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{{Short description|American computer programmer}}
'''Chuck Forsberg''' developed two [[data transmission]] protocols popular for [[uploading and downloading]] files from dial-up [[bulletin board system]]s in the 1990s. He received a [[Dvorak Awards|Dvorak Award for Excellence in Telecommunications]] in 1992 for developing ZMODEM.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citivu.com/dvorak/#1992 |title=Dvorak Awards |author=[[John C. Dvorak]] |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=8 December 2010}}</ref>
{{Use American English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}


{{Infobox person
⚫
The widely adopted [[ZMODEM]] used a [[sliding window protocol]]. Rather than wait for positive acknowledgment after each block is sent, it sent blocks in rapid succession and resent unacknowledged blocks later. By avoiding delays due to [[latency]], the bandwidth usable for transmission more closely approached the [[bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] of the underlying link. ZMODEM could also resume interrupted transfers without retransmitting the already-received blocks. In addition to developing the protocol, Forsberg developed [[software]] for sending and receiving files using ZMODEM.
⚫
| name = Charles Alton Forsberg
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|05|06}}
| birth_place = [[Wilmette, Illinois]], US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|09|24|1944|05|06}}
| death_place = [[Portland, Oregon]], US
⚫
| other_names = Chuck Forsberg
| occupation =
| years_active = 1968–?
| education = [[M.S.]], [[Electrical engineering]] (1968)<ref name="obit"/>
| alma_mater = [[University of Wisconsin]]
| notable_works = [[YMODEM]], [[ZMODEM]]
| module = {{Infobox engineering career
| discipline = [[Computer engineering]]
| employer = [[Tektronix]]
| significant_projects = [[Tektronix 4010]]
| significant_design =
| significant_advance =
| significant_awards = [[Dvorak Awards|Dvorak Award for Excellence in Telecommunications]]
⚫
}}
}}


'''Charles Alton "Chuck" Forsberg''' (May 6, 1944 – September 24, 2015<ref name="obit">{{cite web|url=https://crowncremationburial.com/tribute/details/2042/Charles-Forsberg/obituary.html#tribute-start |title=Obituary of Charles Alton Forsberg |publisher=Crown Memorial Centers |accessdate=August 19, 2022}}</ref>) developed two [[data transmission]] protocols popular in the 1990s, for [[upload]]ing and [[download]]ing files from dial-up [[bulletin board system]]s. He received a [[Dvorak Awards|Dvorak Award for Excellence in Telecommunications]] in 1992 for developing [[ZMODEM]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citivu.com/dvorak/#1992 |title=Dvorak Awards |author=John C. Dvorak |author-link=John C. Dvorak |accessdate=December 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306184406/http://www.citivu.com/dvorak/#1992 |archivedate=March 6, 2014 }}</ref> He was also the project engineer on the [[Tektronix 4010]]-series graphics terminals.
Previously, he designed the [[YMODEM]] protocol and created its first [[implementation]], a program called ''YAM''.


⚫
The widely adopted ZMODEM uses a [[sliding window protocol]]. Rather than wait for positive acknowledgment after each block is sent, it sends blocks in rapid succession and resends unacknowledged blocks later. By avoiding delays due to [[latency (engineering)|latency]], the bandwidth usable for transmission more closely approached the [[bandwidth (computing)|bandwidth]] of the underlying link. ZMODEM could also resume interrupted transfers without retransmitting the already-received blocks. In addition to developing the protocol, Forsberg developed [[software]] for sending and receiving files using ZMODEM.
Forsberg currently resides in [[Portland, Oregon]]. He runs data transmission software company Omen Technology which he founded in 1984.{{primary source claim|date=December 2010}} He is an amateur radio operator (call sign WA7KGX) and a licensed aircraft pilot.{{primary source claim|date=December 2010}}

Forsberg then wrote a version, Zmodem G, which was for use over "guaranteed error free" communications lines, such as Ethernet or short serial-to-serial computer connections. This protocol waived the usual retransmission overhead, to send files as fast as possible.

Originally, he wrote a program for Unix called rbsb (receive batch / send batch) which used block 0 to transmit a file's name, and optionally date and time, since [[Ward Christensen]] designed [[XMODEM]] to start at block 1, leaving block 0 available. Christensen suggested Forsberg call his protocol [[YMODEM]] because it was "one better" than Xmodem. Forsberg created the program ''YAM'', which in traditional Unix nomenclature stood for ''Yet Another Modem'' after "Modem.asm", the original version of Xmodem released by Christensen in the CP/M User's group in 1977.

