Introducing the Telstar Videotex Service (Part 2)

[@cvxmelody1806]

Amazing the double hi-res colour support of Videotex in Antelope!

[@GlassTTY]

I think Ewan made a fantastic program in Antilope.

[@back2skooldaze]

Another Update to the prism1000 modem and the cable. I sent the modem and cable to John Newcombe and he spotted that the pins 4 and 5 were reversed (GND and TXD) needed swapping. He's sent me a video of the modem working on the Telstar and its fantastic A massive THANK YOU to John from Telstar

[@GlassTTY]

Glad we got it sorted... J

[@brianmartin6296]

Hello John, been accessing Telstar with my Prism modem now and generally going well. Really having fun with it. You mentioned accessing other BBS systems from the PAD. Can you offer me a few instructions to do this as I am pretty clueless. I am using the old, easy to use Micronet terminal software by Pace. I ve checked out Nxttel and CCl4 etc but the Telnet systems would be a next step. Any advice available or a page of instructions on doing so on a dedicated Telstar page itself? Cheers

[@GlassTTY]

Hi Brian, glad you are enjoying Telstar. Since the dial up lines were moved to the Asterisk telephone system, the PADs, and their associated modems, are no longer used. However, there are plans to add a new PAD service to sit alongside Asterisk and provide the same functionality. I am hoping to start on this sometime next week. Watch this space.

[@brianmartin6296]

@@GlassTTY righto John , looking forward to it.

[@Soruk42]

Looks like there's a small error in the weather pages for Fahrenheit values - it seems the Celsius is being put through a F-to-C algorithm instead of C-to-F.

[@GlassTTY]

Doh! Thanks, I will look into it.

[@GlassTTY]

This is now fixed, there was an issue with the open weather plugs which has now been fixed. Many thanks for letting me know.

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

Maybe it was called "Antelope" because of the Antelope Videotex chip, developed by Texas Instruments France (Villeneuve-Loubet) during the late Seventies / early Eighties?

[@GlassTTY]

The sister package was called Gazelle, but I guess one could have lead to the other. I did get in touch with the author, Ewan Wannop, when I made the video so I guess I could ask him the next time I speak to him.

[@hammi9573]

is there a part number? :)

[@offontv]

Great videos thanks :)

[@GlassTTY]

Glad you liked them. I am planning more once I have completed my office move.

[@brianmartin6296]

Hi John , I ve recently got a hold of a Nightingale modem alas I have no cable. Would you happen to have any info on pinouts for the modem to connect to a BBC micro? Or even a contact for someone who might have the info to make one up for me, cheers Brian.

[@GlassTTY]

Hi Brian, I should be able to help you out. I have a few Nightigales in storage, I will dig them out either tomorrow or Thursday and tap out the cable.

[@brianmartin6296]

@@GlassTTYthat's wonderful John , so kind of you. Thanks very much !

[@GlassTTY]

I have just added an image to the following page that shows the Nightingale connections (half-way down the page), the BBC connection are shown also. glasstty.com/?p=1340 Simpy connect Connect RTS to RTS, CTS to CTS and GND to GND, then connect 'data out' of the modem to 'data in' of the BBC and 'data out' of the BBC to 'data in' of the modem. Hope that all makes sense.

[@brianmartin6296]

@@GlassTTY that's a great help John,any thanks for your time on this. That is a huge help. Cheers Brian

