mark@cbosgd.UUCP (02/10/87)
------------------------------------------------------------------- STARGATE INFORMATION SERVICES EXPERIMENTAL SERVICE SUBSCRIPTIONS The Stargate Project is an experiment in the transmission of netnews-type materials via satellite and widely available cable-TV systems. This transmission method provides subscribers not only with considerable monetary savings over dialup telephone lines, but also has no need to tie up modems or phone lines for data purposes. The Stargate technology offers much more bandwidth than "connection-based" dialup systems, and since it is a true "broadcast" system, is far better suited for the rapid dissemination of information without the various delays and costs associated with other technologies. The current Stargate system provides a 2400 bps data stream on a 24 hours/day basis. Even higher data rates are a possibility for the future. Stargate transmits data within the vertical interval (a generally unused segment of TV signals) via widely available "Superstation" WTBS. It may be received via conventional cable-TV systems that provide WTBS, or received directly with an inexpensive "home satellite receiver" if desired. The project was originated by Lauren Weinstein, with start-up funding by the Usenix Association. The project has grown from the efforts of a single person into a team of dedicated volunteers. The initial stage has shown the technical feasibility of the project, and we are now ready to enter an experimental subscription stage as the next step in the continued development of this system. At the January 1987 Usenix meeting in Washington, D.C., the Usenix Board of Directors declared the Stargate technical experiment to be a success. The experimental subscription phase that is now beginning is designed to move Stargate onto a self-supporting and independent basis. The approximately $12,000 in operating expenses for the experimental period will be raised from subscriber fees and donations. We desire to keep the fees down to the lowest practical levels--the more subscribers we receive the lower the fees can be. The Stargate Project experimental subscription period will run for six months, beginning approximately in March, 1987. During the experimental period, we will be transmitting a variety of Usenet newsgroups via the system. Stargate considers this only the first phase of our operations--our goal is to expand toward providing an even broader selection of information on a variety of topics as soon as possible. Experimental subscribers will have the unique opportunity to work with us and help us shape the overall services of this system. Feedback from the experimental subscribers will play a major role in our future development. Upon successful completion of this experimental phase, Stargate Information Services intends to convert this project to "full production" status, whereupon additional subscribers will be solicited and the evolution of Stargate services will proceed as rapidly as possible. Experimental subscribers will need to purchase two pieces of equipment: a demodulator and a data decoder, costing $800 for the pair. A third item of equipment, a 68000-based "buffer box" computer to offload most data collection functions from host CPU's, may become available at a later date for approximately $400. The service fee for receiving Stargate data will range from $500 to $1000 for the six month period, depending on the number of experimental subscribers who sign up (the more subscribers, the lower the fee!) It is the responsibility of experimental subscribers to arrange for a cable-TV hookup, including satellite Superstation WTBS, within serial line distance of the computer to be connected to Stargate. (Note that it is not necessary for the cable-TV feed to be near the host computer--so long as the 2400 bps data stream can be fed to the host via RS232 lines, line drivers, or other similar local transmission technologies.) If it is not possible to receive Stargate via cable-TV, another possibility is for the subscriber to purchase a standard satellite receiver, to be tuned to WTBS and fed into the decoder. The type of satellite gear needed in this case is of the same (inexpensive) sort bought by consumers for home use. (Recommendations are available upon request.) There is some monetary risk associated with experimental subscriptions. It is possible that the project will not prove to be financially viable by the end of the experimental period. In this case, the subscribers will own two or three pieces of equipment that may not be useful to them. The demodulator will double as a cable-TV remote control, and the buffer box as an inexpensive and general-purpose single board 68000 computer, but the data decoder is not useful for other applications. Nonetheless, many organizations can achieve enough savings in netnews telephone bills during the six month period to easily cover the equipment and fees, and the overall cost of participating in the experiment is relatively low given the capabilities and possibilities that result. Until the "buffer boxes" become available for