 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Comms on the Internet The Internet Ferret |
There are occasions when looking for something on the Internet can be a "Catch 22," when you're looking for comms information, the Internet can be a good place to start searching. Here are a few informative or interesting comms-related sites to get you started.
Hayes
http://www.hayes.com
If you don't already know it, Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. is the firm that set the standard by which all modems communicate. Right now, the big news at the Hayes web site is that Hayes is announcing support for K56flex to meet its customers' needs for high-resolution multimedia applications - like video conferencing. K56flex is a powerful modem protocol for achieving 56 kbps transmissions - over standard telephone lines. For more information about Hayes 56K technology, visit their 56K page.
The Hayes Links page includes people you should know in the industry and interesting and useful sites for all web surfers. These include:
- Association of Online Professionals (AOP)
- Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF)
- Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG)
- Quarterdeck
- The most popular search engines
http://china.si.umich.edu/telecom/telecom-info.html
A bit of ferreting around suggests this is the site previously called "Guide to Telecommunications Resources." It now features more than 2000 links and continues to be expanded and updated. Check out "Current Internet Headlines" (from Mecklermedia) for the latest news on the net.
This site includes links to information sources relating to the technical, economic, public policy, and social aspects of telecommunications. All forms of telecommunication, including voice, data, video, wired, wireless, cable TV, and satellite, are included.
Netcomm
http://www.netcomm.com.au
One of Australia's best known modem manufacturers runs a site which is unashamedly commercial. If you want to register a product online, join the NetComm mailing list, read press releases about the company, or their take on "Making Electronic Commerce Safe," this is the spot for you.
Navas 28800 Modem FAQ
http://sci.vu.edu.au/~amt/nms/faq_c.htm
Next time you have a query relating to the Internet, comms or modems, log on to this site (before calling a Melb PC Dial Help volunteer). You'll probably find a satisfactory answer amongst the hundreds readily available at this information packed repository.
A sampling of what I found:
- Fix for slow transfers with Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking
- Why do my online connections pause?
- Microsoft releases Dialup Networking Update
- Microsoft fixes Winsock memory leak in Windows 95 kernel
- What causes abrupt disconnects when I am online?
http://smallest.pharlap.com
During the past 30 years we have seen a rapid acceleration in miniaturisation in many fields. When I heard about this site from my young friend (and fellow Melb PC member), Doug Brooke, it sounded mind boggling - and it is. Check it out and see the amazing range of information you can glean from this tiny gem.
It is claimed to be the smallest Web site in the world - as it exists solely on a tiny circuit board. Phar Lap created it to show some of the many possibilities for putting embedded systems on the World Wide Web. This web server is running on a 486SLC-based Single Board Computer (PC/104) which is only 9.5 x 9 cm (3.8 x 3.6 inches) in size. The server software is running on Phar Lap's Realtime ETS Kernel. The web server provides realtime weather data from Cambridge, Massachusetts in the USA. The demonstration shows how the web can be used to access and control small, low-cost embedded systems.
Log on and you can choose from
- Current weather readings for Cambridge, Massachusetts
- High/Low/Average weather readings for today
- Table of weather readings for today
- Technical details of the "World's Smallest Web Server"
- MicroWeb Server plugins
- Online debugger
- ActiveX Gallery
- Java Gallery
- Links to other weather pages
About the author
The Internet Ferret is the pseudonym of one of Melb PC's long-time members. He has no affiliation with any of the companies mentioned.
Reprinted from the March 1997 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
