#! rnews 1809 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!sgigate.sgi.com!mr.net!news.mr.ne= t!cronkite.polaristel.net!news From: damborn@hutchtel.net (Dan Amborn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: RF modulator for VIC-20 needed (or advice) Date: Sat, 29 Jun 1996 23:49:15 GMT Organization: Mustangs International, Inc. Lines: 31 Message-ID: <31d5bed2.2381220@news.polaristel.net> References: <4ql7b8$7gr@blackice.winternet= .com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 206.9.115.4 X-Newsreader: Forte Agent .99e/32.227 On 28 Jun 1996 19:03:40 +0200, dal95acn@mds.mdh.se (Anders Carlsson SdU)= wrote: >A video cable for the VIC20 is quite easily created (I did one, and I'm = no=20 >wizard with electronics nor soldering). This is the pinout for the video >connector on the VIC20. Please note it's NOT the same pinout as for the = C64: > ___ ___ > / v \ =20 > / \ 1 =3D +6V, 10mA > | 3 1 | 2 =3D GND > | | 3 =3D Audio Out=20 > | 5 4 | 4 =3D Video Low > \ 2 / 5 =3D Video High > \_______/ =20 > >I can't recall whether you use Video Low or Video High for the video >signal, but I think it you are supposed to use Video Low. So, you need >a 5-pin DIN connector, a cable with at least two wires plus ground and >two RCA jacks or what connector your TV/monitor has. I made one a while back with the help of the members of this newsgroup an= d you want to connect to the #4 Video Low pin. The #5 Video High pin is a 300 ohm outp= ut and doesn't give too clear of a picture on a composite monitor and should be avoided.= This cable will also work on a C64 but won't give as clear a picture on it as a the regul= ar C64 8 pin Din cable does. ----- Dan Amborn damborn@hutchtel.net ----- #! rnews 639 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!nntp.primenet.com!news.mathworks.= com!hunter.premier.net!insync!news.io.com!not-for-mail From: axfire@io.com (Axfire) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: MoEBIUS (free to 4th caller) Date: 5 Jul 1996 04:49:54 GMT Organization: Axfire's Fabulous Mind! Lines: 8 Message-ID: <4ri6ti$q5i@nntp-1.io.com> References: <4remrs$fgv@katbert.ipa.net> <4rh9nr$nq5@news.ysu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: xanadu.io.com X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 950824BETA PL0] Gimme. {) {)___________________________________ -(}//////#::_axfire@io.com____________________> {) =20 {) #! rnews 1465 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!news.texas.net!news.kei.com!news.= mathworks.com!uunet!in1.uu.net!01-newsfeed.univie.ac.at!02-newsfeed.univi= e.ac.at!news.ecrc.de!news00.btx.dtag.de!not-for-mail From: god.ADettke@t-online.de (Arndt Dettke) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: GoDot and .gifs Date: 1 Jul 1996 20:55:05 GMT Organization: Telekom Online Internet Gateway Lines: 21 Message-ID: <4r9dv9$3dk@news00.btx.dtag.de> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3Diso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Sender: 057184449-0001@t-online.de (Arndt Dettke) rbthomas@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca () schreibt: > Does GoDot (the commercial version) handle .Gifs? Does the demo versio= n=20 > handle .gifs? When and where will the commercial version be available = in=20 > N. America? > Thanks >=20 > -- > BRUCE THOMAS email: rbthomas@freenet.edmonton.a= b.ca > EDMONTON, Alberta, CANADA > I enGEOy my C-64 and LOVE my BB Writer!= ! > C-64 - an original Plug & Play system. Yes, of course! GIFs can be up to 1024x768 pixels, you can grab clips or = can=20 enlarge parts of the pic. The Full Version will be on market in a few wee= ks, since CMD first made their SuperCPU. Please ask at www.the-spa.com/cmd wh= en=20 GoDot actually will be available. The demo version is somewhat old (about= 1 and a half year), so GIF wasn't yet supported then. This is Arndt Dettke, GoDot coder ..$AD #! rnews 1080 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!nntp.primenet.com!news.mathworks.= com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in1.uu.net!saix!usenet From: bartelar@telkom04.telkom.co.za (Adrian Bartel) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: Zip Drives Date: Fri, 05 Jul 1996 05:24:40 GMT Organization: The South African Internet Exchange. Lines: 21 Message-ID: <4ri8kb$hs8@igubu.saix.net> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: qtts-bartelar.telkom.co.za X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.82 Dallas Legan wrote: >Anyone done anything with hooking up Iomega Zip Disk Drives >up to CBM machines out there? If an interface to connect SCSI HDs is available, it should be simple to add a SCSI ZIP drive. The parallel-port ZIP drive could be interfaced with a custom interface, but why bother? Cheers Adrian -------------------------------------------------------------- "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations." -- Tolkien -------------------------------------------------------------- #! rnews 1760 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!nntp.primenet.com!news.sprintlink= .net!news-stk-3.