On Jun 15 13:49 96, Steve Henson of 3:712/523 wrote:

SH> Hi All,

SH> I use to run Ezycom BBS on 1 line on my 486DX33 8 meg RAM.

SH> Now I run EZYCOM BBS (2 nodes) with DESQVIEW - both modems 28800

The effect of this is to halve the CPU time available for each line, and
worse, to break it into moderate chunks spaced well apart.  DV in (normal)
action.
Can't help it, must live with it and love it.

SH> I previously had no problems with downloading or uploading.

SH> But now since I have 2 modems (com port 1 & 2 with standard IRQ)
SH> there seems to be a problem with uploading to my BBS. Heaps of errors
SH> with re-tries!!  (The upload protocol has not been changed)
SH> I can actually have both lines active with Users Downloading both at
SH> the same time without any problems.

This is classic.  You need, badly, 16550 buffered UARTs on both com ports.   

What's going on is that uploads keep coming in, and your computer can't get
there in time - you get an overrun error, and then a retry - even though
the link is faultless.  Downloads are originated at your site - if the
computer can't get there in time, there's a minute break in the
transmission, no harm done.

What the 16550 UARTs do is provide a 16 byte FIFO buffer on both RX and TX.
 It makes the task of the CPU up to 16 times easier - and/or tolerates up
to 16 times as long a delay with no harm done.

SH> Does anyone have any ideas why?  I don't use a mouse and have nothing
SH> else on any other com ports.

Granted that you don't already have 16550s, and/or aren't enabling the ones
you now have, this is open and shut - 16550s fitted should fix it.

If you have an integrated disk/floppy/coms x 2/printer/games doall card,
usually the builtin LSI UART equivalents aren't buffered.   You'll need to
disable the existing coms section, and add a standalone dual coms card,
with 16550's fitted - preferably by the (reputable) supplier.

SH> Please, any ideas welcome!

Well - there's one..

Regards,
Dave Hatch.

--- Msgedsq 3.20