MORE on External Serial Ports/Modems!

[Randal Whittle <whittle@chaph.usc.edu>]

	Well folks, I have just discovered something...

	As many of you might remember, I was trying to run a V.32bis
external modem on my ThinkPad via the external serial port, but was having
trouble going any higher than 9600 baud.  I was/am using Procomm + for
Windows.

	One person suggested that I remove FuelDOS from memory, as it
interferes with the serial port operation and--under windows--I wouldn't
need it anyway.

	Well on a whim, I decided to do the same with the Windows-based
Fuel program.  It worked.

	I can now connect and D/L at 14.4K without any errors as long
as the Windows Fuel program is not on.

	But it is touchy--don't even *dare* trying to switch to another
window or open another program (I discovered this while D/L'ing--I was
getting about 1600 cps on the D/L and wanted to test it by opening up
the Windows Fuel program to see if it affected it.  When I went to re-size
the window and that *alone* caused some errors.  In fact, unless Procomm
was *fully* in the foreground, it couldn't handle any kind of background
operation and still handle the 14.4K D/L without errors (though it does
so pretty well with 9600).

	So the bottom line--it *can* work at 14.4K and D/L at normal
14.4K speeds provided (A) You remove the Fuel Program(s) (though maybe
you OS/2 folks have better luck with yours) AND (B) You don't have another
program in the foreground or do *anything* to compete for resources (including
the sizing of your terminal Window).

	*Sigh*  I'm hoping that when MHz comes out with that 28.8K V.34
XJack, they include a UART buffer that is fairly sizable--preferably more
than the standard 8 bytes in the 16550...

-----
Randy Whittle    whittle@chaph.usc.edu
University of Southern California School of Business (Fight on, 'SC Trojans!)
 - Motorcycle nut, HP 48GX & 100LX user, & lover of fine chocolate...
 "It's not denial, I'm just very selective about the reality I accept!" -Calvin
 "Consensus is the negation of leadership." - Margaret Thatcher