[Pan-users] Re: newbie

[Fred Fraley]

On Saturday 18 May 2002 09:33 am, sammi wrote:

> be in your actual mailer sent folder, what is pans equivalent ? and why
> does it have the possibilty of four connections ? i can't see the point
> seeing as i've only got one phone line, so obviously i'm just not
> getting something, but what ?


        This is especially helpful with a slower dialup connection.*  It 
basically 
divides your phone connection into several channels that open and close as 
needed.  For example...
        You start to DL headers in several busy groups, a large post from a 
binary 
group, or a bunch of posts from a text group.  If you only allow one connection 
at a 
time, you can't do anything but sit and watch the screen until it is 
done.  If you allow your computer to make more than one connection, you can 
basically tell the big chore "scooch over and let me reach past you for a 
second".
        This will make more sense if you open the task manager by clicking on 
the 
second left button on the bottom status bar, the one that says something like 
"Tasks: 0/4" and watch what it does when you add new tasks and current tasks 
are completed.  Note that the connection speeds nearly always total your 
"total" connection, either all at one task or split between tasks.
        Don't get carried away, though.  Too many connections and things can 
get 
awfully slow.  
        Hint : If you try to make more connections than your news server 
allows, you 
will get red X's and skip the body you are trying to DL.  Ask your ISP how 
many connections the server allows and do not exceed that.




* Amazed I said slower -- I remember being quoted US$3-5,000 instalation and 
US$1500/month for a 56K line, albeit dedicated.  I'm still driving the same 
car I drove to that meeting, so It wasn't all that long ago.