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      STACKER NOTE                                         STACKER NOTE
                       THE STAC BULLETIN BOARD (BBS)                                 
      STAC FAX  4512 (05-16-1994)
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      BACKGROUND
      
      Stac maintains an Electronic Bulletin Board Service (BBS) in
      addition to other electronic support services. Use your favorite
      communications program and modem to gain access to our technical
      notes and support files, or to leave your questions with our
      SYStem OPerator (SYSOP). Our 10 nodes are running on TBBS
      software, and are on-line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
      
      PHONE NUMBER
      
           (619) 431-5956   @ 1200,2400,9600,14.4K BPS.
                            Practical Peripherals PM14400FXMT 14,400
      
      DATA PARAMETERS
      
      (N)o parity, (8) data bits, (1) stop bit
      
      PROCEDURES
      
         - Your first time on the BBS.
         - Getting Product Support on the BBS.
         - Supported transfer protocols.
         - Leaving a message for the SYSOP.
         - Uploading a file.
         - Connection difficulties.
           
      Your first time on the BBS.
      
      During your first visit to the Stac BBS, you'll be asked to enter
      some background information. One of the things you'll be asked
      for is a password. Use any word you like, but write it down and
      remember it; you'll be asked for it on subsequent calls.
      
      Getting Product Support on the BBS
      
       1.  The quickest way to get product support on the BBS is to
           select (A)utotech Product Support Area from the Main menu.
           From the next menu, select the product you are running. You
           will be guided through a series of questions that will lead
           you to a specific solution. You may then download that
           solution or read it on-line. If you do not see your issue,
           you may leave a message for the Sysop. You may expect a
           response within two business days.
       2.  If you already know the file you wish to download, you may
           select (D)ownload from the Main Menu, then (D) again for
           "download". Press <enter> then enter the name of the support
           file. You will then be prompted to provide your transfer
           protocol. See your communications documentation for details
           on which protocol you may use. The transfer protocols
           supported by the Stac BBS are provided below. You will then
           be notified that the BBS is awaiting the Start signal to
           begin the transfer. With many communications software
           programs such as ProComm, you must then press the Page Down
           key to select the matching protocol on your end and begin
           the transfer. (Your communications program may use another
           key or keystroke combination.)
           
      Supported transfer protocols.
      
           T - Type file to your screen
           C - ASCII with DC2/DC4 capture
           A - ASCII only, no control codes
           X - Xmodem
           O - Xmodem - 1K
           Y - Ymodem (Batch)
           G - Ymodem-g (Batch)
           S - Sealink
           K - Kermit
           W - SuperKermit (sliding windows)
           Z - Zmodem-90 (Tm)
      
      Leaving a message for the Sysop.
      
      The BBS SYSOP is available to answer your questions.  To leave a
      message, at the Main menu enter "A" for AutoTech Product Support,
      then select the product concerned. You will be guided through a
      decision tree. If you do not see your issue, you may leave a
      message. If you wish to leave a message about non-technical
      issues, select "E" mail at the Main menu prompt.  This will put
      you into an Editor. After leaving your message, press the Esc
      key, then "S" to save. Call back two business days later to read
      the reply.
      
      Uploading a file
      
      From the Main menu select "A" for AutoTech Product Support Area,
      then "U" for Upload a File to Product Support. You will be
      prompted for a file name. We recommend that you use your last
      name followed by an extension. Also, send an E-Mail to the Sysop
      (choose "E" for E-Mail at the Main menu) so that s/he knows the
      file has been uploaded.
      
      Connection difficulties
      
       If you are having connection difficulties with the Stac BBS,
      check your modem documentation for the proper settings. Here are
      some other things to try:
      
       1.  Increase the time that your communication program waits to
           connect. Try setting it for a value between 45 and 60
           seconds.
       2.  Lower the baud rate connect setting to 2400.
           
      Please refer to your communication software documentation for
      more information on these settings.
      
      The Stac BBS is set up for standard ANSI graphics. If you are
      getting random ASCII characters on the screen, select (C)hange
      User Settings from the main menu, and turn off ANSI and IBM
      graphics.
      
      
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      Copyright 1994 Stac Electronics
