Remote Data Transmission under GEOS

Graphical transfer

Normally, you'd think that remote data transmission and a user interface that slows a system exclude each other. Yet, there will be some choices for Wheels and MegaPatch users in the future.

by Nikolaus Metz

Once again, GEOS users are startled from their peaceful sleep by a scorcher nobody expected until now - more on this later. First, I'd like to present some programs from the past which I found in my vast archives.

GeoTerm 64/128

The software known as GeoTerm isn't suitable for today's everyday use, and it's not likely it's ever been. For instance, take the shareware GeoTerm V1.0 by William C. Coleman from 1988, which is a program for the 40-column mode supporting 300 and 1200 baud as well as half and full duplex. With today's common transfer rates of 14400 baud or 56800 bps (bits per second), it can't be recommended. Besides that, it doesn't run correctly under Wheels and neither under MPatch3. It also seems to require an older interface on the user port which I don't own.

It's similar to the 'professional' version GeoTerm 2.1 made by Carsten Clasohm in 1991, which exists in 3 versions (all in German language) - one for the 64 and two for the 128 (one for each of the 40 and 80-columm screens). None of them runs under Wheels, because they seem to interfere heavily with the o.s.. MPatch3 allows you to start them but preserves the right to crash at any time (no kidding!)

This program has more adjustments to offer than the 1.0 version, but it's still limited to 2400 baud on the 128; also I don't have a suitable interface to try a dial-up. With a SwiftLink and Turbo232, it didn't work, and an old 'Drews' BTX-cartridge for the user port failed as well. The earlier versions 1.1 and 1.2 published by the 64'er magazine couldn't be tested due to bad disks. All in all, it seems there's no convenient, up-to-date GEOS terminal software that suits present requirements.

geoFAX

Maurice Randall's 'geoFAX' stands alone in the field of fax software. It's a highly recommended program for GEOS users who can't afford or don't want to pay for a fax machine. Any geoPaint file can be converted into a fax document and sent with speeds up to 14400 baud (interface speed - 38400 bps). To send geoWrite text, you first have to convert it into a bitmap image using a special printer driver. Although this might seem a bit complicated, it's exactly what modern PC software does, except that the user doesn't notice it.

geoFAX runs under GEOS, Wheels, and MPatch3 on the 64 as well as on the128 in 40-column mode. It requires a Turbo232 interface (V2.0 and up) or a SwiftLink (V1.7 and up) as well as a class 2 fax modem which should have an internal 16K memory (easy to check with the command 'at+fbuf'). In the current version 2.1, the program offers you a large number of options to customize the software to your own needs and also some utilities that allow you to copy, delete, and rename files without leaving geoFAX, for example.

Unfortunately, fax polling - a service which is increasingly offered by companies and publishing houses - is not directly available with geoFAX. Maurice suggested dialing the number on the phone and then switching to the modem, but this idea failed on the German phone system; it's said to work in the US. Maybe this option will be featured in a future update; it's almost the only thing this program lacks for perfection. For convenience sake, I imagine a function to convert a geoWrite document from inside geoFAX; however, the question arises how large the program (217 blocks = 55 K) may become if there's to be enough space for documents left on the disk. Ah well, you can't have it all...

The Wave

It's been four years now since the first demo of this program came out, and I was quite astonished when I saw it for the first time. But before continuing it, Maurice Randall turned to his 'Project G' (namely Wheels). The Wave was originally intended as an all-purpose program, at least that's the impression you get from the opening screen. From here without actually leaving the program, it should be possible to switch between the important components, which are the Desk Accessories, the Internet/Web browser (The Wild Surf), an ANSI terminal to dial into BBS's (The Sightseer), and an ASCII terminal (The Beachcomber).

The Beachcomber is the only thing that can be started from here and is more or less functional. If you'd like to verify this by yourself, you should have a C128 along with a SwiftLink cartridge and use Wheels to run the Wave Demo from 1996; MPatch3 causes trouble. I can confirm this terminal program works, because I dialed into the Sachsen GEOS-BBS with it. The interface speed is adjustable in the range between 300 and 38400 bps, limited by the speed of the SwiftLink. Unfortunately, this is the only working function; neither file transfer (in both directions) nor the directory nor the planned online help are available. But still, it's a proof of what you can get out of an aged computer with a graphical interface.

The new Wave

For the time being, work on The Wave continues at full speed. According to an official announcement made by Maurice Randall in the Internet newsgroup 'comp.sys.cbm', a web browser is going to be written which will rank up there with those used on PCs. He's still looking for programmers who are willing to contribute a part of their work to help complete the project more quickly. And it seems he has already gotten some help; the progress reports give reason to hope we'll still see a more or less working version in 1999. The finished program will be non-commercial, so every owner of a C64 or 128 can use it for free. Also, the source code will be freely available to enable further development and ports of the program (e.g., to MegaPatch3). Even an automatic update function is planned, since there might be updates every week - simply go to Maurice Randall's homepage, click on the update link, and the computer does the rest, just as PCs do.

[more in your GO64! issue]