Part I – Uploading/Downloading
This will be a short series in the proper use of the MTERM II Telecommunications software package for the Westridge 2050 modem/TS 2068 computer combination.
In this series, I hope to unravel the mystery that seems to have arisen since the release of MTERM II. I have been assured by Micro-Systems Software, developer of MTERM II, that the software itself is 100% bug-free.
The problem lies in the Instruction Manual that Westridge (Anchor) wrote to accompany MTERM II. A revised Manual is said to be on its way.
But until it arrives, I hope to provide you with enough instruction to use MTERM II a little better.
The main question that arises when talking about MTERM is:
“How do you Upload or Download with it?”
The following is step-by-step procedures in the proper use of the Upload/Download options:
UPLOADING PROGRAMS
1) After loading MTERM II, make sure your PARAMETERS are set properly. These are the Duplex, Word length, Stop bit, and Parity settings. They normally should be:
DUP: Full WORD: 8 STOP: 1 PRTY: None
To change these settings, use the “S” command on the Main Menu. These settings ARE explained briefly on pages 3-5 of the Manual.
2) Next, press “E” to Exit to BASIC. You will see the familiar flashing “K” cursor.
3) Load your BASIC program into the machine as normal. Notice I said BASIC. For now, make sure all programs you load into the buffer are 100% BASIC. It takes a little more complex routine to load Machine Code programs, and we will discuss the procedure in a future issue.
I recommend that you MERGE “” when loading the program. This is because if the program autoruns, it will be harder to break to get back into the terminal program.
4) Once the program is loaded, ENTER:
PRINT USR 54016This puts you back into the MTERM II program.
5) Next, press ENTER to return to the Main Menu. Press “D” to access the Data Buffer Menu.
6) Press “X” until the CON: setting on the bottom of the screen shows the word “HEX”. This means HEXidecimal, which is the format that you will transmit your program.
7) Press ENTER until you get to the Main Menu, and dial the BBS you want to send your program to, using the “A” command.
8) Once you have established contact with the BBS, and have gone to the Uploading section, find out what the transmit prompt is. On the RIVER CITIES SMART BBS, it is a ” ” symbol.
9) After finding out the proper prompt, press CAPS SHIFT and “8” to get back to the Main Menu. You will still be in contact with the BBS.
10) Press “D: again to get to the Data Buffer Menu. Next, press “T” to get into the Transmit Buffer sequence.
11) The program will ask for the prompt character. Input the prompt you got in step 8, and press ENTER. Press ENTER for the next two questions on the screen as you do not need to answer them.
12) At this point, the buffer should be “open” and ready to transmit. Press ENTER until you return to the Terminal mode. You will see a lot of numbers and letters scrolling across the screen. This is your program converted into hexadecimal. Once the program is finished, the buffer will close, and you are done.
DOWNLOADING PROGRAMS
This procedure is a little easier to do.
1) Follow Step 1 as above.
2) Before calling the BBS, make sure your Data Buffer is empty. To clear it, press “D” to enter the Data Buffer Menu. Then press “E” to erase the buffer. Make sure the CON: is set at HEX. Then press ENTER to get back to the Main Menu.
3) Dial the BBS in the same manner as in Step 7 above.
4) When you are on the BBS, go to the Downloading Section, and follow the instructions there. In most cases, the board will take care of opening an closing the buffer for you.
5) After the buffer has been closed, terminate your call and return to the Main Menu.
6) Press “E” to Exit to BASIC, and the program you Downloaded should be there, ready to run or save to tape.
7) To return to MTERM II again, simply enter:
PRINT USR 54016Well, that’s all there is to Uploading or Downloading a BASIC program with MTERM II. In the next issue, I will tackle the task of Uploading and Downloading TEXT FILES.
Until then…HAPPY TELECOMMUNICATING!