TELECOM Digest     Fri, 29 Jul 94 15:04:00 CDT    Volume 14 : Issue 339

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Book Review: "The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog" (Rob Slade)
    List Your Company Free in Interactive Guide (Fraser Zimmerman)
    NOS Like Application for Macintosh? (Tony Pelliccio)
    Discount Data Lines (josephh888@aol.com)
    Communicating Interactively Using Two PCs (christos@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu)
    Bring Business Long Distance Costs Down (Ed Smith)
    Strange Cordless Phones (Benjamin W. Stein)
    Who Makes Two Line 900Mhz Cordless Phones? (Howard Ball)
    Local Service Competition in New Jersey (Todd Broccolo)
    AT&T HT5500 Question (Jeff Nieusma)
    Manufacturing Learning Curve (Marc Goldburg)
    Bellcore Document for Sale (Eric Bobinsky)
    NET IDNX Question (Eric Scott)
    Re: Information on Fiber Optics Requested (John E. Lundgren)

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 13:08:32 MDT
From: Rob Slade <roberts@decus.ca>
Subject: Book Review: "The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog" 


BKKROL.RVW   940506
 
O'Reilly and Associates
103 Morris St., Suite A
Sebastopol, CA   95472-9902
800-338-6887  fax: 707-829-0104
info@ora.com
"The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog", Krol, 1994, 1-56592-063-5,
U$24.95
krol@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
 
For those of us who have used the Internet for some time, the
enthusiasm of "newbies" can sometimes be tiring.  You get used to
seeing articles, and hearing presentations, by those who are
breathless with excitement over the fact that they have received email
from someone in another country.  Thus, when I first heard of this
book with the rather "california" title, I assumed I would be plowing
through old material and trying to be kind in the review.
 
The day I received the book, I had a use for an "Internet guide".  I
had forgotten the site that allows posting from mail to the Usenet
newsgroups.  So, I decided to put it to the test.  I didn't find the
answer, but what I did find was a fascinating and useful resource,
well worth the time (and book price) invested by novice and devotee
alike.  In an environment where everyone and his dog seems to be
writing an Internet book, Krol has held a largely deserved place in
the pantheon, and is likely the most widely sold of the "resource"
level guides.
 
About three quarters of the book is devoted to the user's guide.  It
is likely impossible to give a "non-user" a true feeling for the
"living" Internet in a "static" book, but this definitely comes close.
The "catalog" is rather small, but not to be skipped, taking up about
half of the remaining pages, with the rest assigned to four
appendices, a glossary and the index.  All parts of the book seems to
have grown by about half again as much material as was included in the
first edition.
 
The user's guide contains fifteen chapters, implicitly divided into
four sections.  Although there are no explicit divisions, the preface
suggests different "sets" of chapters for different types of users.
The first four chapters deal with background material; the book, the
Internet, what, who and how; while chapter fifteen covers problems
that may arise.  The next four chapters describe the functions of the
basic tools of the Internet; telnet (using a "remote" computer), ftp
(copying files from a remote computer to your local computer system
and vice versa), electronic mail (including electronic "periodicals")
and the Usenet "news" discussion groups; to which chapter fourteen
adds "other applications".  Chapters nine through thirteen are
concerned with "finding" different types of information; files
(archie), people (finger and whois), menus (gopher), related
information (the Web) and anything (WAIS).
 
Krol, in the introduction, suggests that this book is for anyone who
wants access to the resources of the Internet.  This is definitely
valid.  The vocabulary and style are accessible to any intelligent
reader, even without any background or familiarity with computers.
The examples are clear and well chosen.  The range of material covered
is "sufficiently" complete: the Internet is still "under
construction", and probably will never be "finished", but the range of
topics covered is enough for all but the most specialized interest.
Indeed, the book is not only for the Internet novice.  I practically
"live" on the Internet, and freely admit that much of the content even
in the original version was a new (and welcome) surprise.
 
