Terminal Program Speed Tests

compiled by Doug Cotton

Reprinted from Commodore World Issue #4

I've often been asked, "What's the best terminal program?" This isn't an easy question to answer, since many terminal programs contain similar features. And while the communication speed of one program may be better than another, it may not offer you a feature that the other one does, or may have a more awkward user interface. It's important to note that the speed comparisons presented here do not tell the whole story, but they at least give you an indication of what to expect when communicating at various rates. All test results were achieved via direct null-modem connection, using uncompressed text files. Test file byte sizes were calculated using test bps x 12. Each program was tested for the best possible speed by using RAM devices for transfers. Transfers using mechanical (disk) devices will be slower, especially at higher connection rates. All values given in characters per second (cps).

Recieve Speed (download)

  Program       Storage Dev. Int. Handshake  2400  4800  9600  19200  38400
  Novaterm      REU (RAMDOS)  UP  XON/XOFF    192   ---   ---    ---    ---
  Novaterm      REU (RAMDOS)  SL  RTS/CTS     192   339   526    720    857
  Novaterm      RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    200   ---   ---    ---    ---
  Novaterm      RAMLink       SL  RTS/CTS     200   359   593    820    985
  Dialogue 128  REU (RAMDOS)  UP  XON/XOFF    200   366   ---    ---    ---
  Dialogue 128  REU (RAMDOS)  SL  RTS/CTS     200   376   608    846    915
  Dialogue 128  RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    205   371   ---    ---    ---
  Dialogue 128  RAMLink       SL  RTS/CTS     216   391   638   1056   1120
  Fritzterm     RAMLink       SL  XON/XOFF    217   413   734   1155   1625
  Fritzterm     REU (direct)  UP  XON/XOFF    218   ---   ---   ----   ----
  Fritzterm     REU (direct)  SL  XON/XOFF    218   434   803   1431   2067
  Fritzterm     RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    220   ---   ---   ----   ----
  Desterm       REU (direct)  UP  XON/XOFF    230   427   827   ----   ----
  Desterm       REU (direct)  SL  None        230   433   847   1488   2712

Transmit Speed (upload)

  Program       Storage Dev. Int. Handshake  2400  4800  9600  19200
  Novaterm      REU (RAMDOS)  UP  XON/XOFF    189   ---   ---    ---
  Novaterm      RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    191   ---   ---    ---
  Novaterm      REU (RAMDOS)  SL  RTS/CTS     203   357   566    803
  Novaterm      RAMLink       SL  RTS/CTS     202   366   603    893
  Dialogue 128  REU (RAMDOS)  UP  XON/XOFF    212   382   ---    ---
  Dialogue 128  REU (RAMDOS)  SL  RTS/CTS     212   382   646    900
  Fritzterm     RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    217   ---   ---    ---
  Dialogue 128  RAMLink       UP  XON/XOFF    220   409   ---    ---
  Dialogue 128  RAMLink       SL  RTS/CTS     220   409   711   1112
  Fritzterm     REU (direct)  UP  XON/XOFF    220   ---   ---   ----
  Fritzterm     RAMLink       SL  XON/XOFF    226   424   764   1287
  Fritzterm     REU (direct)  SL  XON/XOFF    230   439   803   1488
  Desterm       REU (direct)  UP  XON/XOFF    235   431   801   ----
  Desterm       REU (direct)  SL  None        235   450   872   1529

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