Cefiar · @cefiar
19 followers · 12 posts · Server theblower.au

Not only 2 modems, but 2 modem posts! Here's the inside of the Microcom Deskporte FAST modems from the last post.

Inside of the plastic case is coated in a brown conductive paint. The modem chipset is a Rockwell 288DPi, using what appears to be a Zilog Z80 to manage everything. The main difference between them seems to be where the components have been sourced from.

#modemmonday #modems #retrocomms #retrocomputing

Last updated 1 year ago

Cefiar · @cefiar
19 followers · 12 posts · Server theblower.au

So since I missed last week - Here's two modems!
This time, they're Microcom Deskporte FAST modems. One branded by Banksia (local Australian distributor for Microcom) and one only branded Microcom. I suspect the Banksia branded one is slightly newer, but not by a lot. The Banksia is marked "FAST +" while the Microcom is just marked "FAST" with a "tm" after it. I think this was simply a branding thing between these modems, though it's possible one of them has later firmware or different internals.
These modems supported MNP from level 2 right up to level 10. They even had a parallel interface, in case the serial interface wasn't up to the task of keeping up with the modem, though you'd use the serial port to do things like dialling, etc.

#modemmonday #retrocomms #retrocomputing #modems

Last updated 1 year ago

Cefiar · @cefiar
19 followers · 10 posts · Server theblower.au

Going to try and post a Modem Monday once a week (I own 30ish dial-up modems and a bunch of modem and comms related stuff).

Will probably post a bunch of computer restoration bits and pieces as they happen.

#modemmonday #modems #retrocomms #retrocomputing

Last updated 1 year ago

Cefiar · @cefiar
19 followers · 10 posts · Server theblower.au

Repost from my other account: The CP+ Telecoupler II (there were a few brands of these on the market). You'd put it on a phone handset like an acoustic coupler modem, then plug the RJ cable into your traditional wired PSTN modem (an external modem, or say a modem built into a laptop), effectively making the pair into an acoustic modem. They had their own 9V battery inside to run all the bits so the wired modem thought it was actually connected to a real phone line.

#retrocomputing #retrocomms #modemmonday #modems

Last updated 1 year ago

Cefiar · @cefiar
5 followers · 4 posts · Server theblower.au

Ok, so I'm gonna start posting more retrocomputing/retrocomms/modem content here rather than on my main @cefiar@chinwag.org profile.

#retrocomputing #retrocomms #modems #modemmondays

Last updated 1 year ago

Cefiar · @cefiar
186 followers · 1417 posts · Server social.chinwag.org

@Rp12Biker Yeah I have a bunch of this sort of stuff, as pictured below. 😜 I used to run a multi-line BBS here in Australia (was called Cafe Chrome) between 1988 and 1996. At one point during that time, I actually worked for a modem company making/repairing acoustic couplers too. :awesome:

#retrocomms #retrocomputing #acousticcoupler #modems

Last updated 2 years ago