TYPE AUSTPAC.DOC TYPE Ver 5.3 - Multiple file lister CTL-S pauses, CTL-X skips to next file, CTL-C aborts ===> LISTING FILE: AUSTPAC .DOC AUSTPAC -------------------------------- 1 . Austpac General Information 2 . Austpac Logon Instructions 3 . Austpac Error Codes 4 . Setting Austpac PAD Parameters 5 . Austpac Phone Connections 6 . ------> AUSTPAC UPDATE <------ AUSTPAC GENERAL INFORMATION -------------------------------- Charges : You can calculate your Austpac charges based on the following rates Peak ( 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday ) : $4.95/hour Off-peak ( all other times ) : $3.95/hour. A minimum call charge of $0.20 applies to cover your local call fee (which is charged to us) and the Austpac minimum time and data charges. General info : AUSTPAC allows users to connect to T.A.B. cheaper that S.T.D. from anywhere in Australia. It is a "Packet Switched Data Service" designed specifically for computer or terminal data transfer over Telecom phone lines. A number of other services are available via Austpac and information on these can be obtained by ringing one of the following numbers : Head Office : (03) 606.7772 N.S.W. : 267 6699 Victoria : 605 6250 Queensland: 225 6400 South Aust: 225 7435 West. Aust: 420 7230 Tasmania : 20 8800 A.C.T. : 45 5555 "Packet Switching" can be defined as "the routing of data in discrete quantities called packets, each of controlled format and with a maximum size". The service is implemented on a completely new network designed specifically to provide universal, shared, intelligent network for switched data communications. A variety of conventional terminals, or computers emulating terminals, can communicate with us via a Telecom adaption facility called PAD (packet Assembly/Disassembly facility). The PAD controls the format and flow of data in both directions. If you would like a copy of the Austpac "Asynchronous Character Data Terminal Users Guide" contact one of the above phone numbers. This will explain how to use Austpac correctly and also explains how to set your own parameters if the standard PAD Profile 7 does not suit your terminal/computer. There are times when Austpac will not be available for general use due to maintenance and upgrading. These interruptions may occur at any time without notice, but the frequency of these interruptions should become less and less as the system is fine-tuned. AUSTPAC LOGON INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------- To connect to T.A.B. via Austpac, you should first establish a connection with the PAD (Austpac). The procedure for this is as follows : 300 BAUD : 1. Dial the Austpac number 01921. This number is available from any automatic telephone exchange in Australia. 2. When you get the carrier signal, connect your coupler or switch your modem to DATA. 3. Wait about 5 seconds, and then press H followed by carriage return (Note: all input at this stage must be in upper case only.) You should then get the message AUSTPAC, which indicates a successful connection has been made. If the word AUSTPAC appears on your screen prior to entering H, connection has already been made and this step is not necessary. This procedure identifies your baud rate to Austpac, as this phone number is for all terminals operating between 110 to 300 baud. 4. type PROF 7 (carriage return). This sets the PAD profile, or characteristics to the Austpac standard profile number 7, which is the profile most suited for connection to T.A.B. 5. You must then enter our identification code, which is ?238220000 (carriage return). Note : the question mark IS required! After a short pause, the message COM should be returned and you will then get the T.A.B. logon message. Proceed as per normal from this point on. 1200/75 BAUD : 1. Dial 01923 instead of 01921. This is Austpacs' Teletext facility which does provide the capabilities of connecting to us. You do NOT need to enter H for this connection, as the baud rate is fixed. 