I hesitate to say that I have any "complaints" about the book.  Those
items that I might raise tend to fall into the misty areas of personal
opinion.  Speaking personally, then, I would like to see some
"reordering" of sections of the book.  Within the "section" composed
of chapters four to eight, I would suggest that mail and news are of
more interest to more people (especially newcomers) than telnet and
ftp.  Also, although Krol explains his choice of UNIX as an "operating
system of choice" for examples of various systems, it is my opinion
that this is taken too far in certain areas.  It tends to demonstrate
a "workstation" bias which may be hard to understand for those, likely
a majority, who have access to the Internet only through terminal
connections or personal computer "dial-in" situations.  This is echoed
in the emphasis on WAIS and the Web.  Although I would hardly
recommend eliminating the references to them, the amount of space
dedicated to these topics is likely lost on the majority of users who
do not have either dedicated or "SLIP" access, and therefore do not
have access to gopher, WAIS or Web clients (or Xwindows servers).
 
I have, perhaps, been unjust with my opening illustration: the
information about how to post to Usenet newsgroups from email *does*
appear in the book.  However, I expected to find it in either the
chapter on mail (which does cover "distribution lists", the electronic
periodicals of the Internet) or in the Usenet news chapter.  It
appears in neither, nor is it referenced in the index.  It *used to*
appear in the "catalog", but I seem to have lost it in theis current
version.  In the same way I was surprised to find that chapter seven,
in covering mail and the distribution lists, did not mention the "list
of lists", which gives information about how to access specific lists.
Again, this is not mentioned in the index, either, although it does
appear in the catalog -- and I am happy to see that information on how
to get it now uses ftp rather than WAIS.  (In the first version the
dependence upon WAIS may have limited the usefulness of the catalog.
In "Computing" WAIS was used to access nine items: ftp, telnet, gopher
and email combined only give you sixteen.  In "Network Information"
the imbalance was even more pronounced; WAIS is used ten times, the
others, combined, only four.  The current catalog is much more
balanced, although I note a new preponderance of World Wide Web
items.)
 
The catalog can't really be considered a serious resource.  How could
it?  Fifty pages is only enough space for an unformatted printout of
the "list of lists" *or* a listing of the "backbone" Usenet
newsgroups.  This would not leave space for explanation or any other
resources.  Therefore the catalog should best be considered as,
perhaps, a pointer to a general topic.  After you start making
contacts, you can take it from there.  The catalog is, however, a lot
of fun to browse, and does, as mentioned earlier, contain some very
valuable information.
 
These comments do not, however, take away from the overriding
importance and usefulness of the book.  The quote from "Communications
Week", used as a cover blurb, that it "... has become the Internet
user's bible" may be overstating the case with the raft of other
resources out there.  It does, though, still hold a pre-eminent
position, and this new edition will help it hold that rank.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993, 1994   BKKROL.RVW   940506. Distribution
permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists.
 

Vancouver      ROBERTS@decus.ca    
Institute for  Robert_Slade@sfu.ca 
Research into  rslade@cue.bc.ca    
User           p1@CyberStore.ca    
Security       Canada V7K 2G6      

------------------------------

From: Fraser Zimmerman <nd@delphi.com>
Subject: List Your Company Free in Interactive Guide
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 94 14:15:28 -0500
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)


You can list your company free among the movers and shakers of the
interactive world. The non-profit Interactive Television Association
(ITA) is producing the Only Guide to the Interactive Television
Industry.
 
The guide lists all companies with an interest in the industry,
including cable and phone companies, commercial on-line services,
software manufacturers, advertising agencies, direct marketers,
investors, infomercial producers and many others. Listings include
company names, contact information and where their interests lie. The
guide will also identify by category those companies staking an early
claim in the broad-based interactive market (valuable information for
investors, market researchers, etc.).
 
To be listed in the guide free of charge, please contact David Shelton
of the ITA at 202-408-0008 or send your request (with your fax number)
to nd@delphi.com.  A limited amount of advertising space in the guide
is also being offered free of charge to members. Advertising is being
handled by Jim Ralston at 202-296-0263.  ITA is planning to make the
Only Guide available late this summer.

------------------------------

From: Anthony_Pelliccio@brown.edu (Tony Pelliccio)
Subject: NOS Like Application For Macintosh?
Date: 29 Jul 1994 02:03:38 GMT
Organization: Brown University ADIR


Ok ... now that I've finally figured out what we're doing I'll ask the
question. I have a remote office that has four Macintoshes on a localtalk
setup. We're trying to get this remote office tied into ours via SL/IP
in the least expensive way possible. As such 14.4 SL/IP has been
chosen.

