Re: HELP for a novice

[noahm@pro-freedom.cts.com (Noah Magram)]

In <1f0eucINN3fb@crcnis1.unl.edu> aheckman@nde.unl.edu (alice heckman) writes:

>HELP, I'm a novice at this stuff.  I want to set up a bunch of older Apple 
>][e computers so that elementary kids can use them for telecommunications. 
>I need to know some stuff to do this.
>1.  These computers don't have com ports so I need a serial board?  Or what?
>2.  Do I want internal modems or external?  (cost is a factor here, school 
>boards aren't notoriously generous)
>3.  What kind of communication software do I want for kids to use?  Is 
>anything available through shareware?
>4.  Can the average low-tech person install this stuff herself?
>5.  Where do you recommend getting the hardware that I need.  I had one guy
>quote me $300 per modem.  This seemed about $220 higher than I could get 
>the stuff at Walmart!
>
>Thanks for any help you can give me.  (The kids are going to love this 
>project!!  The teachers are a bit nervous!!)
>
>Alice Heckman
>aheckman@nde.unl.edu

 
Well first, I'd like to commend you on teaching kids about
tellecommunications!!  I am currently in 8th grade and teachers still
belive the myth that it will make the phone bill huge... Sigh...  Well on
with the answers:
 
1. Yes, you will need a serial board, unless you get an internal modem,
which are hard to find, nowadays.
These run from $40 for a generic to $85+ for a more compatible version
 
2. You would generally want external modems, so if you decided to upgrade,
you could use them on another machine. 
These run from $10 (used) to $350+
 
3. Yes, several communications programms are shareware, I'll send you a
copy of Z-Link or AGATE, if you want.
 
4. Well it depends on HOW low-tech you are.... If you hit the classifides
for your equipment, chances are you will get NO manuals.  But generally it
is realtivly simple.
 
5. Mail-order would be your best shot... Your $300 deal is absurd, no
student is going to need a 19.2k baud modem!  You would want a 1200 or 2400
baud modem, 2400 is the standard, but with 1200 you will be able to save a
good amount of money.  Your price range should be (retail) for 2400's
$70-$95, (used) $25-$50...  Never pay more than $100 for a 2400 modem, some
have something called MNP 5 or V.xx bis, these are compression/error
checking modems, which generally aren't needed for standard use....
 

 
Hey if you wanna set up a pen-pal type exchance with your class,  I'd be
happy to participate.  I'm (I think =) ) fairly experienced with
tellecommunications, so if your students wanna chat sometime, go ahead!
 
 
Noah

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