From: overlord@megalith.miami.fl.us (Carlos Amezaga [POSTMASTER])
Newsgroups: alt.sys.amiga.uucp
Subject: Re: Protocols
Keywords: 
Distribution: world
Date: 11 Oct 92 13:49:39 EST
Organization: Megalith Mail & News Server

Quoted from <...unknown> by jerry@marin.uucp (Jerry C. Hudgins):
> Could you give us a bit more detail on the program you mention?
> 
> -- 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jerry C. Hudgins                   Internet: jerry%marin.uucp@seq.uncwil.edu
> 125 Cherokee Trail                 UUCP    : uunet!marin!jerry
> Wilmington, NC 28409-3407 (USA)    Voice   : (919) 392-2358
> 

	Here is the Doc file to the Baud Bandit Serial Device which
may be of use to some of you as well.  This serial device is
supposed to be much more efficient than the one supplied by
Commodore.  I have not yet used this on my System since I already
run at 40MHz and think that my system can more than handle itself
at this rate.  I may still use it though just to test it.  Here is
the Doc:

Carlos

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               _________ __          
                                              /___  ___// /           
           CHRISTIAN BUCHNER                     / /   / /            
                                                / /   / /__   _______
                PROUDLY PRESENTS               / /   / ___ \ / /__/_/
                                              / /   / /  / // /      
                                             /_/   /_/  /_//_/____   
       ____                      __    ____                       __     __
      / __ \                    / /   / __ \                     / /__  / /
     / /_/ /                   / /   / /_/ /                    / //_/_/ /_
    / _  _/ ____/\ __  __ __  / /   / _  _/ ____/\ /\___   __  / /__ /  __/
   / / \ \ / __/ // / / // _\/ /   / / \ \ / __/ // ___ \ / _\/ // / / /   
  / /__/ // /_/ // /_/ // /_/ /   / /__/ // /_/ // /  / // /_/ // / / /    
 /______//_____//_____//_____/   /______//_____//_/  /_//_____//_/ /_/     


          THE CHEAPEST WAY TO USE YOUR SERIAL PORT AT LIGHT SPEED

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     BaudBandit Documentation, Version 1.4, 26th of August 1992, 23:00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


                         WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NEW?

Version  1.4  should fix most problems that occured with previous versions.
The  nasty  transmission  errors  have been fixed, as well as various other
bugs.  Refer to "Version.Doc" for more accurate information.

Ah,  I  nearly  forgot  to  mention that you will automagically "receive" a
lovely  text every time BaudBandit is opened.  It will be displayed on your
terminal  screen, but it does not affect BaudBandit's function.  Instead it
will affect the number of registrations, I hope. ;-)

The  documentation  has  been  reworked  to clarify some misunderstandings.
Read it again, perhaps you will discover some important details.

I have got an EMAIL address now (see below).

I also have got a lot of new ideas concerning serial communication (see the
section about future plans).


                         WHAT IS THE BAUD BANDIT?

The BaudBandit is a replacement for the original serial.device allowing you
to  drive  your serial port at baud rates up to 115200 Baud with a standard
68000 Processor in full multitasking.  Without any doubt the BaudBandit can
be  called  "a little revolution" within the telecommunication scene on the
Commodore Amiga.

When  Commodore  developed  the  serial.device some years ago, they were of
course  not able to foresee the development of very cheap modems using data
compression  at incredibly high baud rates like the US Robotics HST and the
new  v32bis  modems.   So  the  serial.device  soon became too slow for the
requirements of modern telecommunication standards.

The BaudBandit is especially designed for use with high speed modems and it
supports  full bidirectional RTS/CTS handshake and receive buffering.  This
device will no longer bring your computer to a standstill when transferring
a  file at 14400 baud or more.  Compared to the serial.device, this program
provides a speed increase of about 500% percent.


                           HOW TO USE THE DEVICE

Simply  copy  the BaudBandit.device to your DEVS:  directory.  Now you have
to  configure  your  software  to  the  new device.  Most telecommunication
programs offer a configurable device name and unit.  Here you have to enter
"BaudBandit.device".  The device name is case sensitive, so be sure to type
it right as shown above!

The  easiest  way  to install the BaudBandit is to run the program QuickFix
early in your startup sequence.  Then you do not have to change any of your
configurations.   QuickFix  will patch the OpenDevice() vectors so that any
attempt  to open the serial device will open the BaudBandit device instead.
The  patch  may  be  removed at any time with a CTRL-C or the break command
from an AmigaShell.

If  you use an A2232 multiserial card, you may install the program A2232Fix
in  your  startup  sequence.  Do NOT run QuickFix in this case.  When using
A2232Fix,  you do not need to change any of your configurations.  The patch
will  replace  oldser.device  with the faster BaudBandit.device by patching
the  OpenDevice()  vectors.   This allows you to access the internal serial
port  via  A2232's serial.device, but this time using my faster BaudBandit.
Please note that the BaudBandit will NOT speed up the A2232 ports.


                       WHAT ABOUT THE COMPATIBILITY?

The  code  is designed to work under OS1.2/1.3 as well as OS2.0.  It should
run on all processors from 68000 to 68040.

In  order  to  get  the  best speed results, I dropped some features of the
original serial.device which are usually not needed in telecommunication.

I  completely  dropped  the  xOn/xOff protocoll, as well as the termination
array  and  parity  checks.   Breaks are currently not supported but may be
included in later versions.  Characters must consist of 8 bits.  The device
only supports plain 8N1 RTS/CTS transfer.  But this is all you need!

The  BaudBandit.device  should be able to replace the serial.device in most
situations.   It  has  been  tested  with  Fido  mailers  like TrapDoor and
terminal  programs like Term, NComm and Magicall.  Up- and downloads are no
problem  and especially at high speed transfers you should notice that your
computer  will NOT stand still anymore.  FAXing is possible, too.  This has
been tested with GPFax and other software.


