Telebit Modem and SCO Xenix 2.3.2

[Chip Rosenthal]

>[locking the local DTE speed] is an OK setup where the modem, cable and
>serial port are correctly matched but will be a disaster at low speed when
>the hardware handshaking fails. I don't recommend locking the interface
>speed on a Telebit.

Wait a second!  That's like saying, "Hard disks are nice until the
controller fails.  Better use floppies."  Running with a locked speed to
the local DTE is much nicer.  But you obviously do need a working flow
control to use this(*).

If your serial port and/or drivers are broken, indeed, don't try to lock
the interface.  A couple of years back, broken handshaking seemed to be
the rule rather than the exception, so it's no wonder both Telebit and
SCO recommend running at a matching speed rather than locking it down.

Saying "don't do it" as a blanket statement seems an unfair generalization.
Is there some point I'm missing?

(*) Unless you are running nothing but uucico to other PEP modems, in
    which case you can probably run without any flow control.

-- 
Chip Rosenthal  <chip at chinacat.Unicom.COM>
Unicom Systems Development, 512-482-8260 
Our motto is:  We never say, "But it works with DOS."