In this short video, we connect to *Ward Christensen's CBBS from 1978 (it's still running !!) using a 5-line SuperBASIC program and a simple serial connection using one of those new-fangled WiFi modems.
In early 1978, Ward Christensen (inventor of XModem) collaborated with Randy Seuss to create the first known instance of a Computer Bulletin Board System (BBS).
By the time a youngster in Patchogue, Long Island (me) got his hands on a VIC-1001 modem in 1983, BBS'es were absolutely everywhere, and many of them were so popular, kids my age would sit on redial tying up the home phone line for hours just to catch a glimpse of what treasures await (online games, people to converse with, and often, software downloads).
In this video, we briefly discuss the 1978 BYTE magazine article written by Christensen and Seuss, talk about the F256 Jr. Hardware, how to wire it up for serial communication, and then examine a SuperBASIC program to make it all happen. To close out the tour, we connect to a mirror of the original CBBS as it ran back in the day.
You will also see a refurbished Commodore C64 keyboard in use with this C256 Jr. In an upcoming video, we will go even further, and cook up a PETSCII based terminal, then connect to one of the many online resources for some character graphic fun.
Sad to say that Ward Christensen passed away on October 11th of this year (2024); aside from his contributions and passion for the early technology including CP/M, he worked for IBM for over 40 years. Another pioneer, gone.
Errata: I mentioned that my Father borrowed the Hayes Smartmodem (that is still in my possession) from work 30 years ago. That is incorrect, it was 40 years ago. Time flies!
*it's not really his online system but somebody is running a tribute site to honor the original.
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As always, resources to read and watch.
Link to the Archive.org BYTE mag., indexed to this article:
archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1978-11-rescan/page/n151/mode/2up
Link to the VIC Modem manual:
archive.org/details/1600VIC-20VICMODEMManual
A Tindie seller, peddling the WiFi modem I demonstrated; be sure to read all of the details and ask questions to make sure it is right for your before buying; but I can vouch for mine. It has always been trouble-free:
www.tindie.com/products/8bit_bruno/simple-wifi-rs232-modem-v2/
Link to the Foenix Marketplace, a website where you can download code samples and articles pertaining to Foenix computers and related 8-bit platforms. As of today, "Foenix Rising" is midway through its 3rd year since issue #1 was published. Each issue ranges in length between short-form (6 page development focused articles), and long-form, multi-article issues (of 32 pages). At this point, you'll find about 85% of the material is Foenix focused but you'll also find vintage references, and history pertaining to the works of Compute Publishing and Dr. Dobbs journal article discussion. I expect to be writing more Commodore related content in the next year; but even today, there are Apple II, ATARI, and even Rockwell AIM65 and KIM-1 references, with more to come: apps.emwhite.org/foenixmarketplace/
Link to read about this particular CBBS instance via a great bbs resource/directory. And if you don’t have hardware, many of these offer a virtual Telnet interface:
www.telnetbbsguide.com/bbs/cbbs-nv/
Link to a prior video which discusses General MIDI, the DREAM 2695 IC, and a piece of software that I am developing as an educational tool for working with MIDI data (or to play the DREAM IC as a stand-alone synthesizer using the Arturia controller leveraged in this video): ua-cam.com/video/s9_o_lt4mK8/v-deo.html