Geneve.. pretty sure I need to add/change some pinouts for my cable. So for now I have a Hayes Smartmodem 2400 connected to the system.. hopefully that will work for the time being. Let me know if anyone has any luck. It should still be up for a couple days. Thanks guys

 

Tried again and could not get past the connection message.

[Mad Hatter]

Not sure what the issue is. I was able to call in yesterday from a friend's house/ Got connected ok, but then just got garble on the screen. I've tried 4 different cable configs including the one recommended in the BBS docs, the one in the Port docs, the one on Mainbyte and a regular straight-thru cable with a null modem adapter (FYI, the latter is all I need with Telco on the TI and Port on the Geneve.. works great). The only thing I can think is that I have not been booting the BBS with a reduced processor speed in GPL (I'm using 5 instead of 1). Maybe that is somehow messing up comm. with the serial port. Unfrtunately I just left town for a week so I won't be able to check it out til next Friday.

[marc.hull]

Not sure what the issue is. I was able to call in yesterday from a friend's house/ Got connected ok, but then just got garble on the screen. I've tried 4 different cable configs including the one recommended in the BBS docs, the one in the Port docs, the one on Mainbyte and a regular straight-thru cable with a null modem adapter (FYI, the latter is all I need with Telco on the TI and Port on the Geneve.. works great). The only thing I can think is that I have not been booting the BBS with a reduced processor speed in GPL (I'm using 5 instead of 1). Maybe that is somehow messing up comm. with the serial port. Unfrtunately I just left town for a week so I won't be able to check it out til next Friday.

 

I missed last Friday. Any status update available ?

[+InsaneMultitasker]

Not sure what the issue is. I was able to call in yesterday from a friend's house/ Got connected ok, but then just got garble on the screen. I've tried 4 different cable configs including the one recommended in the BBS docs, the one in the Port docs, the one on Mainbyte and a regular straight-thru cable with a null modem adapter (FYI, the latter is all I need with Telco on the TI and Port on the Geneve.. works great). The only thing I can think is that I have not been booting the BBS with a reduced processor speed in GPL (I'm using 5 instead of 1). Maybe that is somehow messing up comm. with the serial port. Unfrtunately I just left town for a week so I won't be able to check it out til next Friday.

 

A straight-thru cable won't work with the BBS as it relies upon a Carrier Detect (input) and DTR (output) signal to function. Additionally, unidirectional hardware handshaking will halt RS232 output if either the pin is not tied to the proper line or your modem is configured incorrectly.

 

I didn't see a reference to your RS232 card. If you have a Myarc card, chances are it does not support the handshaking unless you modified the circuitry. A TI RS232 is best followed by CorComp.

 

Finally, post your modem initialization string and the cable pinouts you think were correct

[Mad Hatter]

I've tried several different cable configs, however the one recommended in the documentation does not seem to work for me:

1-1 (Ground)

2-3 (Rcv/Xmit)

3-2 (Xmit/Rcv)

5-20 DTR

7-7 Ground

19-8 CD

20-5 DTS to CTS for high-speed ops

 

The modem is a USR 56k Faxmodem, and my RS-232 is a TI.

 

I've also tinkered with a few different init strings, but the one I settled on is:

ATN=0&U=0&C1&D3&H1&S0&K3

 

I tried disabling MNP with S15=136 but no luck. Any ideas? Is there anything in particular I need to do when using the software on a Geneve? (besides using the GENEVELOAD program, or whatever it was called)

 

Not sure what the issue is. I was able to call in yesterday from a friend's house/ Got connected ok, but then just got garble on the screen. I've tried 4 different cable configs including the one recommended in the BBS docs, the one in the Port docs, the one on Mainbyte and a regular straight-thru cable with a null modem adapter (FYI, the latter is all I need with Telco on the TI and Port on the Geneve.. works great). The only thing I can think is that I have not been booting the BBS with a reduced processor speed in GPL (I'm using 5 instead of 1). Maybe that is somehow messing up comm. with the serial port. Unfrtunately I just left town for a week so I won't be able to check it out til next Friday.

 

A straight-thru cable won't work with the BBS as it relies upon a Carrier Detect (input) and DTR (output) signal to function. Additionally, unidirectional hardware handshaking will halt RS232 output if either the pin is not tied to the proper line or your modem is configured incorrectly.

