This document is split into three parts: hardware, software and
configuration. The hardware and software parts are pretty straightforward.
The configuration part is the real trick, and requires comfort using Unix.
The goal is to enable the OmniGo 100/120 to be used as an email
reading/writing system. And to do so off line, since the very nature of the
Og is to be mobile, and you can=92t be mobile when you=92re tied down to a=
phone
line.
My methodology relies a little on non-standard ways of doing things, i.e.
it=92s a bit of a hack. But it does work. I used it reliably on my
honeymoon. (See http://www.mcs.com/~halleen/wedding for pictures from my
wedding) I have proposed improvements,
(http://www.mcs.com/~halleen/shareware) and if anyone would like to help me
implement them, I=92d be grateful. =20
HARDWARE:
-OmniGo 100/120
(I=92ve only used the 100, but I assume it will work just as well on the=
120)
-OmniGo PC serial cable
-Null modem=20
(Radio Shack part# 26-264 -- Null modem adapter m-f db9 $3.99)
-External Modem=20
(I use a SupraFaxModem v.32bis 14.4k)
-Pin adapter=20
(if necessary, my Supra is a 25 pin, if your modem is a 9 pin, you should be
okay, I make no promises for other modems. Radio Shack part# 26-1388 --
25m-9m serial port adapter $4.59)
Hook the Og to the Modem using the cable and adapters, supply your own power
and phone lines.
(Everything from here down would also apply to those using PCMCIA modems,
except that the PCMCIA slot uses COM 4)
SOFTWARE:
-Ogcomm
-Text Editor
-Unix shell account for email
CONFIGURATION
-----Ogcomm configuration-----
Settings:
COM port 1
Baud Rate 19200
Parity Bits NONE
Data Bits 8
Stop Bits NONE
Data Mode RAW
At this point you should test your modem. Hook everything up and run Ogcomm
and select Com 1.
Type AT <return>
If you get OK then try dialing
Type ATDT 8033590 <return> (obviously, enter your dialup number here)
You should be able to dial up and log in. If you get to a Unix prompt,
you=92re ready. It will be hard to resist the temptation to play around in
Unix right now, but don=92t expect to do too much. The best part is yet to=
come.
Log off.
Here=92s the fun part=85
-----Unix configuration-----
The Og screen is small. We all know this. Also, Ogcomm doesn=92t support
VT100. If you played around at all when you logged in you found that you
can=92t do much. If you try running Pine or Lynx you get a bunch of=
garbage.
So our goal is to just grab all our email, and then later send up our new
email. Our modem connection is just a pipe. We=92re not going to try an=
run
any software that needs a regular (80x25) VT100 screen, were just going to
pull down all our mail through the pipe.
To do this we=92ll use the simplest of all Unix mail programs, "mail". Mail
is all you need. Mail doesn=92t require VT100. It works line by line.
I suggest you log in to your account using a full size shell on a PC and
play around with mail there to get accustomed to it. You should copy this
entire message into Notepad or something and open your shell.
At the prompt, type "mail" and press return. What happens next and how the
program works depends on your configuration. You should get a special mail
prompt (mine is the & character). You can enter commands here. I leave it
to you to learn all the ins and outs, I=92ll just tell you the ones you need
to know for now.
Mail commands:
mail creates a new message, must be followed by an address
t prints mail messages one page at a time
p prints mail messages without pausing at each page
d deletes message
x quits out of mail and returns you to the Unix prompt
? prints the following:
Mail Commands
t <message list> type messages
n goto and type next message
e <message list> edit messages
f <message list> give head lines of messages
d <message list> delete messages
s <message list> file append messages to file
u <message list> undelete messages
R <message list> reply to message senders
r <message list> reply to message senders and all recipients
pre <message list> make messages go back to /var/mail
m <user list> mail to specific users
q quit, saving unresolved messages in mbox
x quit, do not remove system mailbox
h print out active message headers
! shell escape
cd [directory] chdir to directory or home if none given
When you=92re entering a new message, you may be prompted for a subject,=
after
which you type the message. You type it line by line. You can=92t =91up=
arrow=92
to make corrections. You just keep typing. When you=92re done, you enter
just "." on its own line and hit return and your message is sent. You=92re
then returned to the & prompt. =20
Command examples:
mail halleen@mcs.com this will begin a new message to me
p 1-2 this will print messages 1 and 2
p * will print all messages
d 1-5 delete messages 1-5
d * deletes all message
To configure mail to work best, create a file in your root directory called
".mailrc". (we=92re still working on the PC now) In that file put the=
following:
unset crt
set noheader
set searchheaders
set escape=3D_
set quiet
set ask
retain from subject
set indentprefix >
This will take care of everything. If you want to know what these things
do, use the online help in mail to figure it out. (This is my config file,
all these lines may not be strictly necessary, but it will work this way)
Now we=92ll run through the operations you=92ll perform on the Og. Do it on=
the
PC first just to see what=92s happening.
First, we=92ll send ourselves some mail.
At the Unix prompt type:mail your@address.com <return>
You=92ll be prompted for a subject=85 enter one and press return
Now you=92re into the message body, type a short message, when done go to a
new line and type:
. <return>
Try it again, but this time from the & prompt, it works the same.
Then type "x" and return from the & prompt to return to Unix.
Now to read your mail. From the Unix prompt type "mail" and hit return.
Then type "p *" and return.
All your mail will scroll by.
Now type "x" to quit back to Unix.
Now, for some fun. Rewrite this text with your address in it:
mail your@address.com
test1
This is the first test