[Oberon] Re (3): n-o PPP modifications

[easlab at absamail.co.za]

easlab at absamail.co.za wrote:

> > I have to test/debug this on my work-horse machine, and
> > pay a call-charge for each test cycle.

Bill Hacker wrote:-

> Telco veteran weighing-in.... local calls are free where I live,
> but hardly so worldwide..
> 
> Two ways to simulate all/part of that connection:
> 
> 1) A pair of modems can be connected 'back-to-back', need no phone 
>   company.

I'd very much like to do this !!

>   - you would need (obviously) the second modem, a couple of phone 
> cords, and
> a pair of jacks with a bit of wiring in between to let you attach a 9V 
> battery to provide 'loop' current.

We have 48V [OC] here.
I guess the modem signals off-hook to the CO, by closing some relay ?
Since there is no CO, does it matter that there's no 'loop' current ?
Or what else is the 'loop' current needed for ?

> ATA string will need altered (no need to dial...).

Perhaps Peter Easthope can patch some existing code to skip
'dial tone detect' ?  There's no problem to leave the dialing in - the
more symptoms/traces the better ?

> 2) A serial null-modem cable can eliminate the modems entirely, still let
> you test the protocol handling - and at arbitrary speeds as well.

Well no, the problem symptom is that dail-tone is not acheived.
I want to test as much as economically possible - including the modem.

> - In either case, you need another box emulating the far-end.
> 
> The 'least work' way to do that is probably with a *BSD or Linux
> install on any old box 386 or newer, as both have the utilities to
> act as ISP dial-in hosts.

I always wanted to test this.
Initially I'd use Linux for the far end - with instructions from
someone howto, and perhaps later Peter's 'dial-back facility'
under n-o ?

> HTH to save a few hard-earned Rand.  ;-)

Well yes, if it's easily doable, I can give it a proper testing.
What would the simplest setup on the linux side be ?
I guess the DC line-bias should be current limited ?
Let's fix this damned bug !!

Does anybody use Aos / Bluebottle for ISP connecting ?

== Chris Glur.