Review: Larken MAXCOM

MAXCOM is 300/1200 baud Terminal/Remote BBS software… It is 2 programs in one meant to be used with the LKDOS operating system. Larken claims that it can download files as large as 110K, and when running at 1200 baud will not miss any characters. It features a 64 column display and IBM monochrome graphics capability (not ANSI).

The package comes on disk with a nice operating manual which explains how to use the software in a clear and precise manner. There are 2 version of MAXCOM, one is to be used with the 2050 modem (300 baud) and the other is for a Z-SIO RS232 interface with a 1200 baud modem.

The Terminal has all the functions you would expect: DUPLEX TOGGLE, BUFFER OPEN/CLOSE, UART SET UP (8/1/N or 7/1/E), SEND FILE (upload), RECEIVE FILE (download), XMODEM TRANSFERS, ASCII TRANSFERS, AUTO DIALER, and HANG UP. The BBS features various message bases and file transfers (disk access) and more!

When I tested the software, I noticed a few minor bugs that I am sure Larken Electronics will have already fixed by the time you read this review. The first one was with the 64 column display… It actually prints 63 columns only! Another bug was found in the Xmodem Protocol, when you send (upload) a file, the program does not check the End Of Transmission correctly and keeps sending codes (04H EOT). This can be stopped by pressing SYMBL+A [STOP] when you are in Terminal mode but is a major bug when in BBS mode since you may not always be there when someone is calling you and is trying to download a file.

Something that puzzled me was the Xmodem protocols… You have 3 choices, 128 bytes (standard), 512 bytes and 1024 bytes (Xmodem 1K)… All 3 have the same bug I mentionned above… The Xmodem 128 is the standard Xmodem protocol, Xmodem 512 is the same as 128 but sends 512 bytes instead of 128; this is not a standard protocol by the way. The 3rd one is the Xmodem 1024, this is the same as 128 but sends 1024 bytes instead of 128; it is not the real Xmodem 1K so do not use it unless the host BBS or Terminal is running on MAXCOM. Since these 3 protocols seem to be Larken’s version of Xmodem 128, it is probably not a bug…

The last and very minor bug was with the IBM characters, some graphics are not right and when you send a logo from the BBS or Terminal, if a real IBM is on the other end, it won’t be exactly the same as on your screen. This can easily be fixed by changing the graphics for the right ones.

I could not test all of Larken’s claims since I do not have a 1200 baud modem. I could not check if it did miss characters or not and could not check how large a file I could download because I only have a 300 baud modem and it would take too long to transfer (you only have a certain amount of time on a BBS you know!). So we will have to take his word for it… but I am sure it’ll work as everything else did.

As far as the BBS mode is concerned, everything worked perfectly. It is easy to customize and use.

I tested the BBS by calling with an IBM PC and quite frankly, I was impressed with the looks of it! If you told everyone you were running this BBS on an IBM, they would believe you!

Overall this program is fantastic, and I recommend it to anyone who has a Larken LKDOS cartridge and wants to join the modeming world!

(When I received the software, there was no indication of the price, so please write to Larken Electronics for more details…)