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!news-fw-22.sprintlink.= net!news.sprintlink.net!news-fw-12.sprintlink.net!maggie.ionsys.com!bart.= ionsys.com!xidex From: Xidex Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: c64/128 Mailing Lists / TPUG Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 01:30:09 -0400 Organization: ionsys.com Lines: 33 Message-ID: References: <9607042158.AA30343@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: bart.ionsys.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=3DUS-ASCII In-Reply-To: <9607042158.AA30343@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca> On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, Adam Vardy wrote: =20 > The Commodor mailing list. >=20 So is there a mailing list for c64/128 and how can one subscribe to it? =20 I didn't quite get what you meant by "The Commodor mailing list".=20 > BTW, I had wanted to reply to your other post about the TPUG gethering.= =20 Sure no Problem. > What are you aware about the status of TPUG? There was some discussion= a=20 > couple months ago about it with various people saying they had sent TPU= G=20 > money for membership, but never gotten anything out of it. Did you rea= d=20 > that? TPUG as far as I know is still alive. I did read the messages about=20 others concerned with TPUG that the fact they didn't receive anything and= =20 I have to agree..it's been awhile since they came out with a Newsletter=20 or even a disk of the month. =20 =20 > So TPUG is quite active then? Do you have a membership with them? >=20 They still hold monthly meetings if that's want you mean yes. I still=20 have a membership ( I think ) with them, but it doesn't really bother me=20 at all.. > - Adam >=20 Talk to you later, Gus! #! rnews 1646 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!news.texas.net!news.kei.com!newsf= eed.internetmci.com!cdc2.cdc.net!newsfeed.concentric.net!news-master!mari= ner.cris.com!Gaelyne From: Gaelyne Moranec Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: COMP.SYS.CBM: General FAQ, v3.1 Differences Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 02:04:56 -0400 Organization: Concentric Internet Services Lines: 26 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: mariner.cris.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=3DUS-ASCII Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Keywords: CBM FAQ Help List C64 C128 VIC Modem Followup-To: comp.sys.cbm Organization: Brain Innovations, Inc. Reply-To: brain@mail.msen.com Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- This file consists of context diffs for the complete COMP.SYS.CBM FAQ s= ince the last time it was posted to the newsgroup. This file can be used wi= th=20 UNIX patch program to create the newest copy of the FAQ from last month= 's copy. Read the man pages for more information on patching an old FAQ. = To read this file, note that a "-" before a line means the line deleted in= the new revision, a "!" means the line was changed, and a "+" means the lin= e was added. To aid in finding the changes in the actual FAQ, a few line= s preceding and following the changed lines are displayed. For more information on how this file was created read the man page for diff. Jim Brain COMP.SYS.CBM FAQ Maintainer. -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- No changes. =20 #! rnews 1593 Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!news.texas.net!news.kei.com!newsf= eed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news.maz.net!cls.net!deceiver!hades.cls.de= !pluton From: pluton@hades.cls.de (Jens Ellerbrock) Subject: Re: Sid chip connection help wanted X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 BETA-950824-color-rfc1342 PL0] Organization: Organized ? Me ?!? Message-ID: References: <4r946u$cq6@mn5.swip.net> Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 20:55:49 GMT X-Discordian-Date: Today is Setting Orange, the 39th day of Confusion in = the YOLD 3162 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3DISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Lines: 