The Desktop BBS Column

Instructions on uploading a file to The Desktop BBS

This is basically to show you how to upload a file to Type Tamer's BBS
using the Terminal package supplied with Windows.

Firstly, open up Terminal, and make sure it is communicating with your modem

  • On most modems, this is done by typing AT and ENTER. the modem should reply OK. Also be sure that the modem speed is not set at the default of 1200 baud, especially if you have a 14.4k or 28.8k modem. This should be set near, or in some cases above the normal modem speed.

    Next, dial into the Desktop BBS (Type Tamer's BBS System).
    The phone number is (09) 249-6414.

  • On most modems, this is done by typing ATDT2496414 for a tone dial or ATDP2496414 for a pulse dial, , and waiting for a CONNECT message. You may also get a BUSY (BBS has another caller) or NO CARRIER message (BBS is not answering the phone. Ring us on 249-2972 to see why!). You may also get a NO CARRIER message from pressing a key while the modem is dialing or waiting for a connect).

    A few seconds after you have connected to the BBS you will get a message telling you to press <> or to wait a few seconds. Press the key to enter the BBS. After a few seconds, the BBS will load. The BBS will ask you for your name. Just type this in and press <>. If you haven't called before, it will ask you if this is the name you want to use on the BBS. press 'Y' if it is, or 'N' to enter in another name.

    Next, the BBS will ask for some information about you. When asked, type in your city / state, and phone number. The BBS will then prompt you for a password. Your password is to make sure that you are the only person to use your name on the BBS. It should be more than 4 letters, and should not be told to anyone. The BBS will ask you to enter it again to make sure that it got it right.

    You'll then be asked a couple of questions about your terminal. When asked if your terminal supports ANSI type Y for yes. When asked if you want IBM characters, answer Y. When asked if you want 'hotkeys' answer Y.

  • When dialing the BBS next time, you only have to enter your name and password to get to the welcome screen.

    The BBS should then display a welcome screen, and sometimes a news bulletin. To cycle through these, press the ENTER key. The BBS will then check for new mail. Just wait a minute, and you should see the main menu. Here, you should type F to enter the files menu. Here, type U for upload, then X for X-Modem. The BBS will ask you for a filename. Type the filename only of the file you want to send. i.e. if your file is C:\COREL50\JOBS\50432.CDR type 50432.CDR, and press ENTER. The BBS is now ready to receive your file. Go to the Transfers pull down menu, and select Send Binary File. Use the file selector to select the file you wish to send (in this case C:\COREL50\JOBS\50432.CDR), and click OK. This should start sending the file e to the BBS.

  • If you have any problems, call us on (09)249-2972!

    The amount of time that the file takes to send depends on the size of the file, and the speed of the modem. In general it will take an hour to transmit 1 megabyte over a 2400 modem, or 20 minutes on a 14.4k modem. Once the transfer is finished, the BBS will ask you to enter a description of the file. An example is
    File to be output to bromide 80 line for WYSIWYG design please!
    Just press on a blank line to finish.

    Once you have done that, it should bring you back to the File menu. To disconnect from the BBS, type G for goodbye, then Y then N to the next 2 questions. Please fax us on 249-4817 with a proof of the finished job (so we know what it should look like) and a description of the output you require!

    The Desktop BBS is available 23 hours a day on +61-9-249-6414.

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