                           HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

The  device  supports  a very common handshake method for high speed modems
using  the  RTS/CTS  wires.  The RTS/CTS wires prevent a buffer overflow on
the  computer  and  on  the  modem  side.   This  handshake method is often
referred to as "flow control".

THIS  IS  IMPORTANT:  In order for the device to work properly, you have to
connect  these  wires to your computer, even if your modem does not support
this  handshake method.  Without the RTS/CTS wires connected to your serial
port, the device will not be able to send anything!


                     WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE?

This  archive  contains  an  fully  functional  version of the device and a
complete  documentation.  The device displays a little text on the terminal
screen  reminding you that it is shareware.  If you want to use the program
regularly,  you  have  to  register. 

Please  note  that  the  contents  of  the  distribution archive may not be
altered in any way.  Any modification of the program is prohibitted.


                           WHY IS IT SHAREWARE?

The  development  of  this  programm  has taken many weeks of hard work and
frustration.   Previous  versions  of  BaudBandit were not as reliable as I
wanted  them  to  be,  but  now  I  hope  to  present  a reliable and fully
functional program which will be of great use for many people.

Please understand that I do not want to give this program away for free.  I
ask  you  to pay a small shareware donation.  The more people register, the
more  support  this  product  will  get.  The shareware fee will help me to
support my customers and to continue my work on this project.


                              HOW TO REGISTER

Before  you decide to register, please check whether this program satisfies
all your requirements or not.  You are allowed to evaluate this program for
two weeks.  If you continue using it, you have to register.

Fill  in the registration form and send it to me.  I think, it is justified
to ask for a shareware donation of DM 20.  This is very cheap for a project
like  BaudBandit  and  it is not even half the price the authors demand for
programs like TrapDoor or Foozle.  There are many ways of sending the money
to me, so don't tell me that you did not know how to do it.

a) Enclose it cash.
b) Send me a cheque over DM 20.
c) Let your bank transfer it to me
d) Transfer it with a postal money order.

Please do not transfer any money before having sent the registration form!

The registration form must be mailed to the following address:

                         Christian Buchner
                         Ganghoferstrae 2
                         8034 Germering
                         Deutschland

You may transfer the money to the following account:

                         Raiffeisenbank Germering-Olching
                         Bankleitzahl 701 693 80
                         Kontonummer  49573

After  registering,  you  will  receive  a  BaudBandit version that does no
longer  display  the reminder text.  Important updates and bugfixes will be
sent  to you as long as the mailing costs do not exceed a reasonable level.
I  prefer  sending  the device UUEncoded via Netmail.  The device itself is
about  4KB  in length, so this should be no problem.  If it is not possible
to  reach  you  on the digital way, I'll use the analog method and send you
the device on a disk.


                               FUTURE PLANS

Depending  on  your  needs  and  wishes, I will eventually add XOn/XOff and
Break  support to the BaudBandit device.  Write to me if you need these new
features.

Please  do  not  "forget" to register to BaudBandit.  Since there is such a
sad  discrepancy  between  the  number  of REGISTERED USERS compared to the
number  of  ILLEGAL  USERS,  I  am  honestly  thinking  of programming some
shareware requesters and a rigorous time limit for the next updates as well
as  for  any  future projects.  This method worked with MFR and I'm sure it
works for BaudBandit as well.  It's up to you.

I  am  planning to create a program, that will patch itself in front of any
serial device to provide data compression and error correction.  It will be
implemented  as  an  OS2.0  style  commodity and it will use the XPK packer
standard  allowing  you  to select any compression and/or encryption method
that  is  currently  available  as  XPK  external  library.   This might be
especially  useful  for  all those people who have not yet deciced to buy a
faster modem.  A very complex project, but I love the idea.

Another  nice  idea  is  to create a xpr library that allows realtime voice
chats  via  high speed modem using your sound sampler in the parallel port.
The  implementation  as an xpr external library allows usage in ANY mailbox
and  terminal  program!   The  sound  data  will  be  reduced to 4 bit thus
doubling  the  sampling  rate.   This would be just a toy, but a very funny
one.   Eventually,  it  will be possible to arrange digital conferences, if
the host system has enough CPU power. ;-)

How  about  a  pipe-style  serial  device  that allows you to test your bbs
system  locally?   All  data  sent  to unit 0 comes out at unit 1, and vice
versa.  What do you think of it?


                             IF YOU FIND A BUG

If  you  discover  a  bug  or  a  problem,  please  inform me as quickly as
possible.  It is important for me to get very accurate information.  Please
tell  me  excactly  in what situation, with what software and configuration
the  problem  aroused.   Bugs are easier to spot if they are reproduceable.


                             HOW TO CONTACT ME

If  you have any questions concerning this device or anything else, you can
reach  me  via Fidonet and via InterNet.  Just write a netmail to Christian
Buchner  at node 2:246/65 or send your mail to cbuchner@heavenly.lm.sub.org
Please be careful.  Your mails might get lost on their way.

Send love letters and registrations to the following address:

                             Christian Buchner
                             Ganghoferstrae 2
                              8034 Germering
                                Deutschland



           ----------------------------------------------------
           And always remember: USING it means PAYING it, okay?
           ----------------------------------------------------

                I can not FORCE you, but I may PLEASE you.



                               (End of File)
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%    __     %  UUCP:  overlord@megalith.miami.fl.us  % I Tried MS-DOS Once %
% __///     %  Fido:  1:135/92                       % But Didn't Inhale.  %
% \\//Amiga %  GEnie: C.Amezaga                      %        --D.Atkins-- %
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