 

I didn't see a reference to your RS232 card. If you have a Myarc card, chances are it does not support the handshaking unless you modified the circuitry. A TI RS232 is best followed by CorComp.

 

Finally, post your modem initialization string and the cable pinouts you think were correct

Edited June 12, 2011 by Mad Hatter

[+InsaneMultitasker]

I've tried several different cable configs, however the one recommended in the documentation does not seem to work for me:

1-1 (Ground)

2-3 (Rcv/Xmit)

3-2 (Xmit/Rcv)

5-20 DTR

7-7 Ground

19-8 CD

20-5 DTS to CTS for high-speed ops

 

The modem is a USR 56k Faxmodem, and my RS-232 is a TI.

 

I've also tinkered with a few different init strings, but the one I settled on is:

ATN=0&U=0&C1&D3&H1&S0&K3

 

I tried disabling MNP with S15=136 but no luck. Any ideas? Is there anything in particular I need to do when using the software on a Geneve? (besides using the GENEVELOAD program, or whatever it was called)

 

A few questions and then some additional info :

1. Which RS232 card are you using?

2. What is the exact model of modem you are using? ie, USR5686E

 

Disabling MNP, v32,v42 are good troubleshooting tactics but not likely to fix your problem. I checked a few modem command manuals and while I could not find one that had the "N=0" so I suspect you meant "&N=0" in conjunction with "&U=0", allowing the modem and remote modem to autonegotiate the highest speed.

 

"&B1" - Fixed serial port rate. Probably not necessary but you can add it anyway.

DTR - You'll want to use "&D2" not "&D3". The latter will reset the modem when DTR is raised.

Carrier Detect - "&C1" is correct.

"&H1" - Transmit flow Control, you want this turned on

"&I0" - Turn off receiving software flow control

"&K1" - auto compression/decommpression is default and is OK.

"&M4" - ARQ error control on/off (0/4) probably up to you.

"&R1" - modem IGNORES recive data flow control. This could be your problem as the default is "&R2"

"&S0" - I think this is correct although... I need to research.

 

Your modem should have ablity to respond to a current configuration query. This will tell you all command settings for the current configuration. Use PORT or another terminal emulator to get the info.

 

I'll dig up my last running copy of my own BBS and compare the strings. I checked Richard's BBS but he must have most of the settings saved into nonvolatile RAM within the modem, something that is suggested if you dedicate your modem to the BBS.

 

Tim

 

PS - You asked "Is there anything in particular I need to do when using the software on a Geneve?"

 

No. You may operate the BBS at GPL speed 5. The GENEVELOAD program is equivalent to the TI version except for the clock code and the DSR routines. The latter tricks the OS into thinking you are running DSRs natively, bypassing the on-board card DSRs, and doing some other "magic" as needed. It is written to be transparent to the BBS and is not a concern or cause of your problem.

Edited June 12, 2011 by InsaneMultitasker

[Mad Hatter]

The model # is just 5686, not (5686E, etc). And yes you are correct, I forgot the put the & before the "U=0" and "N=0". I'm using a TI RS-232 card, but may try my Corcomp one just for the heck of it. I will try your init string and let you know what happens. Unfortunately I have not had much time for this the last 2 weeks as work and real-life has been getting in the way. Hopefully this evening I can fire up the computer.

[+InsaneMultitasker]

The model # is just 5686, not (5686E, etc). And yes you are correct, I forgot the put the & before the "U=0" and "N=0". I'm using a TI RS-232 card, but may try my Corcomp one just for the heck of it. I will try your init string and let you know what happens. Unfortunately I have not had much time for this the last 2 weeks as work and real-life has been getting in the way. Hopefully this evening I can fire up the computer.

 

If you are in PORT or similar, try typing "ATN=0" or "ATU=0" and see if either produce an error. It is possible that by forgetting the "&" the modem failed to properly parse the remaining commands. As for real life, I know exactly what you mean....

[marc.hull]

just bumping Kyle...

 

Ant news on your BBS ?

[Mad Hatter]

Unfortunately not. I'm ususally out of town for work about 14-15 days a month and thus far my days off in June have been spent on vacation or dealing with other things. Hopefully I will get some time to get this squared away.