22 Gardus (magnus.johansson@mbox201.swipnet.se) wrote: > Hello out there! > Is there anyone out there that can help me connect > a new sidchip to my c64, if I remember right it=B4s called=20 > sid 8580? It should be a 6581, at least for the 'old' C64. The new ones have a 8581 AFAIK. The difference between then is, that the new c64 does'nt play digitized sound via $d418. (or at least not very loud). BTW: Anyone interested in a routin for playing 2-Bit digis on a new c64 ? Jens --=20 Jens Ellerbrock * Holtenauer Str 162 * 24105 Kiel * pluton@hades.cl= s.de "BELIEVE AND DECEIVE" ><> * Tel: 0431 / 806890 * Modem/x75: 0431 / 8= 4749 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- Tired and bored of your operating system ? Just go ahead and write your own multitasking multiuser os ! Worked for me all the times. -- Linus Torvalds -- #! rnews 1505 Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!news.texas.net!news.kei.com!newsf= eed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news.maz.net!cls.net!deceiver!hades.cls.de= !pluton From: pluton@hades.cls.de (Jens Ellerbrock) Subject: Re: Trilogic Expert Loader X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 BETA-950824-color-rfc1342 PL0] Organization: Organized ? Me ?!? Message-ID: References: <2571528709@news.indy.net> <836165973@p71.f411.n201.z2.ftn> <= 9607020122.AA0045o@cosine.demon.co.uk> Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 21:28:17 GMT X-Discordian-Date: Today is Setting Orange, the 39th day of Confusion in = the YOLD 3162 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3DISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Lines: 18 Jason (tmr@cosine.demon.co.uk) wrote: > : There is such a thing in the ActionReplay as well! I haven't compared= them of > : course, but just to hint you of an alternative! >=20 > Of the two the Trilogic was faster but the AR was more stable. You can speed up the AR's burst loader quite a bit without loosing stability. Jens --=20 Jens Ellerbrock * Holtenauer Str 162 * 24105 Kiel * pluton@hades.cl= s.de "BELIEVE AND DECEIVE" ><> * Tel: 0431 / 806890 * Modem/x75: 0431 / 8= 4749 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- Tired and bored of your operating system ? Just go ahead and write your own multitasking multiuser os ! Worked for me all the times. -- Linus Torvalds -- #! rnews 27648 Path: pravda.aa.msen.com!news1.best.com!news.texas.net!news.kei.com!newsf= eed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!news.sojourn.com!newsfeed.concentric.net!n= ews-master!mariner.cris.com!Gaelyne From: Gaelyne@cris.com (Gaelyne Moranec) Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: COMP.SYS.CBM: General FAQ, v3.1 Part 1/9 Supersedes: Followup-To: comp.sys.cbm Date: 5 Jul 1996 06:16:02 GMT Organization: Brain Innovations, Inc. Lines: 659 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Expires: 05 June 1996 Message-ID: Reply-To: brain@mail.msen.com NNTP-Posting-Host: mariner.cris.com Summary: This posting contains answers to questions that commonly surface= in comp.sys.cbm. This posting will tell you enough to get your computer connected to a network, fixed, and/or enhanced. This f= ile should be read by new users of comp.sys.cbm before posting to th= e group. It should also be proofread by users who are currently active in comp.sys.cbm. Keywords: CBM FAQ Help List C64 C128 VIC Modem X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Archive-name: cbm-main-faq.3.1.p1 Comp-answers-archive-name: commodore/main-faq/part1 News-answers-archive-name: commodore/main-faq/part1 Comp-sys-cbm-archive-name: main-faq/part1 Version: 3.1 Last-modified: 1996/05/15 =20 Disclaimer:=20 =20 | This file is maintained by Jim Brain (brain@mail.msen.com, j.brain@ieee= .org, | brain@acm.org). It is composed of information gleaned from articles in= the=20 | USENET newsgroup comp.sys.cbm, the FidoNET echoes CBM and CBM-128, | electronic mail messages, World Wide Web pages, and other mediums. All= =20 | the authors have either directly or indirectly given their consent to u= se=20 | their work in this FAQ. All of the information in this file has been=20 | gathered and checked if possible for errors, but I cannot guarantee the= =20 | correctness of any statement in this file. If in doubt, please bring u= p=20 | the subject in one of the Commodore forums. =20 | If you have suggestions, comments, or criticisms, please let Jim Brain | know by sending electronic mail to brain@mail.msen.com. If, you find t= hat | address no longer available, please try the forwarding