Going Online with the Tandy Model 100

For #septandy 2023, I'm bringing my Tandy Model 100 into the 21st century by taking it online! In this video, I show you how I connected it to the Internet, and how you can do the same for under $10.
The small 8 line screen on the M100 isn't all that great for playing BBS games, so we'll also do a mod that will let me use the MVT100 terminal at the same time as the WiFi modem, enabling online access with a full 80 x 25 line display.
Links Mentioned in this Video:
- Zimodem: github.com/bozimmerman/Zimodem
- RetroCampus BBS: bbs.retrocampus.com
- The Cave BBS: cavebbs.com
- ESP8266 MCU (Amazon): www.amazon.com/ESP8266-Intern...
- RS232 to TTL level shifter (Amazon): www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-MAX323...
- SILabs VCP Driver: www.silabs.com/developers/usb...
- MVT100 Adapter (Ordering Information): bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?...
- Arduino IDE: www.arduino.cc/en/software

[@dondywondy]

Thanks for the great information, Now I'll have to break out my old Model 100 and try this out! I actually remember using the Model 100 on Compuserve around the time of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. It was really the first time I experienced a world event which was discussed online in real-time. I remember getting a NASA document describing the entire sequence of events which occurred during the launch. We all were speculating on what happened around "Go at throttle up" which I believe was the last transmission. It was amazing to use Compuserve where computers were beginning to live up to the long forecasted telecommunications revolution, which now we take for granted. (Not long after those days BBSs were everywhere and that was great fun too!)
Thanks again for the great videos! I know it's hard work planning, recording, editing and uploading these videos, not to mention the work soldering etc. I really appreciate your work!

[@Fezzler61]

Great video for M100 fans!

[@IainShepherd1]

Nice. I am impressed this stuff is possible. Not doing it well but doing it at all!

[@CamdenBloke]

In the late 90s, my ISP had a trs100 termcap entry. So I would use the acoustic coupler on my parents cordless phone and use lynx and pine from the back yard. Also did this from the school payphone, but they made me stop because they thought it looked like I was hacking the payphones.

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

I have 2 of the M 100's in Great condition . One has the Booklet , I saw Cat Lady's Video , I am so Happy to see these Online :) QC

[@nid274]

its always exciting to see retro stuff working again

[@whatskenmaking]

Totally agree!

[@digitalnomad9985]

Might your higher baud problems be because the handshaking lines aren't functional?

[@DevilsHandyman]

I love how informative and easy to follow your videos are. Thanks for sharing. I have a M100 that has a bad power section due to battery leakage. I hope to fix that one year.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you! Leaky batteries have ruined so many M100s over the years!

[@jameskolby]

Thank you for this video! I can't wait to try a few of these things on my 102!

[@whatskenmaking]

Nice! If you're going to do the BCR mod on your T102, it's slightly different than the M100... make sure you take a look at the section for the 102 on www.bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=BCR_TTL_SERIAL_HACK

[@fcf8269]

Great video indeed; BTW did you notice that the ESP8266 has about 2 MB of storage onboard? Is it possible to use that storage with the M100 with the Zimodem firmware? Would be cool to save files on it when you use a BBS for example, or even as portable storage solution

[@whatskenmaking]

I haven't explored the storage capabilities at all, but that would be interesting. I've been looking at FujiNet lately and I'm working on another project that will incorporate it, so I was actually thinking about an M100 port for it... 🤔

[@AaronPalmerJD]

1:09 I would love to know where to obtain a phone cable for my Model 100 if you know what it is, what the part number is, or what it's called! I tried searching for Model 100 Phone Cables and came up with nothing! Great video btw!

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks! I did a little research, and can't find a catalog number for the modem cable. The acoustic coupler is 26-3805, but the modem cable doesn't look to be available in any of the catalogs that I found. I have seen them pop up on eBay periodically... but if you're just looking for something that works (as opposed to wanting an original cable as a collector's item), then you should be able to make one pretty easily. All you need is a male DIN plug and an RJ-11 cable... it's a straight pin mapping, so you would just need to cut the RJ-11 cable and solder the wires directly to the DIN plug.

[@AaronPalmerJD]

@@whatskenmaking I may try getting a din plug! I know I at least have some phone cables lying around here somewhere that I could use! I appreciate your response! I do not care if the item is an original, although I can understand why somone else would want to have one, or the acoustic coupler!

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Is there another way? ESP32 is cheating, it is 100 times the power of the Tandy. So if we go overpowered, my Macbook may as well deliver the internet straight over RS232 to USB. Can that be done?
But I prefer a lean Ethernet hookup without 240MHz dual core to make it run.

[@DhinCardoso]

I wonder how is to be as intelligent as you... I barely can fallow along...