those who desire them, the Stargate data feed will be connected to a serial port of your host computer. C language software (written for the Unix system but modifiable for other systems) will be provided for processing this incoming data. Since there will be an essentially constant stream of data arriving on this port, it is recommended that the feed be connected to an efficient port on a machine that can afford to spend a few cycles to process this data. Our own tests have shown good results for direct data input into a 3B2 running System V release 2, and on a UNIX PC 3B1, running release 3.0 with a 3.02 tty driver. On these systems, the additional load on the system generated by the Stargate process was barely visible. On an old-style Sun 2/120 ZS port (SunOS 2.0 driver) performance was rather poor, but we expect that a Sun ITM port will provide good results. We have also heard of recent Sun software changes which may allow for good results on the ZS port as well if the appropriate software upgrades are in place. We also anticipate good results on a VAX DH port, or with dedicated micros used for collecting the data. Other sorts of systems, and the performance differences between the System V and 4.2BSD tty drivers, are currently unknown--we hope to gather data regarding these issues during the experimental period. The bottom line is that if you have a dedicated or fairly fast machine and reasonable serial ports, your performance should be good. The future buffer box will serve to improve performance for those sites which do not show satisfactory performance in a direct decoder hookup. The signup period for experimental subscriptions is from now through February 28, 1987. By the expiration of this time, we need a firm verbal commitment from experimental subscribers that their organization will participate, and that the wheels are turning to provide the necessary funds. We will announce the exact service rates (i.e. the sliding $500-$1000 portion of the overall cost) in early March, as soon as we have determined the total number of experimental subscribers. If you are interested in an experimental subscription and require additional information, please send us the following as soon as possible: - Your name - Organization - Postal address - Electronic address - Telephone number If you are ready to subscribe to Stargate, and have the verbal OK from a person authorized to sign checks or purchase orders, please let us know by Feb 28, so that we may include you among the experimental subscribers. Checks or purchase orders should be sent to Stargate Information Services Suite 252 4067 Hardwick St. Lakewood, CA 90712 Please contact us (preferably by email) before actually sending a check or PO, so that we can send more detailed information. Due to our lack of substantial capital during this early stage, we would be extremely grateful if orders include a check rather than P.O. billing. If this is not possible, please contact us so we can work out a procedure for billing against your P.O. We may be contacted electronically at either of the following addresses: cbosgd!stargate!stargate-query stargate-query@Stargate.COM If you cannot contact us at the above electronic addresses, please write to the U.S. Mail address above. Thank you. ------------ The Stargate Information Services Team Lauren Weinstein Mark Horton Steven Morenberg Mel Pleasant Einar Stefferud
mcb@styx.UUCP (02/13/87)
Though the Stargate Information Service article contains a good deal of useful information, there are some crucial questions that potential subscribers may wish to know before making even an informal committment to sign up. A few of these were covered at the BOF session at Usenix, but considering the much larger community to whom the Stargate announcement was addressed, are worth pursuing in this forum. 1. Is the provider of Stargate Information Service a for-profit or non-profit entity? 2. What is the nature of the "netnews-like" material that will be transmitted to subscribers? Is it material already available on Usenet or via mailing lists, or similar material from another source? 3. Does Stargate assert copyright in the transmitted information? Will subscribers be restricted in further dissemination of Stargate-derived material? 4. May subscribers provide their own Stargate-compatible equipment, or is the subscription bundled with required equipment purchases? 5. Does Stargate plan to make known its post-introductory rate structure to potential subscribers prior to their committment to purchase Stargate receiver equipment? I hope the Stargate principals will be able to clear up these matters in sufficient time to permit people to make an intelligent decision about an introductory subscription. I don't mean to put the Stargate people on the defensive; I think the concept is a good one. But I don't think the original announcement contains enough critical information for many people to commit their personal funds or try to sell this to their management. Michael C. Berch ARPA: mcb@lll-tis-b.arpa UUCP: ...!lll-lcc!styx!mcb ...!lll-crg!styx!mcb ...!ihnp4!styx!mcb