COMMUNICATING =============== by Ian Vanderfield Communications have come a long way since Alexander Graham Bell first talked to someone using a wire. In the last decade computers have become more integral to telecommunications. Technological developments have been rapid with major advances in optical fibres, integrated circuits, satellites, modems, video-imaging, cellular and digital telephones. The list goes on and on, with talk now of Informatics - video-text, electronic mail, on-line DataBases, telex - do you have your Fax?? In Australia, people are separated by large distances, and the advances being made in technologies for communicating provide the chance to bring us all a little closer together. There can be no doubt that more changes in our social and economic situations are inevitable as this trend continues. However, the bottom line is that, all this hi-tech hardware and software involves people with ideas and feelings, not just bits and bytes! We shall, because of the nature of computing, continue to cover this topic, and try to provide useful information about it for users. It can be a lot of fun dialing up a Bulletin Board Service (BBS) and finding the answer to the nagging problems you've been having with solving Mindlessly, or some routine in your latest program. It means that Jack, in Perth, can quickly and easily send his new musical piece, or a picture, or his side of their business accounts to his mate, Brian, in Sydney. To this end, we have been gathering what information we can on User Groups and BBS that serve Amiga owners. If you have a BBS that you'd like users to know about, or a group which meets to share problems and interests, let us know. We are only too pleased to give the details a plug. BBS & User Groups =================== NSW - AmigaMan BBS (047) 58 8006 run by the Australian Amiga User Association P.O. Box 389, PENRITH, 2750. - Club Amiga BBS (02) 521 6338 (300 & 1200 baud) - Contact BBS (02) 550 1004 Amiga section run by Steven Williams - Sydney Metropolitan Amiga User's Group (SMAUG) meets the 2nd Sunday each month in Chegwyn Street, Botany phone: Richard Simpson - 524 5056, or Greg Kable - 558 0638 (A.H.) - 923 9549 (B.H.) - Burwood User's Group meets the 1st Monday of each month organised by Rod from the MicroComputer Spot, Burwood. - Armidale User Group, New England c/- 3/217 Beardy Street, Armidale, 2350. organized by Basil Slinter. VIC - Down Under Software BBS (03) 429 5819 (03) 429 8079 run by Greg Hudson 1 Botherambo Street, Richmond, 3121. - AmigaLink BBS (03) 792 3918 run by Bohdan Ferens (V21, V22, V23 - FidoNet) - Amiga Users Group P.O. Box 48, Boronia, 3155. meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at 2pm. in the Victoria College, Burwood Campus. - Shepparton Amiga Users' Group c/- 6 Field Street, Shepparton, 3630. organized by Dale Anwyl ACT - Canberra BBS (062) 381 2988 - ACT BBS (062) 59 1137 SA - S.A. Commodore User Group meet the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Gilles Street Primary School Contact Dr.Ian Murdoch (08) 270 1577 NT - Amiga User's of the Northern Territory (AUNT) c/- 4/4 Armidale Street, Stuart, 5790. organized by R.Rawinski WA - The Amicable UserGroup c/- Trycosopht 41 Ford Road, Busselton, 6280. ph: (097) 524 023 organized by Stephen Strong That is all we have at the moment. I have heard there is a Mt.Isa User Group, but have no details. I'm sure there must be things happening in sunny Queensland, and not so sunny Tasmania, for Amiga owners - so how about some info??? The group in Shepparton consist of only 5 members at the moment, and already they've started putting together their own Disc-mag. So it doesn't take much effort, just a little time and organization. Maybe they will inspire others to form groups. Finally, I want to point out that it's worth thinking carefully before buying a modem. The review of the subject here should help provide you with some understanding of the terms, etc.. However, you also have to understand your own needs - will you make use of a modem? Will it be worthwhile, or are there others ways you can make the same contacts and get the same information? Will you be able to afford using your modem? (the joys of dealing with a communication monopoly are few and far between) If you decide to jump into the world of computer communications I have one piece of advice. Modems can be bought in kit form for only $160 that you can use on the Amiga, or you can go the whole hog and opt for the latest super-smart-intelligent hi-tech units that cost $2000. In between there is a wide range of prices, but I don't advise trying to be too cheap. A little more money spent up front - enough to get a modem that will operate at 1200 baud, rather than the usual 300 baud, is in the long run cheaper. You can download files in one quarter of the time if your modem runs at 1200 baud. OK! END OF COMMUNICATING | | V