Forsberg most recently resided in [[Portland, Oregon]], prior to his death. He ran data transmission software company Omen Technology which he founded in 1984.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.omen.com/about.html |title=About Omen Technology |accessdate=2012-02-16 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915193210/http://www.omen.com/about.html |archivedate=September 15, 2015 }}</ref> Omen Technology published software tools such as ZComm (a terminal-based communications program that included the ZMODEM-90 file transfer protocol) and DSZ.<ref name="autogenerated">{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OmenTechnology-ZComm-DSZ-SoftwareDisks.jpg|title=Image of software diskettes for ZComm and DSZ, software products published by Omen Software (circa 1990)}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=July 2021}} He was an [[amateur radio operator]] (call sign WA7KGX)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=862831 | title = Amateur License – WA7KGX – FORSBERG, CHARLES A | accessdate = 2012-02-16}}</ref> and a licensed aircraft pilot.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
[[File:OmenTechnology-ZComm-DSZ-SoftwareDisks.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Diskette images for Omen Technology's ZComm and DSZ products (circa 1989–1990)|Diskette images for Omen Technology's ZComm and DSZ products (circa 1989–1990)]]


[[Jesse Walker]] cited Forsberg as a participant in WMAS, a [[pirate radio|pirate radio station]] at [[Western Military Academy]] in [[Alton, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book
[[Jesse Walker]] cited Forsberg as a participant in WMAS, a [[pirate radio|pirate radio station]] at [[Western Military Academy]] in [[Alton, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Walker
| last = Walker
| first = Jesse
| first = Jesse
| authorlink = Jesse Walker
| author-link = Jesse Walker
| title = Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America
| title = Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America
| publisher = [[NYU Press]]
| publisher = [[NYU Press]]
| year = 2001
| year = 2001
| isbn = 978-0814793817
| isbn = 978-0-8147-9381-7
| pages = 199, 305
| pages = 199, 305
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=x5JgShfNfaQC
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=x5JgShfNfaQC
}}</ref> He graduated from the academy in 1962.
}}</ref> He graduated from the academy in 1962.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
==External links==
*[http://www.omen.com/ Omen Technology web site]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME = Forsberg, Chuck
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forsberg, Chuck}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forsberg, Chuck}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:American computer programmers]]
[[Category:American computer programmers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American electrical engineers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Aviators from Illinois]]

⚫
[[ca:Chuck Forsberg]]

Latest revision as of 18:41, 17 June 2024

Charles Alton Forsberg
Born(1944-05-06)May 6, 1944
Wilmette, Illinois, US
DiedSeptember 24, 2015(2015-09-24) (aged 71)
Portland, Oregon, US
Other namesChuck Forsberg
BildungM.S., Electrical engineering (1968)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
Years active1968–?
Notable workYMODEM, ZMODEM
Engineering career
DisciplineComputer engineering
Employer(s)Tektronix
ProjectsTektronix 4010
AwardsDvorak Award for Excellence in Telecommunications

Charles Alton "Chuck" Forsberg (May 6, 1944 – September 24, 2015[1]) developed two data transmission protocols popular in the 1990s, for uploading and downloading files from dial-up bulletin board systems. He received a Dvorak Award for Excellence in Telecommunications in 1992 for developing ZMODEM.[2] He was also the project engineer on the Tektronix 4010-series graphics terminals.

The widely adopted ZMODEM uses a sliding window protocol. Rather than wait for positive acknowledgment after each block is sent, it sends blocks in rapid succession and resends unacknowledged blocks later. By avoiding delays due to latency, the bandwidth usable for transmission more closely approached the bandwidth of the underlying link. ZMODEM could also resume interrupted transfers without retransmitting the already-received blocks. In addition to developing the protocol, Forsberg developed software for sending and receiving files using ZMODEM.

Forsberg then wrote a version, Zmodem G, which was for use over "guaranteed error free" communications lines, such as Ethernet or short serial-to-serial computer connections. This protocol waived the usual retransmission overhead, to send files as fast as possible.

Originally, he wrote a program for Unix called rbsb (receive batch / send batch) which used block 0 to transmit a file's name, and optionally date and time, since Ward Christensen designed XMODEM to start at block 1, leaving block 0 available. Christensen suggested Forsberg call his protocol YMODEM because it was "one better" than Xmodem. Forsberg created the program YAM, which in traditional Unix nomenclature stood for Yet Another Modem after "Modem.asm", the original version of Xmodem released by Christensen in the CP/M User's group in 1977.

Forsberg most recently resided in Portland, Oregon, prior to his death. He ran data transmission software company Omen Technology which he founded in 1984.[3] Omen Technology published software tools such as ZComm (a terminal-based communications program that included the ZMODEM-90 file transfer protocol) and DSZ.[4][circular reference] He was an amateur radio operator (call sign WA7KGX)[5] and a licensed aircraft pilot.[3]

Diskette images for Omen Technology's ZComm and DSZ products (circa 1989–1990)
Diskette images for Omen Technology's ZComm and DSZ products (circa 1989–1990)

Jesse Walker cited Forsberg as a participant in WMAS, a pirate radio station at Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois.[6] He graduated from the academy in 1962.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Obituary of Charles Alton Forsberg". Crown Memorial Centers. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  2. ^ John C. Dvorak. "Dvorak Awards". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "About Omen Technology". Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "Image of software diskettes for ZComm and DSZ, software products published by Omen Software (circa 1990)".
  5. ^ "Amateur License – WA7KGX – FORSBERG, CHARLES A". Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  6. ^ Walker, Jesse (2001). Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America. NYU Press. pp. 199, 305. ISBN 978-0-8147-9381-7.
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