accounts | j.brain@ieee.org or brain@acm.org. Keep in mind that new questions app= ear | on a daily basis, so there is a finite time between a new question=20 | appearing in comp.sys.cbm, and its inclusion in this file. The latest version of this file may be obtained from the following plac= es: =20 ftp sites: ftp://ccnga.uwaterloo.ca/pub/cbm/comp.sys.cbm/cbm-main-faq.3.1 ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/cbm/faq/cbm-main-faq.3.1.gz ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part* ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/commodore/main-faq/part* ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.answers/commodore/main-faq/part* ftp://bbs.cc.uniud.it/pub/c64/comp.sys.cbm/faq.zip ftp://ftp.armory.com/pub/user/spectre/TEXT-ARCHIVE/comp.sys.cbm.faq.3= .1.gz World Wide Web sites: http://www.msen.com/~brain/faqhome.html Bulletin Board Systems: | COMMODORE CEE BBS (916) 339-3403, FIDONET address: 1:20= 3/999 | VGA Cologne BBS +49-221-9808007 (19.2 ZyXel/ISDN)=20 | -9808008 (28.8 V.FC/ISDN) | FidoNET address 2:245= 0/140 =20 Mailservers: mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu. First nine lines of message: send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part1 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part2 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part3 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part4 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part5 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part6 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part7 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part8 send /usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part9 =20 brain@mail.msen.com (Jim Brain's Mailserver - always has latest copy) Subject: MAILSERV send faq.p* =20 Mailing List =20 To receive any major updates to the FAQ, mail: To: brain@mail.msen.com Subject: MAILSERV Body: subscribe cbm-main-faq Firstname Lastname quit =20 See Section 6 for directions on how to use these services to retrieve t= he FAQ. This file is posted to the groups comp.sys.cbm, news.answers, and | comp.answers once every month around the 5th of the month. =20 _Notes for this release_: ----------------------- =20 + Still left to add. Maybe next time.... rewrite of section 13.8. a section devoted to downloading software (maybe) changes to section 12.3 to detail hooking up monitors. =20 Most notable changes include removing many long lists, and splitting the FAQ into 9 < 32kB pieces. =20 I am gathering a list of Commodore reference books together. If you have a book, please send me the ISBN, Author, TItle, short description, number of pages, whether it has illustrations, and whether it has any code samples. Thanks. ----------------------- Lines preceded with a '|" have been modified since the last version of = this file was posted. Lines preceded by a '+' have been added since the las= t version was posted. If readers of this FAQ wish to make changes, please precede formatted l= ines sent to me with a 'C' so that I can see the changes even if you enclose header and trailer text to show context. -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Introduction 1.1. What is a FAQ 1.2. What topics does this FAQ cover? 1.3. Who decides what goes in the FAQ? 1.4. How do I retrieve updates to the FAQ? =20 2. Overview 2.1. Do people still use Commodore 8-bit machines? 2.2. How many Commodore machines are there? 2.3. What do people do with Commodore 8-bit machines? 2.4. What Commodore 8-bit machines are most widely used? 2.5. What is the economic status of Commodore? =20 3. The BASICs 3.1. How do I format a Commodore disk? 3.2. How do I transform a BASIC program to a text file? 3.3. How do I transform a text file into a BASIC program? 3.4. How can I change my drive device number through software? 3.5. Can I get my 1581 drive to change its device number on startup? =20 4. Publications 4.1. What paper publications are available? 4.2. What paper publications have disappeared? 4.3. What is a Disk Magazine? Where do I find them? 4.4. What is an Online Magazine? Where do I find them? 4.5. Are there other publications I should be aware of? 4.6. How do I know which magazines to subscribe to? =20 5. Connecting Up 5.1. How do I connect my computer to the outside world? 5.2. What services can I use to get online? 5.3. What hardware do I need? 5.4. What kinds of terminal programs exist? 5.4.1. What kinds of terminal programs exist for the 64? 5.4.2. What kinds of terminal programs exist for the 128? 