2. follow steps 4 to 6 (above) to connect to T.A.B. If you have any difficulties at all, please write to username TAB on the system or call us on (03) 813.1133. AUSTPAC ERROR CODES -------------------------------- 1 . Austpac Codes Information 2 . CLR DER 3 . CLR DTE 4 . CLR ERR 5 . CLR INV 6 . CLR NC 7 . CLR OCC AUSTPAC CODES INFORMATION -------------------------------- The following codes are a few of the codes which may be returned by the PAD. They are usually in the format of: CLR XXX nnn, where "XXX" equals the code and "nnn" is an I.D. number associated with that message. The I.D. number is only of use if it becomes necessary to inform us of the code received, whereapon you should give us the complete code received. CLR DER -------------------------------- This error is returned when our Austpac link is unavailable. Please call the T.A.B. Hotline number and leave a message. CLR DTE -------------------------------- This code is returned when you have been disconnected by us after logoff or due to some other fault. If you get this message other than after logoff, please let us know. CLR ERR -------------------------------- This error code is returned due to a procedure error cuased by the operator, e.g. incorrect format. CLR INV -------------------------------- This error code is returned by an error in your TAB I.D. entry. Try again with the correct identification - ?238120000 CLR NC -------------------------------- This code is returned when a network condition exists such as (1) temporary congestion or (2) a temporary fault. This code is returned by Austpac itself and is not related to T.A.B. Try again later. CLR OCC -------------------------------- This error code is returned when the number required is busy. This means that either all available lines are currently in use or the system is temporarily unavailable for some reason. Try again later. SETTING AUSTPAC PAD PARAMETERS -------------------------------- 1 . Pad Parameters - General Info. 2 . PAR 1 - PAD RECALL 3 . PAR 2 - ECHO 4 . PAR 3 - FORWARDING SIGNAL 5 . PAR 5 - XON/XOFF BY THE PAD 6 . PAR 6 - PAD MESSAGES 7 . PAR 7 - "BREAK" SIGNAL OPERAT'N 8 . PAR 9 - CARRIAGE RETURN PADDING 9 . PAR 12 - XON/XOFF BY THE USER 10. PAR 16 - DELETE CHARACTER PAD PARAMETERS - GENERAL INFO. -------------------------------- This section describes each of the RELEVANT PAD parameters and how to set them for your particular terminal if required. Each menu item first notes the default setting (Profile 7) which is set when you type PROF 7 before connecting to T.A.B. There are a number of standard "PROFILES" which can be set when using Austpac. These profiles differ according to the requirements of the user. The profile closest to that required with T.A.B. is profile number 7. However, because there are so many different terminal types being used, requirements may differ, particularly in the area of the delete character. Therefore, we have created this section for the benefit of users who wish to alter the paramameters they work with. All parameters can be altered prior to connecting to T.A.B. by use of the SET? command. Any number of parameters can be altered at one time. It should be noted that you can only issue up to three PAD commands prior to connecting to T.A.B. Once connected to T.A.B. you can issue a command to the PAD to change any parameters. To do this, you must enter the "PAD RECALL" character (default is CTRL-P). Nothing will be displayed on the screen to prompt you at this stage. After issuing your PAD command, you will be automatically placed back into the T.A.B. system. As usual, if you have any problems with this, please feel free to contact us on (03) 813.1133 during Melbourne business hours or send us a note via Electronic Mail to username TAB. PAD PARAMETER 1 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : DLE (CTRL-P) This parameter allows a user to exit the "Data Transfer State" to the "Command State" to issue ONE PAD command. Possible values are : 0 : No PAD RECALL character is defined. All characters sent from the users' terminal are forwarded to T.A.B as data, with full transparency. Note : when parameter 1 has a value of 0, the BREAK signal may be used for PAD recall if parameter 7 is set to value 8. 1 : (DLE or CTRL-P). 