What I need to do is find software for one of the Macs that will make
the dedicated SL/IP connection and also manage traffic locally, ie.
act as a router.

Someone has suggested that DOS boxes can use KA9Q's NOS to do what I'm
looking for but is there something like it for the Mac? The critical
applications we're running are a terminal emulator for a Data General
MV, and Eudora email. Anything else is secondary.

Please direct all response to email. 


Thanks,

Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR, VE ARRL/W5YI Tel. (401) 863-1880
Brown University ADIR               Fax. (401) 863-2269

------------------------------

From: josephh888@aol.com (JosephH888)
Subject: Discount Data Lines
Date: 29 Jul 1994 23:45:13 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)


The Gateway Group provides access to DISCOUNTED voice and data private
lines. 

The network is configured by utilizing capacity from all of the major
fiber companies through long-term contractual agreements. The network
has been setup to select the best pricing and traffic routes available
from fiber companies in each part of the country. This strategy has
allowed our company to offer our customers electronic and line
diversity on most circuits at the best price available.

All customers are assigned an Account Manager. The Account Manager
provides one point of contact for service, account changes, and quote
requests. All Account Managers have been trained in customer service,
trouble shooting, computer networking and PBX Networking. The
experience of each Account Managers enables an extremely high
resolution rate for line trouble shooting.

There is a one-hour return call policy. If a customer cannot reach an
Account Manager on the first try, there is a guarantee of a call-back
in less than one hour.

Provided is a comprehensive package of vice, data, video and imaging
services including:

Private Line   

D-3
Fractional DS-3 (T-3)
DS-1
Fractional DS-1 (T-1)
56 kbps DDS
DS-0 with DDS Access
DS-0 with VF Access

High-capacity switched digital services

Video Conferencing 
Band-width on demand

Beyond the basic bandwidth offerings, value-added capabilities. such
as s real-time DS-1 performance monitoring and customized billing
services, are provided.

The Network incorporates technology unmatched in the industry, utilizing
expert systems the circuits are monitored nationwide in real-time, down to
the circuit level, 24 hours a day.

The Gateway Group  
8 Buxley Court, Medford, N.J. 08055-9174
800-GATE888
JosephH888 (via AOL)
74124,2401 (via Compuservice)

------------------------------

From: christos@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Communicating Interactively Using Two PCs
Date: 29 Jul 94 19:36:06 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services


Hello there,

        I am trying to exchange data from one PC computer to another
via the RS-232 interface. I have a null modem and I am connecting
these two machines through their serial port. What I would like to do
is to have an interactive communication between the two PCs. For
example, I would like to be able to get two windows so that I can see
in one of them what I am typing and on the other one I can see what
the remote user is typing. In other words, something similar to talk
that run on Internet.

Also,

-what other programs like kermit exist that allow me to do the above that are
public domain and where can I find them? Where can I find documentation about
these programs so that I can investigate various options?
-Is there any FAQ on pc communications? Where can get that?

        I would appreciate any response.


Thanks in advance,

Chris

P.S. Please respond with e-mail. If anyone is interested in the responses
please let me know and I will mail all the information I get.

------------------------------

From: knute@netcom.com (Ed Smith)
Subject: Bring Business Long Distance Costs Down
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 1994 20:35:56 GMT


Businesses currently spending $500 to $5000 per month on telephone
bills can save an average of 30% by utilizing the services of MTC
Telemanagement Corporation. MTC is a value added switchless reseller.

Lower rates are automatic. The added value begins with: 

 1. Ongoing consulting for your future needs. 
 2. Periodic reveiws to maintain the lowest possible costs. 
 3. 7 day, 24 hour 800 service to help with any problems you may have. 
 4. FREE management reports to help you control costs.
 5. An "Intelligent Invoice" that consolidates Services and Carriers.
 6. Multiple offices or cost center consolidated on one report.

MTC offers a full range of services. They include:

 1. Interstate and Intrastate Long distance Service.
 2. 800 Service.
 3. International Callback.
 4. OneCard calling card with Passport features.
 5. T-1 Services
 6. Overnight delivery services through Airborne Express.
  