5.5. Can I use my Commodore computer on Amateur Radio? 5.6. Is there TCP/IP software available for Commodore computers? =20 6. The Online Information Reservoir 6.1. How do I download? What is a transfer protocol? 6.2. What is the difference between PETSCII and ASCII? 6.3. Where can I find Commodore programs? 6.4. What is a file extension, and what do they stand for? 6.5. What is electronic mail? 6.5.1. What are mailing lists and how do I join one? 6.5.2. What is a Mail Server? How do I use one? 6.5.3. How do I contact people on Compuserve, Genie, etc.? 6.6. What is USENET or NetNews? What is a USENET newsgroup? 6.6.1. What news groups cater to Commodore 8-bit machines?=20 6.6.2. What types of discussions belong in comp.sys.cbm? 6.6.3. Which issues does comp.sys.cbm discuss regularly? 6.6.4. How do I post in comp.sys.cbm? 6.6.5. How can I access comp.sys.cbm through email? + 6.6.6. How can I read comp.sys.cbm through WWW? 6.7. What is a FidoNET echo? 6.7.1. What echoes cater to Commodore 8-bit machines?=20 6.7.2. How do I post in an echo? 6.8. What is the World Wide Web? 6.8.1. What WWW sites have Commodore information? 6.8.2. What Sites have Telnet WWW Browsers? 6.9. What is File Transfer Protocol (FTP)? 6.9.1. What FTP sites have Commodore Information? 6.9.2. What is an FTP Mail Server? How do I use one? 6.9.3. How do I send files to an FTP site? 6.10. What is Internet Relay Chat (IRC)? 6.11. What else is available online? =20 7. Exchanging Data 7.1. How do I exchange data among Commodore 8-bit machines? 7.2. How do I exchange data between an IBM(tm) and my Commodore? 7.3. How do I exchange data between an Amiga and my Commodore? 7.4. How do I exchange data between a Macintosh(tm) and my Commodore? 7.5. How do I exchange data between an Atari ST(tm) and my Commodore? 7.6. How do I exchange data between a UNIX(tm) machine and my Commodo= re? 7.7. Are there other ways to exchange data between computers? 8. Operating Systems 8.1. What Operating Systems are available? 8.2. What is GEOS? 8.3. What is UNIX? 8.4. What is CP/M 9. Demonstrations 9.1. Just what is a demonstration, or demo? 9.2. What does NTSC and PAL mean? 9.3. Where do I get demos? 9.4. What is a demo competition? 9.5 What does FLI, DYCP, etc. mean? 10. Emulators 10.1. What is an emulator? 10.2. What platforms do 64 emulators exist on? 10.3. What platforms do 128 emulators exist on? 10.4. Are any other Commodore computers emulated? 11. Troubleshooting 11.1. What do I do for my ill disk drive? 11.2. What do I do for my ill computer? 11.2.1. What do I do for my ill Commodore 64? 11.2.2. What do I do for my ill Commodore 128? 11.3. What do I do for my ill keyboard? =20 12. Modifications and Cabling 12.1. How can you alter which side a 1571 reads from? 12.2. How do I open a C128 power supply? 12.3. How do I make a cable to hook my CBM 1902A to my 64 or 128? 12.4. How do I build a simple RS-232 interface cable? 12.5. How do I build a 2400/9600 bps RS-232 interface cable? 12.6. How can I determine how much VDC video memory is in my C128? 12.7. How do I build a GEOCable interface? + 12.8. How do I connect my Commodore printer to an IBM PC? =20 13. Enhancements 13.1. How do I increase my disk drive's transfer speed? 13.1.1. What is a Fastloader? 13.1.2. What is a ROM replacement? 13.1.3. What are the disadvantages to using a drive enhancement? 13.1.4. What other things can I do to speed up the drive? 13.2. How do I expand my disk drive's capacity? 13.2.1. What is a Hard Drive? Who sells them? 13.2.2. What is 64NET? + 13.2.3. What is SERVER64? 13.3. How do I expand my computer's RAM capacity? 13.3.1. What is a Ram Expansion Unit? 13.3.2. What is a geoRAM Unit? 13.3.3. What is battery backed GeoRAM (BBGRam)? 13.3.4. What is a RAMLink? 13.3.5. What is a RAMDrive? 13.3.6. How do I expand my C128 Video RAM? 13.3.7. How do I expand my C64 internally? 13.3.8. How do I expand my C128 internally? 13.4. How do I increase my computer's speed? 13.4.1. How do I increase my Commodore 64's speed? 13.4.2. How do I increase my Commodore 128's speed? 13.4.3. Can I speed up other Commodore computers? 13.5. How do I increase my computer screen's resolution? 13.5.1. How do I increase my Commodore 64's screen resolution? 13.5.2. How do I increase my Commodore 128's screen resolution? 13.5.3. How do I increase other CBM computers' resolutions? 13.6. How do I increase my computer's serial transfer speed? 13.7. How do I increase my computer's sound quality? 13.8. What other ways can I expand my Commodore computer? =20 14. Programming 14.1. What Programming Languages are available? 