Thoughts on Creation of 'Modem' based Yahoo eGroup? (Final Post.)

[Pete]

Hi,

This is a final request for your thoughts on the creation of a Yahoo
eGroup on the subject of "Modems."


The basic concept is to create another forum for discussion,
information and help with any aspect of using modems from
getting them to work to using messaging software. It does not
propose to offer drivers or software for download.


The creation of a Modem based Yahoo eGroup is meant as an alternative
forum with added extras that UseNet can not offer such as a permanent
base for links, polls, databases etc..


The most pressing issues are:

+ Whether such an eGroup would be of use or interest?
+ A Name for the eGroup reflecting the theme of the group?


Please respond in this thread as this is not a formal USENET group
creation discussion but a quick way for me to judge interest in a
non-usernet eGroup.


This will be the one and only request for thoughts and ideas on this
issue. When enough (or lack of) comments have been added to this
thread the Yahoo group will be created with them in mind.


The idea has been more outlined in a post called '"Modem Madness"
Collaboration?' in the microsoft.public.win32.programmer.tapi
newsgroup.


It is also hoped it can offer a forum for the collaboration or sharing
of information in some of the more interesting uses of modems such as
using Caller Display or home and information automation for example.


Having now read all I need to about setting up and moderating a group
or list I would really appreciate comments or suggestions. If you wish
to help guide the creation of the group you could just simply reply to
this post but DELETE the options you dislike or add another. (Please
SNIP the post to make it easier to see your thoughts..)


If you think there is no need for such an eGroup please share your
thoughts.


Yahoo was chosen for simplicity and ease of setup and use. It also has
the following folders in each eGroup that make it ideal for sharing:

* Messages, Chat, Files, Photos, Links, Database, Polls, Calendar


CHOICES:
------------------

The proposal now stands at creating an eGroup on yahoo as either:

* Unmoderated - Anyone can post.
* Semi-moderated - New member and first time post approval required.


The eGroup will fit into one of the following hierarchies at Yahoo:

* Computers & Internet\Hardware\Components\X
* Computers & Internet\Hardware\Peripherals\X
* Computers & Internet\Hardware\Peripherals\Modems\X
* Computers & Internet\Communications and Networking\Hardware\X


Named something along the lines of:

* Modems
* Modem Info
* Modem Help
* All About Modems
* All Things Modem
* Modem Madness
* Modem Mayhem
* Modems and Caller Display
* Making The Most Of Modems
* Mastering Modems
Or...
* Suggestions Please *


The purpose of the eGroup will be initially several fold:

* Anything general or specific related to sharing knowledge or
information about modems and resources related to using modems.
(Resources meaning web links, INF files and information but not actual
drivers or binaries..)

* Potential collaboration on a website or web ring or sharing of your
resource links.

* Sharing of ideas and information about software relating to modems.
(Software being anything from Faxing programs to Video Phone Messaging
to programming for modems..)


Moderation:

* Owner: Myself as Creator\Owner. I can commit as long as required
but will review openly every 12 months or so based on the members
interests and needs as well as my own.

* Moderators: Myself to start with but also anyone interested in
committing for "at least" 3 months to popping in every week or so to
help delete and block spam, make sure the eGroup is functional, well
kept and adding to the general liveliness of the group.


---------- That's it. Any ideas welcomed --------------


Again please respond in the thread as this is not a formal USENET
group creation discussion but a quick way for me to judge interest.


This message has been posted to the following groups as they seem some
of the most widely used regarding "modems."

+ comp.dcom.modems
+ alt.comp.hardware
+ microsoft.public.win32.programmer.tapi
+ comp.modems (though this group is hardly used.)



Regards

Pete
Spamblocking

 

[Paul]

kind of like a retro 90's sort of thing?


Pete wrote in message ...

 

[Pete]

kind of like a retro 90's sort of thing?

That made me smile. In a recent thread we were talking about the fact
that 'dial-ip' modem companies are going to have to get their act
together (here in the wealthier nations at least) if they are going to
survive as anything more than fax machine makers in the increasingly
broadband market.

