MSS-VIA

My MSS-VIA came via UPS late yesterday, after I had finished my post. I was so excited to mess with it that I forgot all about posting an update then. For those who don't know yet, the MSS-VIA is made by Lantronix and is used as a "serial device server." In other words, it can connect any computer with an RS-232 serial port to the Internet. That would be my Tandy 102, and possibly some of my other computers too.

And of course, I ran into some problems. To be expected at this point, of course. I knew I needed a null-modem cable to hook up my Tandy to the Lantronix box, but I didn't know all the details of the protocol before I got it. The MSS-VIA has two serial ports on it, one a DB9, one a DB25. The DB9 is labeled "console" and according to the manual is used for configuring the VIA. It is fixed at 9600 Baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity, and uses software handshaking by default. The Tandy can handle all that stuff except the software handshaking. In other words, as soon as it receives any lines longer than a certain amount it would clip them off, waiting for the "handshake," which it doesn't receive. This makes a big mess out of BBS'es and such that I am trying to Telnet into.

On the other hand, the DB25 is fully configurable, so I just need to build myself a DB25 to DB25 null-modem cable and I'll be in business again.

In other news, I will be going on vacation for a week to the Minnesota north woods. Or as we say around here, I'm "goin' up nort!" I'll be staying on 5 Point Lake. I will have internet access some of the time, so I can post things, and I can also devote more time to some of my Challenge projects. Stay tuned for more updates.

The reto systems I have

A buddy of mine asked the other day "How many old computer things do you have anyway?"
Well, I guess I forgot to mention that here, so I'll post what I told him.

I currently have, in no particular order:

• Tandy 102 laptop
• Atari 2600
• Colecovision
• NES, restored to mint condition, with boxes etc.
• Several Pentium 1, 486, and 386 systems, in various states of repair
• A Tandy 1100HD laptop, used to work but now in the process of being fixed
• and though it's not a computer, I have a very nice Okidata 182 Turbo, recently refurbished, which I use for all my retro printing needs
  

I also have access to a Tandy PC-2 pocket computer and complete working plotter/cassette interface with all manuals and leather carry case. It belongs to by Dad, who has been loaning it to me indefinitely.

Currently on my retro wish-list is an Apple IIe, with color monitor, double disk drives and an 80 column card (the same system I had in 3rd grade) and also a VT100 or similar vintage DEC data terminal. And although it's not retro equipment I would like to get a universal device server like a Lantronix UDS10 in order to hook my retro machines to the internet.

It's called a UDS

Alright, it's time to reveal my devious plan- mwahahah! *thunder*

It involves a device called a UDS- which stands for Universal Device Server. And guess what it does? Based on the picture, it has ethernet and serial ports on it. Hmmm, wonder what it could be used for?

The one on the right is a Lantronix UDS10, but there are alot of similar devices around on places like Ebay, which are going pretty cheap these days. And yes, if you have not figured it out yet, this is used for putting old hardware online. Yes, that's right Aunt Virginia, I can in fact read email on my Tandy using one of these beasts. Or Telnet to BBS's. Or surf 'da internets. Though the latter would be hard with the tiny Tandy screen, but it could be done. Expect me to find something crazy amazing to do with one of these very soon.