IBM COMPATIBLE SHAREWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE The following shareware and freeware telecommunications products may be downloaded from many BBSs and online services. You will likely have to unzip the programs because most BBSs and online services zip programs to save space. The beauty of shareware is that it allows you to "try before you buy." Sometimes the telecommunications software programs that come bundled with inexpensive modems are really inadequate and are a waste of your time. Do yourself a favor and try one of the excellent programs mentioned below. If you obtain one of these shareware or freeware programs, make sure that you print out (and read) the manual. The manual is usually included as a text file. The MICROLINK manual (see MICROLINK below) is in the form of a Windows Write file. The others can be loaded and printed with an editor such as EDIT (which comes with DOS 5.0 and greater) or a word processor. The nice thing about these communications programs is that most use the same commands to perform the same functions. For example, D is the usual command to bring up the dialing menu on the DOS-based communications programs. X is often used to exit communications programs. MICROLINK MicroWerks P.O. Box 768273 Roswell, GA 30076-8273 MICROLINK is a good Windows shareware telecommunications program. It has all the needed features plus a Lights Bar, a Session Window, and a Status Bar. Another fine feature in the registered version, is the ability to record scripts. Scripts make your life online easier. QMODEM TEST DRIVE Mustang Software, Inc. P.O. Box 2264 Bakersfield, CA 93303 800-999-9619 805-395-9223 FAX 805-395-0713 BBS 805-395-0650 QMODEM TEST DRIVE is a full-featured shareware telecommunications program. Unlike most shareware products, this one can be used by individuals for personal use and evaluation for an unlimited time period. Because of the many features, Qmodem is a favorite among sysops. You can download the shareware version from most BBSs, including the one run by Mustang Software, Inc. See the phone number above. They also have commercial versions called Qmodem Pro for DOS and Qmodem Pro for Windows. These have even more features than the shareware version. The folks at Mustang Software have excellent products. RIPTERM TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. 16458 Bolsa Chica #15 Huntington Beach, CA 92649 RIPTERM is a graphics-based communications program with mouse support and is a freeware program. The authors are not requesting any money at all. A freeware program is copyrighted and has copyright restrictions; however, the author is not requesting a registration fee. RIPTERM shows Rip graphics which are the latest rage on BBSs. RIPTERM is easy to set up and does a nice job. It may not have all the features, but the price is right. TELEMATE White River Software P.O. Box 73031 Limeridge Mall Postal Outlet Hamilton, Ont., Canada L9A 5H7 TELEMATE is a shareware telecommunications full-featured program that has many extras like internal multi-tasking. TELEMATE has many strong supporters and is yet another example of how some of the best programs are shareware. TELIX deltaComm Development P.O. Box 1185 Cary, NC 27512 TELIX is a full-featured communications program and is this writer's favorite shareware modem software. It is both easy to use and easy to set up. It has a modem setup program (MODEMCFG) that offers you a pick list of hundreds of modems. After choosing the appropriate modem, it will automatically customize the program to support your modem (setting your modem initialization strings, etc.). TELIX has sophisticated transfer protocols, two script languages, an advanced host mode and is very powerful. The makers of TELIX have both Windows and DOS versions available. =======================================================