The internal modem with it's onboard 16550A UART is preferable to an external modem if an above 14.4k modem is to be used with the 8088, 8086, or even some 80286 and 80386 machines.  The UARTs used on these (8250 and 16450) often were just too limited for high speed modems using dialup connections.  These will function, just slower than normal.  There are a few 16550 UARTS out there (no "A") that are really as limited as the 8250s and 16450s.  If there is no "A" after "16550" what you have is really a 16450.  115.2k locked speed tested unreliable with the 8250 and 16450 but 57.6k is doable.  Use what you have.  Some people continue to use 2400 baud modems on these setups.


X-window of Tim Berners-Lee's browser/editor

Screen shot of Tim Berners-Lee's (considered by many the father of the WWW) browser/editor as developed in 1991-92.  This was a true browser/editor for the first version of HTML and ran on a NeXT workstation.  Implemented in Objective-C, it made it easy to create, view, and edit web documents.  Adding a new hypertext link was a breeze!  Note that this was a B&W only GUI display.

• 8088 PC/XT - minimum 512k, mono video, 360k floppy drive (YES! this works!)
  • These machines were 4mhz up to 12mhz on later 'turbo' XT's.  If the NECV20 is installed to replace the original processor you then basically have a 'turbo'.  Utilities to speed up the display of text do help the display of these machines keep up with the software.
  • Browser(s) - minimal graphics if Hercules or CGA video cards are installed
  • Other - FTP, POP3, ICQ, IRC, Telnet, Archie, and more
  
  
• 8086 XT
  • These were generally 8mhz-12mhz.  With the NECV30 replacement processor the machine would be comparable to the 10-12mhz speeds.
  • No denying that color video does help even in text mode browsing.  Although EGA and even VGA monitors can be used with the 8086 they would use 8 bit video cards (8 bit bus) and would be quite slow.  CGA seems to impose no speed penalty and is highly recommended if you can find them.  Screen utilities to speedup the display can be helpful.
    
  • Browser(s) - same as the 8088 but CGA color was developed for these machines and they are fast enough to support it.
    
  • Other - FTP, POP3, ICQ, IRC, Telnet, Archie, and more

• 80286 AT - 1-2meg memory, CGA/EGA/VGA color video, 5meg+ hard drive space, and a mouse
  • EGA graphics modes seem to distort most modern graphics displays and with the speed penalty why bother?  Get VGA if you want GUI and graphics displays. 
  • The `NEAT' chipset was required to access upper memory in these as expanded DOS memory - most have partial chipsets and benefit primarilly by the use of a fast cache in extended memory.  The newer SMARTDRV v4.2 that was released for W9x really is quite good, works in 16 bit DOS, is much better than earlier versions and it's FREE.  Hard to beat that combination.  Early versions of Windows v1.0 to v3.1 will execute on this machine but only in unprotected real mode making them a bit unstable for telecommunications. DOS 16 bit software, however, is as stable on this machine as on any other.
    
    
  • Browser(s) - browsers become GUI and mouse-able!
    
    
  • Other - FTP, POP3, ICQ, IRC, Telnet, Archie, and more
    
    
  • Shareware downloads
  • Arachne GUI Browser © - version 1.70 rel.3 (as of 06-03-2001) Fastest GUI browser for DOS machines. No development for a period of two years (2003) until a 'team' effort recently that has updated Arachne to v1.71UE.

• 80386 AT - Protected mode uppper memory becomes available.  Also refer to 16 bit Windows versions.
  • Minimum hardware to run these larger protected mode telecommunciations applications requires : 4meg memory, VGA 640x480 video, 5-6meg hard drive, and an optional mouse for Arachne.
  • More memory, faster hard drive, fast video card will improve browsing in that order.  Browsers with no or minimal javascript will limit your access to web based email and a few websites.
    
    
  • DOS Browser(s)
    
    
  • Other - FTP, POP3, ICQ, IRC, Telnet, Archie, and more
    
    
  • Freeware / Shareware download
  • LYNX386 v2.8.5 dev.7 - Freeware UNIX DOS clone of the text only browser - fast and speech friendly.

