Yo! JOHN:
Thursday May 15 1997 07:59, JOHN GARDNER wrote to BILL CHEEK:
 JG> Since the subject of Internet Growth  vs. the decline of bulletin
 JG> boards is being discussed,
Permissable, I will add.  Communications is essential to our hobby of 
scanning, and so long as it doesn't get out of hand, the *means* of 
discussing scanners is a viable topic.
 JG> would you give your experience/opinion of the various internet
 JG> providers. I am referring to such names as Compuserve, America on
 JG> line, etc.  Which ones should be ignored, which ones would have value
 JG> to the "New Internet" users.
I am still a member of Compu$erve and MSN and have been on and off of AOL 
several times, starting way back when it was originally "Apple On Line".  It 
sucked then as it sucks now.  So does Compuserve.  MSN ain't much better.  
None can rightfully be considered "real" Internet Service Providers (ISP), 
even though each provides some Internet services.
Compu$erve, AOL, Phraudigy, GEnie, Delphi, MSN, et al....are properly termed 
as "Information Services" and in that capacity, each probably has 
considerable merit.  I retain my Compu$erve membership solely because nowhere 
else can I get a full blown Web Site, volume-free, for $10/month.  I loathe 
the service for anything and everything else.
I would guess that these Information Services are okay for the green weenie 
entry level networker......I mean, in most cases, you get some free time to 
learn the ropes and decide if they deserve your cash geetas.  So what the 
hell?
Now there are "real" ISP's that do a better job of providing Internet 
services, the bigger names of which include PrimeNet, ConnectNet, NetCom, 
AT&T WorldNet, and I'm sure there are a dozen more "biggies".  These guys are 
not for green weenies exactly, but are better than nothing if they offer 
decent tech support. Most don't.  PrimeNet's is okay, I guess, but I don't 
have firsthand experience with the rest.  If their tech support is reachable, 
then I'd guess them to be good choices for the green weenie.
The best ISP's are the home-grown local yokels who set up shop around 4-8 
years ago and who have stuck it out to learn the ropes and make a profit at 
the same time.  These guys are not always best for the green weenie because 
they often won't pass the time of day with ya......you got a problem, you fix 
it.  But they are the way to go for the experienced Internetter.  Mighty hard 
to beat in terms of pure, raw service of Internet features.
Some providers are inflexible in terms of the allowable software (and 
hardware).  The better ISP's don't give a shit one way or the other.....and 
have their systems set up to allow any and all "client" 
packages...independent of brand name of hardware or software.  AOL, MSN, and 
Compu$erve are examples of those who do not allow miscellaneous 
software.....you have to use their shells....all of which stink to high 
heaven..... Cable modem services seem to be unsupportive of the Macintosh 
platform and of non-Windows software.
If you are a serious and fairly experienced Internetter, then check out the 
smaller, local ISP's - not the national giants.  If you are not an expert, 
but let's say a 'journeyman', then the national giants are probably a good 
bet.  If you're a green weenie, then a giant with good tech 
support....OR....one of the 'Information Services' is probably the best 
choice for starters.  I'd steer clear of AOL under all circumstances, though. 
 Anything beats AOL.......  AOL is a lot like K-Mart in the movie, "RAINMAN". 
 It absolutely sucks.
Hope this is of some use and/or enlightenment.
 JG> To get back to the topic of scanners, most all of South Florida is on
 JG> Trunked Service now. If the Trunk tracker scanner works as well as
 JG> described, it will be possible to get back to scanning again.
Uniden sells a lot of sizzle and little steak.  Yet their trunked follower 
scanners may well be the ticket for a while.  The thing is....everything, 
including cellular is going digital over the next few years and there will be 
no way to monitor that stuff, period.  Trunked systems as we know them, are 
on the way out.  That's why Motorola allowed Uniden to copy their coded 
formats.
I don't think these Uniden Trunk radios are good for anything but Motorola 
systems, so.........????
In a word, I think radio itself is on the way out.  After all, what is the 
purpose of radio?  Communication?  Right.  And there are better tools and 
means for communication now than radio as we know it.
My two-cents, anyway..........
Bill Cheek ~ bcheek@san.rr.com
Windows 95 Juggernaut Team ~ Microsoft MVP
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