My interest in this stems from the frustration in trying to get caller
display working via my modem to create a seemingly intelligent
answering machine as part of a home automation project.

I guess it is retro by our standards but you'd be suprised by the
amount of people asking for help with dial-up modems and the common
experience of modem suppliers who know very little about their
re-badged equipment.

Here in the UK there are probably only a couple of million internet
users and that leaves a proportion of the 20 million plus householders
who will probably experience the internet in their own homes via
dial-up at first if at all.

Mostly though the idea of the group was to give a place for long term
links and information. If it gets chatting thats a real bonus.

Regards

Pete

 

[Jon Danniken]

Hi,

This is a final request for your thoughts on the creation of a Yahoo
eGroup on the subject of "Modems."

My perspective is that I prefer usenet for discussions because it is accessible, doesn't require a special
membership, is not littered with distracting advertisements, is archived throgh google and other services,
and is not at the whim of whomever owns the website. I know that some people prefer an html-based
interface, but it's just not my cup of tea.

Good luck in your endeavor, though..

Jon

 

[Scott]

Yeah that would be cool, and I already have a yahoo address so, and there's
not really many good ones on there from the list I see. I'd join.

 

[Ray Cassick \(Home\)]

What kills me is that I am amazed that someone has not come up with
something that can be attached to the phone line that is NOT A MODEM with
the express intent of just delivering the caller id data to a small windows
app (maybe via USB).

The circuitry is not hard...

 

[-mhd]

What kills me is that I am amazed that someone has not come up with
something that can be attached to the phone line that is NOT A MODEM with
the express intent of just delivering the caller id data to a small windows
app (maybe via USB).

The circuitry is not hard...

http://www.callerid.com/
http://www.rochellecti.com/products.php
http://www.yes-tele.com/
http://www.telcontrol.com/content.asp?Title='Caller ID Interface
Units'

-mhd

 

[Pete]

What kills me is that I am amazed that someone has not come up with
something that can be attached to the phone line that is NOT A MODEM with
the express intent of just delivering the caller id data to a small windows
app (maybe via USB).

The circuitry is not hard...

There are items and there are a couple of guys who re-engineered the
old BT 50 caller ID however they are far too expensive and don't
easily intergrate into you answer machine software.

But this is exactly the kind of discussion that a permenant eGroup
could host as there are lots of tweeks to CLID modems that can help
people and be kept in one place


Pete

 

[Pete]

Yeah that would be cool, and I already have a yahoo address so, and there's
not really many good ones on there from the list I see. I'd join.

Cheers Scott.

I'm working on a structure at the moment for the "Files" folder so
will take another couple of days to see if there are any objections
pop up and then I will create the eGroup and feedback here.

Pete

 

[Pete]

Hi Jon,

My perspective is that I prefer usenet for discussions because it is accessible, doesn't require a special
membership, is not littered with distracting advertisements, is archived throgh google and other services,
and is not at the whim of whomever owns the website. I know that some people prefer an html-based
interface, but it's just not my cup of tea.

At present the idea is not to start up 'moderated' but only to go
'par-moderated' for short periods when spam is at its highest.

I agree about the HTML but Yahoo has a text only preference and I will
set no attachements to posts.

The benefits are simply for the ability to store files, run a database
and have a poll service.

Its not to detract from Usenet but to give a single place for those
little extras.

In fact one of the welcome' messages I am working on includes
suggesting to people that they also check out NGs like this as it is
likely they will get a quick and often knowledgeable response.

However your thoughts are important as to get the best of both worlds
I will add all the relevant NG addresses to the links folder.

Good luck in your endeavor, though..

Thankyou.

Pete

 

[Andreas Marschall [MVP TAPI]]

This is a final request for your thoughts on the creation of a Yahoo
eGroup on the subject of "Modems."

