Lesson #15 Telcom Applications - Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Basic Manual

Lesson #15 TELCOM Applications
In this lesson you will learn how to use the Terminal Mode of the TELCOM
application program and the built-in modem to communicate with other computers
over the telephone lines. However, before starting any experiments using the Terminal
Mode, it is a good idea to review the overall capabilities of TELCOM.
TELCOM Overview
As you know from reading the owner's manual, TELCOM allows your Model 100 to
be used as an automatic telephone dialer (in the Entry Mode), and to communicate
with other computers ("host" systems) over the telephone lines (in the Terminal
Mode). The Entry and Terminal modes may also be used together to dial a telephone
number and to "log-on" to a system automatically.
In the Terminal Mode you can access a wide variety of information services, including
bulletin boards, news, weather, data banks, other computers or stock market
information. You can make use of this information in a variety of ways. For example,
you may:
• display it on the LCD
• print it on a printer
• save it in a file
• analyze the data using a BASIC program to graph it, compute statistics, make
comparisons against previous values, and more!
You can also transfer programs or data files to other computers located miles, or even
thousands of miles, away.
Before you start using any of the features of TELCOM, the Model 100 must be
connected to the telephone lines (consult your owner's manual for detailed
instructions). In this lesson we will assume that your Model I{j)Q) is connected to
modular telephone lines using the Modem Cable (26-1410).
Also, we make the assumption that you have access to a computer bulletin board, or a
computer information service (such as Dow Jones or CompuServe). Contact your local
Radio Shack Computer Center dealer for assistance in locating a local bulletin board if
you cannot locate one on your own.
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