CompuServe Thread

Get Backtalk from the AmigaUser library (it's a great terminal program), and check into Whap! in the AmigaVendor ATI library. Whap! will automatically log you into CIS, get messages, send messages, upload and download files….it's great! Steve

Hilary… Download the Demo version of WHAP! in AmigaVendor forum, ATI/WHAP library (WHP19G.SFX). That file is a SELF-EXTRACTING archive. Just put it in a directory on your hard drive named "WHAP", open a shell, CD to that directory and then enter WHP19G.SFX. Read the docs and install the KD_FREQ.LIBRARY. Whap automates forum messaging, Email, library cataloging and downloading/uploading and is pretty much point and click. Whap is a TRY BEFORE YOU BUY program. If you like it, you can order the registered version by sending $39.95 (or something like that) to ATI. They will then send you a binary EMAIL that your demo version will pick up and use to upgrade you to the fully registered version (sans guilt screens and with some added flexibility). Whap! also allows you to 'STAY ONLINE' in interactive mode, by automatically starting up a regular terminal program. But it needs a terminal program that can share the serial port. Programs like ONLINE! (MSS) won't work for this, but BackTalk (available in AmigaUser/communications library) works very well with whap!. Michael ….from the north coast

Hilary, Any (external) modem will work with an Amiga; it doesn't have to be an "Amiga Modem" _per se_. I would recommend getting at least a 2400 bps modem. They aren't terribly expensive these days. If you can afford it, get yourself a v.32bis modem. They have a "base" data rate of 14,400 bps, and are getting relatively inexpensive (about $300). As for what software to use with CompuServe, you're best off with Whap!. The demo version of Whap! is available in the ATI section of the AmigaVendor Forum. It's rather persinickity to set up, but once going it's great. Whap! is an automated Forum "navigator", ala CIM. Whap!'s user interface is almost totally mouse controlled. You do have to use the keyboard to set it up (gotta fill in those requesters), but outside of that, it's all mouse oriented. Once you've got Whap! set up, and you're happy with it, send ATI a check, and they'll send you a binary EasyPlex that will convert your demo version to the full registered version. That will enable a number of features that are disabled in the demo version, and get rid of the annoying "guilt" screens. IMO, Whap! is well worth the money — I use it for all my CIS Forum reading. For general usage, and non-Forum use on CIS, I use VLT. I'm quite happy with it. Other folks will no doubt recommend programs such as JRComm or NComm. Since I don't have either one, I can't say anything about them, other than that people who do use them seem to be fairly happy with them. I'm pretty sure that the latest versions of all these programs are available here on CIS — in the AmigaUser Forum, I think. Oh, if you're going to be doing a lot of interaction with a Unix (BSD 4.2 or higher only) system, you should probably look into Matt Dillon's DNet software. It will allow you to open multiple streams over a single serial connection. Thus, you could do a file upload, a file download, and several shell windows, all at the same time. DNet v2.20 (the latest) is also available [ MORE ]

[ continuation ] here on CIS. –dds (dales@teksce.SCE.TEK.COM) Whappeta-whappeta-Whap!

Hilary, You want Whap! (WHP19G.LZH or WHP19G.SFX) from the ATI library in AmigaVendor. The program you download will be a working demo which you can try out and get working well before you register it. After registration, some annoying guilt screens go away, and an extra feature or three are added. It's a great program, much faster than CIM, but doesn't use HMI (as CIM does) because CIS has not released HMI for any computers except MS-DOS and Macintosh. Betty