Pete,
as far as I understood the intend of this new Yahoo eGroup it is not only TAPI
related but a pool for all kinf of modem questions (and answers).
Hopefully there is not to much mix up of topics.
For TAPI related (modem) questions I regard win32.programmer.tapi,comp.modems
a the primary group.
I thinks it's a good idea to place links to each other groups.
I will add a link to the new Yahoo eGroup to my TAPI and TSPI FAQ:
Q: What newsgroups are covering TAPI ?
http://www.i-b-a-m.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm#_Q:_What_newsgroups

Please note that there is a another dedicated modem group that you may want to
link to and notify about the new Yahoo eGroup :
microsoft.public.win98.comm.modem

--
Best Regards
Andreas Marschall
Microsoft MVP for TAPI / Windows SDK
TAPI / TSP Developer and Tester
http://www.I-B-A-M.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm
* Please post all messages and replies to the newsgroup so all may
* benefit from the discussion. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Pete]

Andreas,

as far as I understood the intend of this new Yahoo eGroup it is not only TAPI
related but a pool for all kinf of modem questions (and answers).

Hopefull a mixed group with the extra ability to add permanent links,
some files.. whatever...

I do suspect that the proposed Yahoo group will get a lot of people
coming in for very short periods looking for answers to installation
problems.

What I am interested in is a permanent place to develope resources
that others can add to.

It is just another resource.

Hopefully there is not to much mix up of topics.

For TAPI related (modem) questions I regard win32.programmer.tapi,comp.modems
a the primary group.

I doubt there will be many 'programming' or specialist TAPI questions
there as usenet or specialist forums are really the best place for
that type of information and dialogue.

I thinks it's a good idea to place links to each other groups.
I will add a link to the new Yahoo eGroup to my TAPI and TSPI FAQ:

OK. I'm giving it a couple of days to see if there are any big
objections to the set up of the Yahoo Group but when settled I will
give you the link.

The Yahoo Group as you say will not be "TAPI" based but there are many
questions about modems and their use that will cross the boundaries of
TAPI.

I guess to start off with the Modem Yahoo eGroup will be "general" but
the members will make it what they want.

Q: What newsgroups are covering TAPI ?
http://www.i-b-a-m.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm#_Q:_What_newsgroups

Nice FAQ. I'll certainly put an url to it in the links section.

Please note that there is a another dedicated modem group that you may want to
link to and notify about the new Yahoo eGroup :
microsoft.public.win98.comm.modem

There are quite a few relevant NGs but I thought I'd just ask around a
couple to get a feel for interest.

I'll give you more info in a couple of days.


Pete

 

[Pete]

(Sorry If This Appears Twice - Seems Last Post Got Lost)

Andreas,

as far as I understood the intend of this new Yahoo eGroup it is not only TAPI
related but a pool for all kinf of modem questions (and answers).

Hopefull a mixed group with the extra ability to add permanent links,
some files.. whatever...

I do suspect that the proposed Yahoo group will get a lot of people
coming in for very short periods looking for answers to installation
problems.

What I am interested in is a permanent place to develope resources
that others can add to.

It is just another resource.

Hopefully there is not to much mix up of topics.

For TAPI related (modem) questions I regard win32.programmer.tapi,comp.modems
a the primary group.

I doubt there will be many 'programming' or specialist TAPI questions
there as usenet or specialist forums are really the best place for
that type of information and dialogue.

I thinks it's a good idea to place links to each other groups.
I will add a link to the new Yahoo eGroup to my TAPI and TSPI FAQ:

OK. I'm giving it a couple of days to see if there are any big
objections to the set up of the Yahoo Group but when settled I will
give you the link.

The Yahoo Group as you say will not be "TAPI" based but there are many
questions about modems and their use that will cross the boundaries of
TAPI.

I guess to start off with the Modem Yahoo eGroup will be "general" but
the members will make it what they want.

Q: What newsgroups are covering TAPI ?
http://www.i-b-a-m.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm#_Q:_What_newsgroups

Nice FAQ. I'll certainly put an url to it in the links section.