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi John, This is the last time you'll probably hear from me on this again! Ive been at this for far too long and even without the prsim1000 cable issue even my prestel adapter is doing EXACTLY the same as the prism modem? There is absolutely nothing wrong with my landline. Ive even tried your suggestion for a noisy line or overloading on the line and still nothing? On my prestel adapter i am able to dial out to all kinds of numbers from the BBC and even the speaking clock so i know theres nothing wrong with the line or the prestel adapter. Regarding the prism1000 although i did get random characters when whistling down the phone since then ive got the manual which describes a self test from the BBC to the prism modem without using a telephone line which i have not tried yet as the cable has now been sent back for another modification and all along it will turn out that its not the prism modem cable nor my landline as im using other modems to dial BBS sites ok. Thats with the C64 Atari xl/xe and the BBC. Ive now come to the conclusion that its definitely on your end and not mine LOL and i say that kindly. Theres something thats not connecting once i hear the first tone on the prestel adapter or modem but there is an awful loud burst of noise on some occassions only when dialing your 2 lines for telstar all other BBS numbers are fine including speaking clock 123 and calling my mobile to test. You did mention your lines being at a level for v23 modems but on my prism 1000 and prestel adapter there both not having any of it which is an absolute shame as i wanted to experience the 1980's feel of original hardware and connecting. Since then i have bought a wimodem232 and that is a strange setup too but i had to set the baud settings to 1200/1200 8N1 in term mode on Commstar and match the wimodem232 then i typed ATDT GLASSTTY.COM:6502 which then shows a CONNECT but then i get buffer off and some garble text so i have to switch to prestel mode to continue and voila i have Telstar in TeleText gfx which is ok but following how you access it on Commstar using prestel mode when i type AT i get # after instead of OK so i was unable to type anything to get access? Getting back to the prism1000 and prestel adapter and a couple of other BBC modems i hear the dial tone i hear the call answer i hear the first tone burst then silent then sometimes a horrible noise then disconnect or nothing? Thats on all original BBC hardware modems. As strange as it sounds it is what it is and i have gone over and over and over everything testing checking and still the same results? I fully believe you have other ppl connecting ok via the prism nightingale or prestel adapter method but in my case its not ?? I only wish i could jump in my time machine with my setup and try again to check all my gear works LOL then come back again to present day and then try again LOL how wonderful would that be :)))))

[@GlassTTY]

Please don't give up, maybe take a break though :). I am sure we will get to the bottom of it. I am not sure if you received the video I sent to you of the Prism 1000 connecting to Telstar, although it worked it was very sensitive to levels. I found that the best results were obtained when I connected the phone across the line (rather than in the back of the modem) and kept the handset off hook. This attenuated the line enough for it to work reasonably well. The difficulty I have in testing all of this is that where I live now is only served by fibre, therefore, both my outgoing line and the Telstar incomming lines are all VOIP based connections. Before I moved home I had a geniuine land line (copper wires to the exchange) and the levels were lower than the VOIP connections. Through experimentation VOIP levels of -2db/-6db (tx/rx) simulated this. However, this isn't quite as reliable when calling VOIP to VOIP. I can't remember what you said about your land line, I am wondering if it is a traditional copper wire land line or something more modern. I am in the process of installing a third line (VOIP again I am afraid) purely as an outgoing test line and as a result I can now set much lower levels on the second line (01756 664434) as it is no longer used for outgoing test calls. I am wondering if you could stand to try it just one more time on line 2. In terms of the WiModem 232 the is a Telstar Mode that can be set with AT*T. Prestel never used a carage return, character 5F was used instead. When you are in prestel mode on Commstar, pressing AT does not work. If I remember correctly the Telstar setting (AT*T) sorts this. I also vaguely remember that typing AT^M (AT forllowed by ctrl-M) also works. So ATDTglasstty.com:6502^M will probably do the trick.

[@back2skooldaze]