14.2. What is a Cross Assembler? How do I use one? 14.3 What is an "undocumented opcode"? =20 15. User Groups 16. Sales and Service 16.1. Where do I purchase Commodore Equipment and Software? 16.2. Where do I get equipment serviced? 16.3. How do I know who to buy from or request service from? =20 17. Miscellaneous 17.1. How fast does a Commodore 64 run? 17.2. How can a turn my NTSC-M 64 into a PAL-B 64 or vice versa? 17.3. What does this IC number mean? + 17.4. What are the differences between C64 ROM Revisions? =20 18. Credits =20 =20 -----------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- 1. Introduction Welcome to the comp.sys.cbm "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) file. Many news groups maintain a FAQ file which is posted monthly, and is a repository for general interest and common information that many readers of the news group, or new readers of the news group, might be interested in. =20 =20 1.1. What is a FAQ =20 FAQ is an acronym that stands for "Frequently Asked Questions". Shortl= y after the introduction of USENET, many people noticed that certain questions were repeatedly asked in newsgroups. To minimize the posting= of answers to already answered questions, USENET developed the idea of FAQ files. After a question has been asked a number of times in the USENET newsgroup, it is added to the list of answered questions in the FAQ.=20 Then, readers are encouraged to read the FAQ to cut down on posts of repeated questions. =20 =20 A FAQ file is not solely for newcomers. Experienced users are encourag= ed to glance over the FAQ every so often to check for errors and add items. Also, it seems that everyone gets a question answered by reading the FA= Q, new user or not. =20 =20 1.2. What topics does this FAQ cover? =20 This FAQ answers questions on just about any topic concerning Commodore computers. Obviously, given the nature of the FAQ file, it is impossib= le to answer every question here, and some topics are too broad for discus= sion in the FAQ. However, when the FAQ cannot adequately answer a question,= it does provide pointers to relevant people or materials. =20 Even though a large number of people use their Commodore computer to program, the topic is much too broad for adequate coverage in the FAQ. = For those interested in programming, however, please see Section 14,=20 "Programming". =20 1.3. Who decides what goes in the FAQ? =20 Typically, a FAQ file is editted by a single person or small group of people. These editors decide what should go into the FAQ. Obviously, for the FAQ to fulfill its intended purpose, any question that has been asked repeatedly should be included, as should updates to any questions already in the FAQ. The FAQ maintainer should try to provide as=20 up-to-date information as possible in the FAQ. Above that, the FAQ maintainer can include any other information he or she deems or interes= t or value to the readers. =20 For this FAQ, the FAQ maintainer is Jim Brain, brain@mail.msen.com,=20 j.brain@ieee.org, or brain@acm.org. =20 If you have information that you feel should be included, please mail it to Jim. Please be aware that it does take time to include new information. =20 =20 1.4. How do I retrieve updates to the FAQ? The FAQ is posted twice monthly, on the 5th and 20th, to the USENET newsgroup comp.sys.cbm. It is automatically archived on the FTP site rtfm.mit.edu and automatically archived on Jim Brain's mailserver. Most Bulletin Board Systems and User Groups have a recent copy of the FAQ, and numerous magazines and other publications have included parts or all of the FAQ on disk or in print in recent months. This FAQ is called the "COMP.SYS.CBM General Frequently Asked Questions List". =20 The latest version of this file may be obtained from the following plac= es: =20 ftp sites: ftp://ccnga.uwaterloo.ca/pub/cbm/comp.sys.cbm/cbm-main-faq.3.1 ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/cbm/faq/cbm-main-faq.3.1.gz ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.sys.cbm/main-faq/part* ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/commodore/main-faq/part* ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.answers/commodore/main-faq/part* ftp://bbs.cc.uniud.it/pub/c64/comp.sys.cbm/faq.zip ftp://ftp.armory.com/pub/user/spectre/TEXT-ARCHIVE/comp.sys.cbm.faq.3= .1.gz World Wide Web sites: http://www.msen.com/~brain/faqhome.html Bulletin Board Systems: | COMMODORE CEE BBS (916) 339-3403, FIDONET address: 1:20= 3/999 | VGA Cologne BBS +49-221-9808007 (19.2 ZyXel/ISDN)=20 | -9808008 (28.8 V.FC/ISDN) | FidoNET address 2:245= 0/140