Please note that there is a another dedicated modem group that you may want to
link to and notify about the new Yahoo eGroup :
microsoft.public.win98.comm.modem

There are quite a few relevant NGs but I thought I'd just ask around a
couple to get a feel for interest.

I'll give you more info in a couple of days.


Pete

 

[Andreas Marschall [MVP TAPI]]

(Sorry If This Appears Twice - Seems Last Post Got Lost)

Pete,
FYI, I received both via NNTP:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.win32.programmer.tapi

Via MSDN web based newsgroup client the first one is also visible:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/newsgroup...ft.public.win32.programmer.tapi&lang=en&cr=US

--
Best Regards
Andreas Marschall
Microsoft MVP for TAPI / Windows SDK
TAPI / TSP Developer and Tester
http://www.I-B-A-M.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm
* Please post all messages and replies to the newsgroup so all may
* benefit from the discussion. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Pete]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 23:51:15 +0200, "Andreas Marschall [MVP TAPI]"

Andreas,

Thanks for that. I did re-get all posts several times but didn't show
up here.

Probably a latency or retention problem with my ISP.

Cheers

Pete

 

[-mhd]

How about at least focussing on telephony issues and not
data/fax/dialup issues?

-mhd

 

[Pete]

How about at least focussing on telephony issues and not
data/fax/dialup issues?

-mhd

My interest in this is around caller ID at the moment and then about
integrating that and my modem into a single message \ media home hub
type box. Telephony I guess is what that is all about.

I also had some interest in video telephony some time ago but the lack
of cheap standalone and universal units put the idea out of my mind. I
guess using 'Open Phone' software that may be possible from a PC point
of view. However that is something else any modem group could be open
to.

In reality FAX (except for drivers and what is the best software
questions) is not really an issue to talk about these days as its so
old hat and well catered for. Data is an issue even in telephony for
encryption and video.

I suspect most people associate modems with voice and internet these
days.

Its interesting how you put the idea though. Telephony as a central
theme...

I did think of just caller ID but to some degree that would relegate
any potential group to very little interest and further than sorting
out which modems work and which don't or how to edit INF and registry,
caller ID becomes far too technical for anyone except exchange and
modem engineers or hobyists.

I've been trying to think of a name for the eGroup that said something
along the lines of "more than a modem" to suggest not just the
question of drivers but perhaps a place also to talk about the
everyday application of modems of which your idea of telephony is a
big part....

Anyway its food for thought..

As I am no specialist in modems but an ethusistic user I think in the
end I need to just give it a title, set up a structure and start the
ball rolling. It will then take its own shape.


Cheers

Pete

 

[Pete]

Hi Guys,

I could do with some help sorting out a name for the Yahoo Modem
eGroup.

I am thinking about creating the group within the next 2 days and then
taking a couple of days to get the directory structure up to scratch
and a welcome message sorted before publishing the address.

Here are the names so far. The top part of the list I hope are more
suggestive of what people have said in the NGs.

* Modem Voice
* Modem Magic
* Voice Modem Resource\s
* More Than A Modem

* Media Modems
* Making The Most Of Modems

* Modem Media
* All About Modems
* Magic Modems
* All Things Modem
* Modem Madness
* Modem Mayhem
* Mastering Modems
* Modems Plus

I'd really appreciate it if you could just delete the names you do not
like or add new ones that I haven't thought of.


Regards


Pete
Spamblocking

 

[-mhd]

I'd really appreciate it if you could just delete the names you do not
like or add new ones that I haven't thought of.

Modem Telephony

-mhd

 

[Andreas Marschall [MVP TAPI]]

Modem Telephony

I prefer this one too.

--
Best Regards
Andreas Marschall
Microsoft MVP for TAPI / Windows SDK
TAPI / TSP Developer and Tester
http://www.I-B-A-M.de/Andreas_Marschall's_TAPI_and_TSPI_FAQ.htm
* Please post all messages and replies to the newsgroup so all may
* benefit from the discussion. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.