@@GlassTTY Hi John, I am like a dog with a bone LOL Today i have been at the Telstar again :) I just can't stop trying i keep unplugging the modems and the digging them back out and attaching! Ok my landline is a virgin media and once up on a time the telephone cable went to a small white box on the wall just like a regular bt fitting but virgin have now switched these off and now you have to plug the telephone cable in to the back of the router :( I have acquired another BBC modem with rom and manual its a DEMON and this one has a hardwired serial cable and i have been trying your telstar. Now its dialing out and its connecting as i see the carrier light flickering until eventually it goes solid? Now that does not mean im connected as theres nothing on the screen but on this modem what happens is after the 1 and only breif tone the screen goes to a black screen with a flashing cursor at the top right? Now this is something new out of all this? So whether the modem has picked something up and is waiting for something else i don't know? Getting back to the prism1000 ive got my cable back with the wiring done on the telstar information you sent me and the modem is still acting the same way as before? I can whistle down the phone and get random characters on screen ? So when trying telstar i flick the toggle down on answering after the 1 very brief tone then the carrier and line flicker for 1 second and then they go off and nothing? Now today i have hooked the prestel adapter back up and gone through the manual and it appears i can't change any baud settings from 1200/75 7e1 to 1200/1200 8n1 ? The prestel adapter is calling,answering, 1 very brief tone then silent then disconnect with a hang up tone from the phone? Ive been intouch with another stardot user who has messaged me to say he has given up on connecting to telstar using his prestel adapter :( Im waiting to see how he was trying this so i can see if i have missed something out? But as it stands thats 2 people using prestel adapters who can't connect? Even though the prestel adapter is on the tried and tested list? my wimodem232 is working fine with telstar but not as good as using original hardware and getting that nostalgic feeling :) I still want to try and get this sorted and i hope you do , do some more investigation and experiements. The bt landlines where the best with no messing about but looks like its going to be fibre optics for all eventually? John i did not get the video you sent would you please send it to my email [e-mail] please i really would like to watch this regarding the prism1000 :)

[@GlassTTY]

@@back2skooldaze I have just ordered another SIP line so that I can test the different setups. Can you give me a week to get this set up and I will do many more tests. Lets try and nail this once and for all. As an aside, if your phone is now voip, what codec is your router using? are you able to tell? No problem if not. The Prestel adapter does not need to be changed from 1200/75 7e1 that is correct for dial-up. 1200/1200 8E1 is only when connecting via the internet. Stay tuned. In the meantime I will try again emailing the video.

[@retromobs6018]

Is it possible to download the Commstar rom somewhere? I have searched everywhere to no avail

[@GlassTTY]

mdfs.net/System/ROMs/Comms/

[@brianmartin6296]

Hi John, just wanted to congratulate you on your work here. Brings back so many memories for me. So much so I've dug out my BBC micro and it's old PRISM Modem1000. It has a ROM on the board with Micronet Terminal software. I have no idea if it will work so I've sent it off to RetroClinic for a check over. I'm hoping to manage to get on to Telstar and have some fun with it purely out of nostalgia. Are there any other systems like yours at 1200/75 baud rate that I could access too. Appreciate your help and your great work on this. Really impressive, Thanks

[@GlassTTY]

Glad you liked it. There are other systems but not all have dial up. NXT and CCL come to mind. But if you use your modem to call the PAD on 01756 664434 you can dial in to any TCP/Telnet system. Enjoy.

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi Brian did you get your prism 1000 working

[@brianmartin6296]

@@back2skooldaze hello Andrew , no not yet. Still waiting for my beeb to return from RetroClinic. Will see how it goes. It was also up the loft for 30 years so it might be a forlorn hope. If not I will find another maybe.. thanks

[@back2skooldaze]

@@brianmartin6296 Hi thanks for replying. Ive got a prism 1000 and im not sure how to use it ? Ive got a serial cable that fits the back of the modem and the other end to the bbc but once i rig everything up im not sure how to dial out? I dont even know how to see if the modem is responding on the bbc could you please assist me on this? In the meantime i have been using my prestel adapter which dials out and connects but ive messaged John as im getting disconnected? Also in the meantime i have aquired another modem which is a watford electronics Le Modem and that connects to the bbc using a 1mhz bus cable and thats dialing out ok too but im trying to find out why i would need a serial cable also as its got a serial port on the back to connect to the bbc? I dont why the serial cable is needed as the 1mhz bus cable seems to be working ok? Ive got the manual but no mention as to why i need the serial cable? Brian are you familiar with the Le Modem? And do you have a serial cable for your Prism 1000? If so could you help me as Mark from retroclinic said he will make me a cable up but needs the wiring pinout and if you have a cable then maybe you could let mark take a look at your cable and he could then build me one for my prism 1000? Thanks Andrew

[@brianmartin6296]

@@back2skooldaze hello Andrew, it's been 36 years since I used my prism so I dunno if I will manage it myself. My beeb is still with RetroClinic and may be several weeks before it's back. I don't yet know if my old modem will work yet. If I have success with Telstar when I am setup I will let you know and try and assist.