Quotes are available only if you are prepared to send a complete copy
of your most recent telephone bills. A complete set includes local,
long distance, 800, international, and calling card bills.  Our flat
rate billing is discounted for volume. Please email a request for a
FREE quote and I will email the address to send your phone bills to.
Send email to knute@netcom.com, Subject: RequestQuote.


INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR LESS
See Biz.Comp.Services
Germany $0.46, U.K. $0.29, 
Hong Kong $0.52, Brazil $0.69
knute@netcom.com

------------------------------

From: bstein@MCS.COM (Benjamin W. Stein)
Subject: Strange Cordless Phones
Date: 28 Jul 1994 08:48:06 -0500
Organization: /usr/lib/news/organi[sz]ation


The other day I was in a place in Chicago called Shutterbug. I don't
know how familiar anyone is with them, but they carry all sorts of
misc. electronics.  In their collection were three or four high range
"Export only Cordless phones" They claimed out of the box the phones
had a range of like 20-30km, and with booster packs and high mounted
antennas several hundred KM.  Anyone ever heard of these things
before?  I do believe the name on the box was Jaguar.


Thanks

Benjamin Stein   bstein@mcs.com  

------------------------------

Subject: Who Makes Two Line 900Mhz Cordless Phones?
From: howard.ball@execnet.com (Howard Ball)
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 94 22:22:00 -0500
Organization: The Executive Network Information System


I am seeking a list of manufacturers of TWO-LINE 900Mhz cordless
phones.

The only such phone I've found so far is from Hello Direct of San
Jose, CA which offers the Tropez Platinum. (I never heard of Tropez).

Does anyone know of any others?


Thanks,

Howard    Reply via Internet:  howard.ball@execnet.com

------------------------------

From: GESL@aol.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 94 13:31:02 EDT
Subject: Local Service Competition in New Jersey


COOPERATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
228 Belleville Turnpike
Kearny, NJ 07032

New LOCAL Program
Bell Atlantic Authorized Resale Carrier of ALL Local Services

Monday, July 25, 1994
Contact:        Todd Broccolo
Cooperative Communications, Inc.
1-800-215-6788 Ext. 100

Kearny Cooperative Communications Inc. (CCI) is a long distance
telecommunications company based out of Kearny, New Jersey.  Since
October 1993 CCI has had a very special agreement with BELL ATLANTIC
in New Jersey.  Cooperative has the unique ability to carry LOCAL
service, as well as LONG DISTANCE, 800 SERVICE, CELLULAR, CALLING
CARDS, and CONFERENCING all on one invoice.

The LOCAL program offers reduced monthly line charges, institutes a
flat rate for toll calls, and bills the toll calls in six second
increments with a 30 second minimum just like long distance.

Message Unit calls are still billed at their current rate, and any
LOCAL calls that are currently less than $0.10 per minute will remain
at that their current rate.  Any LOCAL calls that are currently
greater than $0.10 per minute will be reduced to $0.10 per minute! The
local rate of $0.10 per minute is also offered as the domestic LONG
DISTANCE rate!  This service also offers 800 SERVICE with a flat rate
of $0.12 per minute day, $0.10 per minute night for any call originating 
in the continental United States.

The program is currently available to any commercial business in eleven
distinct areas throughout northern New Jersey.  These areas comprise
109 different exchanges.

------------------------------

From: nieusma@InternetOne.COM (Jeff Nieusma)
Subject: AT&T HT5500 Question
Organization: Internet One
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 06:17:22 GMT


My AT&T HT5500 cordless/speaker phone just had an interesting
metamorphosis.  I can JUST BARELY hear loud noises (such as DTMF) via
the handset, but the speaker phone works fine.  I looked under the
hood and didn't see anything that jumped out at me...  Anyone had any
experience with this before?  Maybe it's just a burned out transistor?

Any pointers would be appreciated!