• MISCELLANEOUS Links to 16 BIT DOS Internet applications

WatTCP home page (HTTP) and  (FTP) Source Code (approx. 800 Kb)

Present 09-11-2002 filename is "wat2001b.zip". This is a TCP/IP stack mainly of interest to DOS programmers.  It was built into MSKermit long ago and exists within other well known DOS applications.  Get the apps.zip (approx. 302 Kb) archive (application binaries written using WATTCP) for setup and testing with these useful applications built using WATTCP.  The WATTCP archive is the original source of that WATTCP.CFG file you will be reading about in many DOC files for DOS Internet applications.

For earlier versions of the WATTCP code do a search for "WATTCP" using one of the ftpsearch engines on this webpage.  Many FTP servers have a separate WATTCP directory and ftpsearch will find those servers for you.

FTP07

The defacto WATTCP FTP application, scriptable for automatic downloading and uploading of files - fast!  There are about six variations of binaries for FTP07.  One is quite a bit faster than the others but I don't remember which one, sorry.  I think it is a Japanese compiled binary but not certain.

Bobcat (lynx based), LYNX, YAN, etc.

These are more complex applications and must create subirectories on your hard drive.  The installations are quite large in the 2+ meg or more size.  These are combinations of many DOS programs into a suite to perform many online functions.  These are not simple applications to install and learn to use but they will handle most of your requirements.

Lots of DOS Inet stuff!

Menu driven combination of DOS apps for ftp, telnet, email, etc. based on the very solid KA9Q software.

This is a combination of many programs, a suite, and will create subirectories on your hard drive.  Something in the 2 megabyte range install (or more).  Latest version is DIS22.EXE.

Demon.Uk's users package for DOS

Modified version of Demon.UK package - this is better IMO!

TextWin really needs a mouse to work properly but it is the best looking version of a suite of DOS applications based on the KA9Q original.  Large install, creates subdirectories on your hard drive.

NOTE: There are three versions of this suite large, medium, and tiny.  This refers to memory use more than installed size.  I have linked to the tiny version.

ftp.demon.net ...tinytw.zip

or ftp.demon.nl...tinytw.zip

More DOS internet information from Demon.Uk in a FAQ file Last-Updated: 9 June 2002.

NOTE: A DOS Packet driver is required to use these applications.

Trumpet IRC client: This is my favorite DOS IRC client.  Has occasional problems with 'ident' but works for me on dal.net?

Toffee IRC: Good IRC client that works with any packet driver.  Split windows on screen similar to Desqview 'windows'.  No DCC transfers and some object to the bright coloring.  I like it myself.

JPIRC: Unstable on my system.  Black and white display and no scroll back makes this one difficult to use.  DCC downloading but no DCC uploading.

Attempting to intitiate a DOS packet driver from within a Windows dosbox will fail!  You cannot use the windows sockets driver (winsock) and a packet driver at the same time.  There is a way to start the packet driver and then load W31 on top of this that predates winsock for W3x but it isn't recommended and no, I won't help you figure out how this is done.

Modem Initialization Strings :  Often the factory setting is a good as any other but it won't hurt to check?

ISDN/ADSL for DOS : Untested here on my equipment but worth looking into if you have the need for Internet connections using DOS and ISDN or ADSL.  Also used for Internet connection sharing with only one ISP address.

LSPPP : New DOS Dialup packet driver.  Seems faster than the older EPPPD06 on my equipment.  Built in dialer is a nice touch.  This is the one I used on my 80286 and 80386 before they died.  Users have complained that the updated versions of LSPPP aren't always compatible with their setups and there is no CHATSCR (chat script) to adjust for specific ISP requirements.

EPPP v6.0 for DOS : A rewrite of a rewrite.  This was the defacto standard DOS packet driver for quite some time and is included with Arachne and other packages that have arranged to include the Arachne browser (PTSDOS and DRDOS) bundled with their OS, but not the most recent version of Arachne (two years old as of 2003). Very dependent on a properly configured CHATSCR (chat script) but this also gives it some flexibility LSPPP lacks.

