Re: Using external 56K modem with Apple IIgs?

[Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca>]

On Tue, 16 Dec 2008, Usenet User wrote:

> On Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:11:29 -0600, The Wizard of Oz
> <Wizard@EmeraldCity.gov> wrote:
>
> > Ewen wrote:
> > > applebite <like@them.apls> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Is it possible to use an external RS-232 modem (US Robotics V.92/V.90
> > > > 56K in my case) with Apple IIgs?
> > > >
> > > > I am assuming I can make a cable (minidin8 - RS-232), but what
> > > > software can I use in ordert to connect to the ISP?
> > >
> > > To connect to a dialup Internet connection with your ISP, you will need
> > > Marinetti installed, choosing either the SLIP or PPP option, and then
> > > you will be able to run all kinds of software, such as Spectrum for
> > > Telnet, the SAM plug-in for mail, and with the SIS plug-in, the web.
> > > Then there are my stand alone programs such as SAFE2 for FTP, SNAP for
> > > Usenet, and also other Marinetti aware software.
> > >
> > > Marinetti:
> > >
> > > http://www.apple2.org/marinetti
> > >
> > > Syndicomm for Spectrum and SAM:
> > >
> > > http://www.syndicomm.com/index.html
> > >
> > > My software:
> > >
> > > http://homepage.mac.com/speccie/
> > >
> > > Cheers - Ewen
> >
> > 	Strictly speaking the use of Marinetti depends on the ISP. If the ISP
> > has shell access then SLIP or PPP and ProTERM is OK. Having said this
> > 99% of all ISPs don't bother with shell access any more.
> >
> > 	Also, IIRC, don't the earlier versions of the GS require an accelerator
> > in order to get 56K speeds?
> >
> > 				Later
> > 				Mike
>
> I am not really concerned with the speed, but it seems that having
> shell access is a must?
In the old days, you'd dial up your ISP with a terminal emulator,
no different from calling a BBS.  It would be like you had your computer
(acting as a terminal) directly wired to the ISP's computer, the software
would all run on the ISP's computer.

Move to a PPP connection, and you are more directly connected to the 
internet at your end.  You run the software there, rather than at your
ISP's computer.  Almost about the same time as PPP connections became
common, shell servers disappeared.  You had no choice, you had to run
the software like the newsreader and mailreader and browser at your
end, because there was nothing at your ISP's computers to do that.

Unless you can run that client software on your computer, you have
to have a shell server somewhere, so there's somewhere to run that
software.  The shell server would run those programs, just like
in the old days.

One sort of hybrid is to get a PPP connection with your computer,
and then telnet to a shell server.  The telnet program is relatively
simple and is the equivalent of a terminal program.  I haven't dialed
up with a terminal emulator to my current ISP since I moved to them
about three years ago.  On the other hand, I can telnet to their
shell server, if I still had a reason to do that.

   Michael