Jeff Nieusma     Director of Engineering
303-444-1993    <nieusma@InternetOne.COM>

------------------------------

From: marcg@arraycomm.com (Marc Goldburg)
Subject: Manufacturing Learning Curve
Reply-To: marcg@arraycomm.com
Organization: ArrayComm, Inc.
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 01:35:47 GMT


Perhaps some of you folks can help to settle a bet ... It's generally
accepted that the cost (in, say, constant dollars) of producing a
particular product decreases with the number of units shipped due to
economies of scale and improvements in manufacturing technique.  A
simple exponential model might be:

        Cost of Nth unit = (Cost of first unit) * (alpha)**N

where 0 < alpha <= 1.

I'd be interested in hearing of any such models (and, e.g., values of
alpha) that apply specifically to the production of user equipment and
service provider equipment for wireless telecom applications.

Please respond directly to me, I'll summarize for the net.


Thanks,

Marc Goldburg   marcg@arraycomm.com

------------------------------

From: ebobinsky@delphi.com
Subject: Bellcore Document for Sale
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 94 17:37:23 -0500
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)


I have a copy of Bellcore Generic Requirements Document GR-2830-CORE,
"Primary Reference Sources for Digital Synchronized Networks: Generic
Requirements" which I no longer need.  It's dated March '94, unmarked,
and sold by BC for $160.  Yours for $80.  Please call or email:
 

Eric Bobinsky   216-243-2992   ebobinsky@delphi.com

------------------------------

From: puppis@netcom.com (Eric Scott)
Subject: NET IDNX Question
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1994 18:56:42 GMT


Has anyone connected a T-1 circuit to a PRC card, created an aggregate
group of 24 DS0's, mapped it to a identically configured PRC card at
the other end of the network via a T-3 trunk?

The purpose being to pass an unchannelized T-1 circuit intact thru the
IDNX network.

Would appreciate any and all responses!

------------------------------

From: jlundgr@eis.calstate.edu (John E. Lundgren)
Subject: Re: Information on Fiber Optics Requested
Date: 28 Jul 1994 10:17:15 -0700
Organization: California Technology Project of The Calif State Univ


moodyblu@umcc.umcc.umich.edu (Matthew Scott Weisberg) writes:

> Recently, I posted a request for information on WANs for a project I
> was researching for the City of Novi, Michigan.
 
> Well, it turns out that the cable company here, MetroVision, is under
> an agreement to the city to provide Fiberoptics cable to every single
> municipal building!
 
> MetroVision is wiring the entire Oakland County with FiberOptics,
> expected to be completed by the end of 95. They have a very impressive
> network already it seems. Many of the schools here have something
> called INET, basically, the schools are using MetroVisions "B" cable
> to "share" classes on video and such. Supposedly, the original
> agreement was that Metrovisoin was to run two cables of 56 channels
> each to provide 112 channels to subscribers, however, they only run
> one cable, the "A" cable, to subscribers.  I saw some maps of their
> current network, and they apparently have 750Mhz(?) of bandwith
> available in the Novi area.

> Anyway, what I need to know is what equipment would I need to attach
> to their fiber to our 10BASET ethernet networks in each building?  How
> many strands would we need?  They are running at least 12 strands to
> each building I think ... it could be more.

For fiber that's longer than a certain distance, I think is't a
kilometer, the standard is single mode.  For interbuilding on a
campus, it's multimode.  You have to find out for sure so that you get
the right equipment on each end.  Almost all fiber is 62.5 / 125
micron.

> I also need to know some places to order the equipment from, as I need to
> get pricing ideas.

AT&T makes 'optical cable' and so does Siecor.  Anixter is a
distributor that can give you info and prices.  And the installed
cable isn't that much more than the price of installed coax.
 
> The engineer from Metrovision that came said it is not cost effective
> to run fiber between "campus" buildings.  They said there is already a

Fiber is the only way to go for new installations between buildings
because it offers total resistance to electromagnetic interference,
and total electrical isolation.

> "shadow" cable (coax) running between the buildings and we could use
> that and get like 1.54Mbps of bandwith.  I disagree and don't feel
> this is enough bandwith, especially with IPX/SPX being the bandwith
> hog it is. I also thought that costs were coming way down on fiber. Am
> I mistaken?

And the bandwidth of fiber is whatever the ends will support.
Gigabits if you've got the $$$.  So it has a built-in future.

Hope this helps.
 
------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #339
******************************
