FozzTexx
By popular demand, here is a quick demo of using a TRS-80 model 102 to dial & post a message on Level 29 for #BBSWeek using acoustic couplers and a payphone.
The TRS-80 model 102 was the second gen of Radio Shack’s portable computer, the TRS-80 model 100. While I have both, I tend to favor using the 102 more since mine has 32k of RAM and it’s just a little bit thinner than the 100. #RetroComputing
Original poll with pictures: https://mastodon.fozztexx.com/@fozztexx/109852887206537240
FozzTexx
Couple of bonus pictures that I took on Sunday: To hold the Model 102 up near the pay phone while I was doing the demo I used the tripod mount for my iPad! Worked great to clamp it in place.
FozzTexx
Video is live! It was much too large to post direct to Mastodon so I put it on YouTube. https://youtu.be/VR2VMAfrNrk
FozzTexx
I typed in my message and saved it, and now it’s posted online for everyone to see! Give me a few minutes and I’ll add a video of dialing in and posting the message.
FozzTexx
So now that I’m in, I need to find the menu to post a message. There it is.
FozzTexx
Oops, forgot to show how the acoustic coupler connects. It uses a DIN connector with lots of pins. Some of the pins are for the coupler, some are to wire into a phone line directly. If connected to a phone line directly then the Model 102 can dial on its own using pulse dialing.
FozzTexx
And it connected! Now I can login and post my message.
FozzTexx
The built-in modem allowed people to upload their information to home base using either a phone line. Even without a phone jack it was possible to use the modem with the optional acoustic couplers. That meant that any pay phone around was like a sort of hot spot to get connected.
FozzTexx
For this demo I’m dialing into the #RetroBattlestations BBS using a pay phone that I keep in my game room. Put one cup on the mouthpiece, drop in several coins, dial the BBS at 916 965 1701, wait to hear the modem on the other end, and quickly shove the cup on the other end of the handset.
FozzTexx
It has a 40 column by 8 line passive matrix LCD that is also capable of graphics. It runs from just 4 AA batteries and the batteries last a very long time. With my infrequent use, they usually will last months.
Because of the full size keyboard and long battery life, these were popular with people that would be out in the field and needed to write articles and reports.
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