From: ustai@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Re: modems for BBS
Date: 1 Oct 92 18:01:49 -0600
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <1992Oct1.141858.17520@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg>, eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad) writes:

> In Singapore the minimum speed is this one because it is the cheapest
> costing S$90 for internal and $180 for external.

	Do you have any idea what is the price like in Malaysia?  Earlier this
year someone emailed me telling me it can cost between M$2000-M$5000.  Big
difference between Singapore's price and M'sia's then.
> 
> 	Make sure the modem also supports 2400 as well.

	I believe that all mass-marketed modems are downward compatible all the
way to 300 baud.  Any nay sayers?

> Another operational problem is that it is illegal to import modems which 
> are not type-approved. The procedure for type approval includes the giving of
> one sample permanently to the tester. 

	That sucks, doesn't it?  I heard a lot of people brought it back
without declaring it tho, since computers are tax free for returning students.

> 	I believe the tester is Jabatan Telekom, not Telekom Malaysia.
> 	If you decide to go legal, you have to pay a lot more money,
> $60 instead of $17, I believe, but not sure.

	If you are talking about the DATEL line (DATA LINE), it's a *BIG* joke. 
The last time I heard, they lowered the datel charges to M$30 to "stimulate"
more computer uses to go and experience "high-tech" but in my opinion, it's
pure bullshit.  You use the same line you have, no changes are made anywhere
except your bill and your pocket.  I can see them charging more in places with
bad/noisy connections, *IF* they actually provide a better line, but not if
they don't do anything.
> 
> If you want your BBS to be available nationwide you may try to use leased
> line maypac. This allows cheap data transfer, especially ones with lots of

	Any idea on the costs involved?  Also troublesome for those "free" bbs
systems where the sysop does it as a hobby and doesn't charge anything.

> we had cannot dial out. You can call it but it cannot call you. It must be
> a very old computer and stupid. 

	Hey, we don't even have a fiber optic link yet man.  The best we have
(for MIMOS) is the 57.6k line which is going up at the end of the year.  Seems
that MIMOS is paying like M$300,000 to telecoms, but telecoms is paying like
M$100,000 for the line...  Now this is good capitalist behaviour!!! :) :) :)

> 	A workstation should be a better alternative. TCP/IP software can
> do that more effectively since it is also a packet switching system.

	Yes, but do you have any idea how much is a leased line?  I would
appreciate it if you could find out for us.  And even if we can get a TCP/IP
line, normal people won't be able to use it, unless they have TCP/IP software
and hardware.  Using things like Ethernet lines is going to be very very
expansive if you are going to use the workstation just to read sca... :)
	Also, any idea on the costs for workstations in M'sia/Singapore? 
Cost/model postings will be very useful.
> 
> If you still have any more question, please call. Any comment is most
> appreciated.

	Would really appreciate it if you could find out the costs for the
things I asked for above.  Thanx in advance.  Any others who know something,
please post.  Ciao.

-Tai
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean