Tips, Hints and Kinks
from NCTCUG

Nick Wenri (NCTCUG)

I have finally recovered from my last weekend visit to the Gaithersburg HamFest. I spent my money on a bunch of treasures, including a "new" Motorola 33.6K external modem. I have since found out that Windows 95 with it's "Plug and Play" capabilities is rather picky, and things are not like the "good old days". I was given some software with the modem, including a "QuickLink" disk which includes the device description file for the modem. Unfortunately the device description, an "inf" file was for a Motorola 33.6 modem, but not the one I had.

Windows 95 is rather good about recognizing that a new piece of hardware has been attached to the computer. In the case of the modem, I previously had another similar Motorola 28.8K external modem connected. When I first tried using the 28.8 setting, I got no response from the modem at all. I had to install the modem (load the "inf" file that was on the QuickLink disk. (One would think since the modem was connected to a serial port, that the other 28.8 driver would work, but that was not the case.) I could load up HyperLink, and "talk" to the modem using the AT commands. I could even dialup the NCTCUG BBS that way, but any attempt to use the "dialup network" feature of Windows 95 resulted in failure, until I loaded the modem file from the QuickLink disk.

After loading the QuickLink driver, which stated that the modem was an External Motorola 33.6 modem, at least the dialup networking would work, sort of. The modem would dial my service provider, Erols, and make a connection, but the "HS" (High Speed) light on the modem remained dark. This meant that I was connecting at a modem speed of 14.4K or less. After connecting to the Motorola Web site, and downloading the latest version of the Modem BIOS program, plus the proper "inf" file for the particular model of modem that I have, I finally have achieved a connection at 30K plus, and the HS light is lit. So, if you do not have the proper "inf" file available for a device under Windows 95, you may not be getting the proper performance from the device. Also, WIN95 with it's Plug and Play facilities, makes it a little more difficult to change hardware, even items connected via the serial port then under good ole MS Dos days.

From the Computer Guys Listserv:

Two very useful Netscape commands which you may find interesting.

In the location space type about:global for a complete listing of all unexpired links that the computer has followed. Under the options menu of Netscape if you have "never expire" selected you might have a very large number of links. My brother found 348,000 on a library computer in OK City.

If you enter about:cache you get date and time information for all links in the cache, you also get a hot link to that item. For anyone concerned with Internet usage in a school setting, these commands are quite helpful.

Bill Byles
Teaching and Learning Academy
Memphis City Schools
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