32 to 126 (decimal) : Decimal value of binary number representing the character to be interpreted as the PAD recall character. After issuing the PAD recall, you are placed in the PAD COMMAND mode, and the NEXT set of characters sent by you are treated as PAD commands. There is no prompt from PAD at this point, unless you have parameter 6 (Indications) set to 5. This will result in a prompt of *. If you have typed a line, but have not yet sent it through to T.A.B. by pressing carriage return, using the PAD recall character will send the data through. Therefore, if you use the delete key on this text AFTER altering a PAD parameter, it will have no effect, as the data will have already been transmitted. PAD PARAMETER 2 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 1 (echo on) This parameter specifies whether Austpac (PAD) echoes each character entered. Echo is usually only turned off when the user is in "half-duplex" mode, i.e. the characters typed are sent to the screen as well as through your acoustic coupler or modem. If you can change your terminal program from full duplex to half duplex it can be used to check that what you type is being correctly received and interpreted by Austpac. Possible values are : 0 : no echo 1 : echo enabled. PAD PARAMETER 3 -------------------------------- Default Parameter in Profile 7 : 2 - CR (carriage return) When using Austpac, all data is stored by the PAD until the "Data Forwarding Signal" is received. Then the information stored by the PAD is sent through to us. The standard preferred data forwarding signal is CR (carriage return), but the other possibilities are : 0 : no data forwarding signal. 2 : data forwarding signal is carriage return (CR). 6 : and are all data forwarding signals. 18: and are data forwarding signals. 126: All non-printing characters (including DEL) are data forwarding signals. These characters are : NUL, SOH, STX, ETX, EOT, ENQ, ACK, BEL, BS, HT, LF, VT, FF, CR, SO, SI, DLE, DC1, DC2, DC3, DC4, NAK, SYN, ETB, CAN, EM, SUB, ESC, FS, GS, RS, US Note 1 : when parameter 3=126, editing characters (including delete) should be selected from the non-printing characters listed above, to avoid conflict of use. Note 2 : The data forwarding signal is included in the data sent through to T.A.B. and is the last character in each "packet". Note 3 : Other conditions which cause data to be sent to T.A.B. from PAD are : A full PAD buffer (packet) of up to 128 characters, providing this data does not include a data forwarding signal. Receipt of a BREAK signal. Escape to PAD Command mode. Receipt of PAD messages (i.e. from Austpac, not T.A.B.) PAD PARAMETER 5 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 1 Possible values are : 0 : The PAD does not generate X-ON & X-OFF characters. 1 : The PAD uses X-ON and X-OFF for flow control. In certain circumstances, for reasons of flow control the PAD may be momentarily unable to transmit data to the correspondent, and if parameter 5 is not zero, the PAD will send to the users' terminal/computer an X-OFF character (CTRL-S). The users' terminal should then cease to transmit characters. To indicate that it is able to accept further characters, the PAD will then send the user an X-ON character. In particular, the PAD will send an X-OFF character under the following conditions : 1. Providing parameter 1 (PAD recall) is not zero, when the user sends the PAD recall character, which causes the PAD to stop transferring data and expect a command. 2. Provided parameter 6 (PAD service signals) is not zero, when an indication or answer has to be transmitted to the PAD> The PAD always transmits an X-ON each time it first connects to T.A.B. Note : X-ON = DC1 X-OFF = DC3 NOTE : If you wish to upload or download, then this parameter should be set to 0 prior to this operation. PAD PARAMETER 6 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 1 Possible values are : 0 : The PAD does not transmit any messages or indications to the users' terminal. Instead, the PAD behaves exactly as if it had just transmitted the indication. The users' terminal will receive no information about call progress, resets, etc. Care should be exercised in setting parameter 6=0 if interaction is required. T.A.B. recommends that you do not use this setting. 1 : The PAD transmits indications to the users' terminal, either in response to a command or to report an error. 5 : The PAD transmits indications (as for value 1) but also transmits the prompt PAD signal. It does this to indicate that it is waiting for input from the user. The prompt signal is followed by a * PAD PARAMETER 7 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 21 (DISC, INT, BRK) When a BREAK is entered from a terminal, it results in a physical break on the communications line. Possible values are : 0 : No action taken. 1 : INTERRUPT 2 : RESET 8 : Escape from Data Transfer. 