Atari 400 User Manual page 235

USING A MODEM WITH YOUR ATARI
If you own a modem with your computer, you
have two additional sources of information :
commercial computer networks and bulletin
board systems. With the modem properly
hooked up to your telephone and computer, you
can call the number of one of these seNices, and
soon you are connected to another computer.
You can then access a variety of information or
even send your own messages, depending on
the type of network you are using. Commercial
computer networks and bulletin board systems
are discussed next ; for more information on
modems, see Chapter 4, " Peripherals."
Along with the modem and the 850 interface
you may need (see Chapter 4), you need a soft-
ware program that lets your computer com -
municate via modem. Suitable programs usually
include the word
terminal
or
term
in the name.
Atari offers a terminal program called TELELINK
l,
which is easy
to
use but is not as powerful
(does not have as many capabilities) as some
other terminal programs. A very good terminal
program, the AMODEM, is available from your
local users' group. Terminal programs are avail-
able in both cassette and diskette formats.
Communicating with another computer via
modem is called
telecommunications.
If you are
just starting out, telecommunications may seem
a bit confusing. Go
to
a local users ' group
meet-
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