I've tried two different Kermit programs, and my transfers keep dying
after about 4 packets.  I'm trying to transfer a fairly large (about 500K)
file.  I've done Kermit transfers on my Mac without a problem, so there
must be something I'm not setting up right.  I usually get an error
message saying "Host not responding."

29 responses total.

You may need a new version of KERMIT

Okay, I think I've figured out part of the problem.  I tried a text file
and it worked great.  It then occured to me that all the files I've
transfered using my Mac have been BinHexed, and therefore text.  I *am*
setting Kermit for binary, but it won't work to send a binary file...it
dies after a few packets.  I guess something along the way must be eating
the hi bit off the file.  (Yes, I did do a "stty pass8" first.)

I cant even get kermit tranfers to START,let alone stop in the middle

Unless parity is set to "none" (8 data bits) Kermit will only use 7
to send data, even binary data. I recommend you set parity to
space (7 data bits) at both ends and also make sure both ends know
that the transmission is a binary file. 

There are lots of gremlins out there to stop 8 bit data transmission over
a telnet session, although some people know how to manage it.
stty pass8 shouldn't be needed.

This response has been erased.

Yeah, I'll try setting parity to SPACE.  That thought just occured to me,
too.  Unfortunately, that'll only work on the Kermit I use on my IBM; my
Mac terminal program has a stripped-down Kermit protocol that can't do 7/8
bit conversion.  Anybody know where I can get a decent Kermit that'll run
on a Mac 512K (System 3)?
        Re popcorn's question, I use Michnet to get to the Mlink gopher,
then use that to telnet here.  I can't get directly here thorugh Michnet,
since I don't has a authorization.

You're probably out of luck trying to find a Kermit for that 512K Mac.

This response has been erased.

I'm *not* local.  I live in Alma.

   If you are comming in from Merit, before you start the transfer,
do this:  Do a BREAK, then type "%transparent" and hit return.  This
will make Merit go into a transparent mode, such that 8bit stuff
will pass through.  This works for downloading from Grex, but
uploads might give you some problems.  Anyway, try it.

What is the difference between %transparent, %binary=on, and %bpc=8?

 Good question.  I just tried uploading something after setting 
%bpc=8.  Didn't work.  I will try the %tranparent thing, though.

Thanks for the tip -- didn't know about %transparent.  Though I've
usually found that %bpc=8 works for uploading and downloading.

sheesh, never heard of %transparent, and I've been using merit
for a long time now.

   %transparent and %telnet binary are the same thing.

   Going into this mode sets:
    Style=Character
    Echo=Off
    Binary=On
    Reader=Off
   so you can do the same thing yourself, but transparent
is faster.  There *may* also be other things that it does,
too, but I haven't been able to determine what they are.

Doing this has let me send via zmodem infinate file size
off grex, and has actually let me upload really short files
into Grex--something that isn't supposed to be doable.

   Don't worry Dave, there are lots and lots and LOTS of
things you can do via the concentrators.  It's a really
wonderful, if now baroque technology.

Thanks Steve. By keeping kermit packet lengths short, I can upload
via kermit protocol files of arbitrary size. I'll see if I
can do more with zmodem downloads now that I know %transparent.

If you know you are going to be doing these transfers, can't
you issue %bpc=8  right at the Which host? prompt and forego sending
the <break> ?

Yes, that should work.

When I tried %transparent, I got the message "Unknown Network Command"
or words to that effect.

Yup... and I tried %bpc=8 and all I get is CRC errors etc. etc. etc...

I use %bpc=8 exclusively, gave up on %transparent years ago.  I get
a few errors, sure.  But no more than I'd expect for what I'm trying
to do (pull 8 bit data through a network that wasn't set up for 8bit
data).

   Thats really odd, john.  Next time, if you want to try
it, do a %hello and record the info if transparent still
gives you trouble.  I'd like to know which concentrator doesn't
understand about %trans.

%bpc=8, %transparent, etc. don't work on the Michnet node here. 
Apparently it is nonstandard; all a BREAK does is reset it.  However, I
think it is 8 bit by default, because when I use it to get to leo.nmc.edu
I can use Xmodem without any trouble.

There is also the   %ibpc=8   and %obpc=8  (where i/o coorespond
to the usual words, in other words, individual control incoming
and outgoing).

This response has been erased.

by the way what you're taklking 'bout is bullshit

It is? How so?

Actually, if it's BS then it's rather old BS, since the last
response before yours was posted in 1994.

Michnet doesn't run any pdp-11's anymore.

        That's OK. I suspect gull isn't in any hurry for input on this
        right now, either ;-)

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss