Msg: 6600 *Conference*

06-18-96 07:52:55

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : PAUL WHITING

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6598 (WE'RE BACK!)

The max speed of the Club 100 BBS modems is ... 2400 baud

There are 4, Hayes Ultra Smartmodem 2400s connected to the BBS with only 2
available for call-in's at this moment.  The other two are being used by The
Dock BBS ... for the moment ... a short term solution.

Four good reasons for not going to higher modems...

1) Can't just do it!

The BBS is an XT with a 4-port digicard.  The digicard came to market in the
late 80's before the advent of the fast UARTs.  Thus, even if I did place
faster modems on the digicard (i.e. on the BBS) they would not run any faster
than 9600 baud.

2) Expense vs revenue.

The cost of a new digicard and 4 new modems is far more money than is warrented
for the BBS vs. the number of callers and revenue.  However, due to recent
prices, it may become possible to upgrade the entire service at sometime in the
future ... but not now.  Subsequent to the upgrade would have to be a large
influx of money to justify the expense.  I'm still fighting a deficit of around
$250,000 ... and that ain't no lie!

3) Operational problems and possible lost revenue.

Back when we did attempt to upgrade the modems from Hayes Smartmodem 1200s to
2400s, Robert Benson and I worked long and hard to make sure all Model "T"s
could log on.  We experenced lots of problems with Model 200s.  For whatever
reason, Model 200's could not negociate the new, off-brand and Hayes 2400 baud
modems with all the new toys.  It wasn't until I called to Hayes and traded in
their super-duper modems for these that Model 200's could call in.  Part of the
problem was the compression and part the noise level (db) of the new modems.
Bottom line here is that this BBS serves OWL units.  OWLs call in at night and
dump their data.  I charge a fee to provide this service.  If, for whatever
reason, I can not offer this service, this BBS will have little income support,
i.e. not enough library access sells to off-set expenses.

4) It ain't broke!

But I am ... kind'a.

There you go.  It ain't a "top 10 list" but it's the truth.  -Rick-