[@brianmartin6296]

Hi John, got a cable made up as per your info and all is fine. My auto answer Nightingale Modem doesn't appear to be functional. It powers up and LEDs light up etc. Power I think is out on some parts of the board when i checked with a DMM. My Nightingale is the auto answer version. I had an ambition to try and set up a dial up viewdata BBS for s few hours a week. Can you recommend anyone capable of looking over the board and repairing. I m sure it's just something minimal. I could easily mail it off to them. Would appreciate your advice. Thanks

[@GlassTTY]

Glad the lead worked, unfortunately I don't know anyone to look at the modem. I have an auto answer board here somewhere but it used one of the ports on the beeb (user port?) which i didn't have spare so I never tried it. I could probably send it to you to test. I always used US Robotics Modems for the server end prior to moving to a digital pbx and softmodem. They are great and cheap. I have a large collection of them here. J

[@brianmartin6296]

What type of auto answer US robotics modem would be good to acquire for a Beeb John. I'm not familiar with them. Do they operate at various Baud rates ? can you recommend any particular model ?

[@brianmartin6296]

Hi John , have abandoned any idea of persisting with the Nightingale. I see there are a few US Robotics V.Everything Modems on Ebay which should do auto answer and various baud rates. Would it be easy enough to hook one of these up to a BBC micro to attempt a BBS? I have OBBS software . Would you recommend that or suggest another?

[@GlassTTY]

The US Robotics Couriers are excellent and use standard db25 wiring and so on. They use a Hayes type command set which is easy to set up even from a Beeb and the settings can be saved once sorted. I can help with this if you go down this route.

[@GlassTTY]

Not sure how you would get on with OBBS with a US Robotics courier, I will dig out a copy of OBBS and get back to you. One thing to remember about v.Everything is that it means it does all of the V standards that existed when the modem was made not the ones that came after. In other words there are different types of v.Everything depending on when they were manufactured. This shouldn't bother you though if you are using a Beeb, as I imagine you won't venture above 1200 baud. All US Robotics Couriers work at 1200 baud. Miracom was a name used here in the UK for the US Robotics devices. Like I said I have a rack of them, they all look the same but are all different models. Some have different power connectors and even the modem/telephone cables differ in pinout between some. Great modems though.

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi I have my bbc computers connected to lantronix uds-1100 / uds-10 serial to ethernet device which emulates a modem. In order to access bbs sites I have to enter the ip address and port number. So can I access this using my lantronix as a modem and if so instead of typing glasstty.com could you tell me the ip address and port number. I'm using commstar on rom in my bbc's. Ive got a prestel adapter which I plan to rig up but in the meantime I'd like to use my lantronix as theres no hefty phone bills

[@GlassTTY]

Hi, thanks for the comment, all of the connection detailos are available at glasstty.com. The port is 6502 or 6503 and the IP is 167.99.205.178, however, that could change as the application is containerized and can and often does run on fifferent servers. Ideally you need to be calling glasstty.com:6502. I hope that helps. PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM 10TH NOVEMBER 2020, PSTN ACCESS TO TELSTAR, INCLUDING THE TELSTAR PAD, WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO AN OFFICE MOVE. THIS WILL BE REINSTATED ONCE THE MOVE IS COMPLETE. PSTN ACCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE UNAVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT.

[@GlassTTY]

DIAL-UP UPDATE: OFFICE MOVE WILL BE COMPLETE BY 22ND JANUARY 2021. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APPOLOGIES FOR ANY DISSAPOINTMENT.