21: Interrupt, Indication of break PAD message, and discard data. PAD PARAMETER 9 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 4 possible values are : 0 : no padding after carriage return. n : ("n" = 1 to 7 - inserts 1 to 7 "NULLS" after carriage return). This parameter specifies whether the PAD should transmit NULLS after it transmits a carriage return to the users' terminal. This is particularly useful if the user is using a hardcopy terminal or has a slow printer "chained" to his micro/terminal to copy all data received to paper. It operates the same way as the T.A.B. PAD command. It is used to ensure that characters are not sent when the mechanical device is being returned to the left hand margin of the printer/hardcopy terminal. Padding may be non-printing characters or time-fill. PAD PARAMETER 12 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 1 This parameter detirmines whether the users' terminal can control the flow of data to and from the PAD by use of X-ON and X-OFF characters (CTRL-S & CTRL-Q). Possible values are : 0 : The PAD regards X-ON and X-OFF characters as data characters, and as such does not act on them when received. 1: The PAD interrupts the transmission of data to the users' terminal when it receives an X-OFF character. This X-OFF state remains until the PAD receives an X-ON character from the terminal, or until the PAD Recall character is received. NOTE : If you wish to UPLOAD (SAVE) or DOWNLOAD, then this parameter should be set to 0 prior to this operation. PAD PARAMETER 16 -------------------------------- Default parameter in Profile 7 : 8 (BS or Backspace). Possible values are : 0 to 127 (decimal) : the decimal value of a character is to be used as the "character delete character". This is the most common delete character used, but some terminals/computers may require the use of ASCII 127 (delete). Users Users should set both their PAD parameter 16 and their T.A.B. DELCHR to the same value. AUSTPAC PHONE CONNECTIONS -------------------------------- If your modem does not have a phone attached, your telephone hookup should be as per Telecoms' Mode 3 connection. This is outlined for your information as follows, although Telecom can easily install this for you. Any other connection, particularly if there is more than one phone on the circuit, can result in attenuation of signal strength, which can result in "garbage" on line. If you are using any other connection type and have more than one phone installed, you should unplug all unnecessary telephones. If you are using a "Y" connector, we suggest you unplug the telephone AFTER you have established contact with Austpac (i.e. received carrier tone). Because the Austpac carrier is often weaker than a normal dial-up line, it is important that your receive and transmit sensitivity is as high as possible. Acoustic couplers should be adjusted to a level of -10dB. For the 1200/75 b.p.s. service, the speed must be accurate to +1% and -2 1/2%. MODE 3 TELEPHONE CONNECTION ---------------------------------------- incoming ! ! exchange line ! ! 2 ! ! 6 611 ! ! socket o--------- o ! ! \!/ \!/ o o o ----------------- M ! ! ! ! O ! -------)-------------------- ! D ! loop ! 1! !5 E ! relay ! ! ! M ! ! ! ! ------------ ! ! ! ! --------------- ! ! ! ! ----------- ! ! ! ! ! ! ----!----!----- phone ! 2! !6 ! 610 plug ! ! ! ! socket ----!----!----- ! ! \!/ \!/ to phone Basically, what the above diagram describes is as follows : The incoming line goes to pins 2 and 6 on a Telecom 611 socket. This must be the first socket in the circuit. Then run a pair from pins 1 and 5 of the same socket to pins 2 and 6 on a Telecom 610 socket. Any further telephone extensions can be paralleled to pins 2 and 6 and as many sockets as is required. It should be noted that when the modem is switched to data, ALL telephones in the circuit will be disabled. AUSTPAC UPDATE -------------------------------- AUSTPAC : If you have any difficulty with Austpac connection to us, please advise via Electronic Mail to TAB or via the hotline. All relevant information will be passed on to Telecom and Data General. WHO TO CALL If you are disconnected from the system when connecting via Austpac please call 1107 (free call), (N.S.W. users - (02) 211.0711) ask for Austpac Division and report the problem. DELETE AND CLR DTE Austpac users please use your BACKSPACE key ONLY (ASCII 8) to delete characters until further notice. Do NOT use DELETE (ASCII 127). Also type SET?15:1 after you have typed PROF 7. Alternatively, after you have logged on, type CTRL-P SET?15:1. This will cut down the incidence of the CLR DTE 000 message! NOTE - The TAB Austpac ID number is now ?238220000.