| Posted By
Torque222
on 2018-07-06
05:19:23
 |  WiModem
I bought this modem and it works on the commodore plus 4 but I find no plus 4 specific bbs.
I found one program that I was able to modify to get 300 bps and I couldn't compile it due to errors of some kind and complexities in the program.
I have found away to easily create commodore plus 4 text graphics.
Anybody else interested?
Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/WiModem-Internet-modem-for-Commodore-computers/142745036016?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
If this got popular someone could start a bbs for commodore plus 4.
There is a pin that has to remain unconnected in order for the WiModem to work.
That is how I got mine working.
All Commodore BBSs work but 300 bps is the best speed I could get with a program I will share later if anyone is interested.
If you are interested please sound in....
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Posted By
MMS
on 2018-07-06
18:03:11
 | Re: WiModem
Hi!
Very good topic.
In fact Robert from US confirmed some time ago, that C64 (normal) 300-1200 baud C= and other user port modems work on Plus/4 User port too (so the different naming of the pins on the C64 and Plus/4 User port means no problem on the serial part of user port. The parallel part is a different story, it is completely mixed up). I was hesitating to buy one more HW, as I have no traditional telephone line at home, and the Wifi board was a little too pricey to turn out it will not work. (I have C64s too, but rarely use them)
It is nice to hear that that wifi modem works. In fact, the C64 had no proper UART, just an ACIA. So ususally they solved internet serial communication with SW bitbanging, that's how the slowliness of C64 modems come. It cannot go beyond 2400 baud without external HW help, otherwise character losses will come. I have no clue, how they go beyond this limit, as the user port communication has limited speed, and this card is on userport, not on expansion port, so it cannot speed up internal communication.
The Plus/4 has a proper UART MOS6551, that can support the modems up to 19200 baud. Probably the difference between the two methods cause, that the Plus/4 works only without the HW support of the UART, and without help of ACIA or UART this is the speed the CPU can manage.
If you are interested to start a BBS and need some PETSCII (or ANSI) graphics for Logos, some Pictures for it, am in, I can do some pictures or logo in character mode (probably PETSCII,right? But can be done in CBM PRG Studio too)
Without external pressure or demand I am lazy like hell and just watch Game of Thrones 
With 300 baud the full screen PETSCII graphics would be rather slow to download (10-12 sec per screen), though I know the first C= modems were 300 baud only too.
Actually VICE may able to setup different HWs, maybe a modem too. Is there a BBS program you use and may be tested?
On C64 and C128 there are a lot. Guruterm, Kipperterm, Telnet in Contiki, Skyterm, etc.
I checked some of them and hoped they are austrospeeded Basic I may decompile and convert, but unfortunately not.
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Posted By
siz
on 2018-07-07
03:01:13
| Re: WiModem
MOS6551 is ACIA. C64 (and VIC-20) has no hardware RS232 support so they have to do it in software. On the plus/4 you only need a voltage level converter to get a fully functional RS232.
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Posted By
MMS
on 2018-07-08
18:10:44
| Re: WiModem
Sorry, you are right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_6551
For the Plus/4 RS232 mouse project did exactly the same voltage level conversion thing, with a standard Max232 circuit.
update:
That RS232 interface can be used to connect an RS232 external modem too, not only an RS232 mouse.
But there was no SW for this, so I did not emphasize.
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Posted By
MikeZ
on 2018-07-08
07:15:43
 | Re: WiModem
Torque222: The copper trace on the modem for "CTS" must be opened up. The plus4 has this user port pin for CTS permanently set at a level.
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Posted By
MMS
on 2018-07-16
16:54:29
| Re: WiModem
I just see the new version of the "BBS Term+ V1.2 Quickv 1", that I also found one of the few BBS programs we have.
Questions:
1) Is there any way to link the emulator (YAPE) to the internet, by simulating RS232? I have no hardware for it (yet)
2) It is 100% BASIC. I checked some BBS programs on C128, but all were in machine code, or compiled in a was the decompiler could not understand.
I cannot test the speed (se point1) but was curious if the AustroSpeed Compiler can do a magic here too.
I will try to compile it today or tomorrow. (first try resulted a break unfortunately)
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