LSICQ Used this on my 80286 for awhile.  Easy to setup and easy to use.  Colored text, not a GUI.  Author's website claims the recent ICQ protocol changes have broken LSICQ code as of 03-12-2002.

WGET Mixed feelings on this thing.  It downloads entire websites automatically.  Guess it has it's uses?

JAFFA - The author : "... requires an XT with 640k memory and a hard drive (in theory, only tested on an 80286 by the author)."
Author of Toffee IRC client and MoonRock the compiler.  JAFFA runs his website on his own DOS WWW server software.  Interesting eh?

EZNOS - Requires an XT with 640k memory and a floppy drive (yes this fits on one floppy).
An adaptation of FNOS/KA9Q to use as either an FTP or HTTP server.  There are links to 8088, 80286, and 80386 servers that are online now using this software.  The automated install package apparently requires a Windows computer to create the boot floppy, there is a manual install procedure from files contained in a zip file - your choice.  Untested by me but seems interesting.

8088 and 8086 Browsers:

NOTE: A DOS Packet driver is required to use these applications.

MSKermit "requires PC with 512k memory and one floppy drive"

MSKermit is a telnet client and a Wermit Server in one (like an FTP server but uses the kermit protocol).  Not really a browser until you access LYNX via proxy but MSKermit is, by far, the premier Internet free download for legacy machines.  There are many official versions of Kermit but MSKermit is the 16 BIT DOS version.  The complete background and up to date information about all versions of KERMIT is stored  here.  Browsing is accomplished by logging into a public access UNIX LYNX browser in text-only mode.  This is very fast access via T1 lines.  Comparable to using a proxy-server.

Public free access to a LYNX text-only browser is available by telnet at:
(Sailor - uses only the kermit protocol)
set port TCP/IP guest.sailor.lib.md.us 23 VT100,

The above lines of script would be placed in MSKermit's MSCUSTOM.INI file.  MSKermit is most often used as a text-only telnet application but graphics are available. Remember that the screen shots were created while connected using TEX and/or SAS graphics (not common on the Internet at all).  Joe Doupnik deserves our thanks for his years of overseeing MSkermit for the rest of us.

Other sites offering telnet access (suggested at our forum):

(M-net - requires application for a free account)

(Grex - requires application for a free account)

(sdf.lonestar.org - requires $1 to validate)

Sad to say the rest of the Kermit Team have been attempting to stall development of the DOS version in order to give their new W95 version of Kermit a leg-up.  MSKermit executes within the dosbox of W9x and works so very well that no one is buying the book that the Team is selling.  Along with this conflict of interest the Team has made serious errors when introducing Kermit to the rest of us and refuses to admit to their mistake.  Many software authors are under the impression Kermit can only do very small packet sizes (under 100 bytes) and hard code this into their software leaving kermit a very crippled almost useless option for the rest of us.  A big SLAP in the back of the head goes out to the Team for their self-interest and refusal to correct their error.

Arachne - Requires 80286 or **better plus 1meg or more of memory?  This is a DOS GUI browser that uses a mouse or keystrokes.  Arachne supports a subset of the HTML/4.0 specification, including tables, frames, imagemaps, forms, and includes built-in HTTP, FTP, POP3, SMTP and other internet protocols.  The only respectable pure DOS GUI browser I have ever used and by far the fastest GUI browser I have ever used.  Very nice display and very fast browsing.
While at the website checkout the alternate 'skins', plugin modules to support audio files such as Quicktime, WAV, CD audio, MP3, and other addons for the Arachne browser.  Much faster than any of the Windows v3.1 GUI browswers when compared on the same machine.  Try this one, you'll be impressed, I was.

** Arachne may work on a 286 or it may not?  It seems a tight squeeze on my 80386 with 4megs of memory and VGA but who knows?  I have serious doubts that version 1.70 rel3 would function well on this 80286 - possibly one of the reduced (size) versions but not v1.70 rel3.  There are alternate CORE.EXE available that use less low DOS memory - v1.66 being the most often recommended version but there are others.  The CORE.EXE that does not use overlays is also recommended at some websites for low-memory use.  With enough reconfiguring and a bit of tweaking Arachne might work effectively on an 80286 but I have doubts.