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi John I'm successfully dialing from my prestel adapter and the phone answers I hear brief computer noises then quiet then disconnects? Could you please help Thanks andrew

[@GlassTTY]

If you can give me the exact date and time of a call I will drag out the logs and see whats what. Generally this issue is related to no carrier from the caller. This could mean that the level is not good. Are you calling from a SIP line?

[@back2skooldaze]

@@GlassTTY Hi John i can't remember now the exact time and evening but i tried again a few days later and i get the same ? My bbc dials the number then i hear the connecting computer screech and after a small wait it then disconnects? Im using bbc model b with my prestel adapter and my virginmedia landline? Ive now since got another modem called the Le Modem by Watford electronics and i'm just setting that one up. I would very much like to experience connecting to the viewdata/telstar but as i say i hear the phone dial then it answers then i hear the screeching then it goes quiet then i get disconnected?

[@GlassTTY]

@@back2skooldaze Ok just try it with the Prestel Adapter and note the time (accurately). I will get the logs out and see what is received. It that doesn't help any, we can schedule a time to try it and I will sit physically next to the modem with an audio monitor. That usually helps diagnose issues especially when comparing with my own BBC/Prestel adapter. I am sure we will get to the bottom of it.

[@GlassTTY]

Yesterday I had an outage on Line 1 (01756 664433) (See Twitter @johnnewcombeuk) at which point the PAD on Line 2 (01756 664434) was set to auto connect to Telstar as per Line 1. Line 1 (01756 664433) is now back up and running, however, I have left Telstar on Line 2 also meaning that the two lines are both configured the same except for the line levels. Perhaps you can try it with each of the Lines and let me know how you get on.

[@back2skooldaze]

@@GlassTTY Hi John im not getting anywhere? Ive tried both numbers and i hear the screech then nothing? I do wish you'd do a video on how to connect via the prism1000 modem? Ive just received a custom built cable for the modem to BBC and with the mode switch to the left M/NET and the silver toggle switch down i can whistle down the phone and i see random characters on the screen so i presume the modem is working with the BBC. I call either of the numbers and when i hear the phone answer i switch the toggle switch down and put the phone down and the line and carrier lights are on for 1 second then they go off? Am i doing this correct with the prism1000 on the BBC?

[@back2skooldaze]

Sorry I meant instead of dialing in using phone number can I use ip and port number instead

[@GlassTTY]

Hi, you can use GLASSTTY.COM port 6502 or if you prefer using the IP address then use 167.99.205.178 port 6502. The IP Address is static and will only change when a server upgrade takes place. At any point you can determine the IP address using... > ping glasstty.com Full details of the system and how to connect are at glasstty.com/wiki/index.php/The_TELSTAR_Videotex_System Bear in mind that the dial in service has had to be taken down from today due to an office move, it is expected to be down for at least four weeks. There is a note about it on the website. Good luck with it and let me know how you get on. John

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi John thanks for the reply ill try the ip and port number. Is there any news on the dial in up and running again. I'm ready with my prestel adapter and I'm in the process of trying to find someone who can make me a prism 1000 cable to my bbc. Thanks Andrew

[@back2skooldaze]

Hi John just tried telstar on my atari 130xe via lantronix uds-1100 terminal program bobterm 1.20

[@GlassTTY]

We are in the middle of a house move in that we have sold our old house and the one we are hoping to buy is experiencing some delays. The result is that everything is in storage and we are in temporary accomodation. The main Telstar servers are cloud based so are fine but the PSTN stuff was all in a rack in my office which is now in storage. No news of when we will move but probably not before the new year. There are some private PADs kicking around that will give you dial in access to Telstar. I will try and find one for you. The prisim cable should be simple to make. If you are not great with a soldering iron just buy a couple of cables with the respective connectors, cut them in half and use a chocolate block connector.

[@GlassTTY]

Any photos of the Atari viewing Telstar for my collection?