Network settings (menu key 3) crashes Nxtel

[simulant-systems]

Hi I've added the Amstrad BBS:

URL7=Amstrad BBS,"TCP","amstrad.simulant.uk",464

to my NXtel.cfg file.

Then I run NXtel on the Spectrum Next and on the main menu I press key 3 for Network Settings - and it just crashes NXtel.

Also I I don't go into network settings and just try to connect to Amstrad BBS it just says "Connecting" and never connects. I'm not sure if this is due to it being a BBS rather than Viewdata etc but it would be great if I could get the Next on Amstrad BBS as it has a dedicated Next area for users :)

Thanks for any help.

[Threetwosevensixseven]

Hi, there’s several things happening here.

First of all, you need an ANSI terminal to connect to a regular BBS. Viewdata is different, both in the character set and the comms protocol. We don’t yet have an ANSI terminal for the Next, although I think Tim Gilberts and Owen Reynolds are both working on one. NXtel has been designed from the ground up for viewdata, and I’m unlikely to change this due to the amount of work involved.

Hanging when you try to connect to the BBS is likely to be a protocol difference. Viewdata is expecting the server to send a full initial page immediately after connection, and this probably isn’t happening. Unless (see below) it’s hanging simply because the ESP isn’t set up yet.

Currently Network Settings hangs if the ESP doesn’t respond to the AT commands sent. I am currently rewriting the screen so it times out instead. Have you already connected to your AP using WiFi.bas or WiFi2.bas? What ESP firmware are you using? Do you have it set to 115200 baud as the default? Next programs are only designed to use Espressif firmwares, but I know you use zimodem with the Simulant modem (I have one of these - thanks!). Unfortunately NXtel doesn’t support that firmware yet.

The current version of Network Settings doesn’t let you change anything, so if it didn’t hang it wouldn’t help you much. It shouldn’t crash though. A crash would be hard to debug without using your physical ESP complete with its current settings.

Cheers, Robin

[simulant-systems]

Hi thanks for the reply. I did realise that the Viewdata systems currently on NXtel were different to ANSI but hoped that in network settings there may be options to change the baud from 1200/75 to 1200/1200 and at least allow ASCII - as many BBSes can then still be accessed in basic form.

Sorry about the misunderstanding, I think what confused me was NXtel being referred to as a BBS system on some website listings and docs rather than just Viewdata.

An Ansi terminal would be fantastic on the Next so I'm glad someone is hopefully working on it too :)

Yes I have the standard ESP module that came with my kickstarter accelerated pledge. I just set up wifi using the Next wiki walkthrough with .uart command like this:

AT+UART=115200,8,1,0,0

But yes I seem to get a full hang/crash on that Network settings menu and then I can't press any keys to get back out of NXtel.

Thanks again Robin for the help

[simulant-systems]

Hi again a user on the Spectrum boards of my Amstrad BBS has just informed me about SnapCTerm https://github.com/thweasel/snapCterm which he says works well for ANSI BBS users. I'll post there also just to ask if they may be willing to add the Spectrum Next wifi esp as an option for connecting with SnapCTerm. Thanks again.