Modem for my 850, or something cooler and serial?

[wjalex4]

Should I even bother with a modem? I have an 850 on the way, which I will use to connect up an old dot-matrix printer like an Epson LX-80 (I had that exact model). Wondering if I should get an external modem to use with the 850, or would it be cooler to grab an Atari branded modem? Will I even have anything I can use the modem for? If not, is there any cool 850 serial things I should know about like an Ethernet adapter or something? I have a home Ethernet network with a NAS (\\ipaddress\sharename access from my Windows PC).

 

Thanks! ---Walter

[Kyle22]

Search here for info on connecting Lantronix devices to your 850. I have a UDS-10 hooked up to mine for the BBS.

 

Be careful to select the correct modem cable. Mine uses a CX-87, but some require the CX-88 and a gender changer adapter.

[+David_P]

There are Serial to WiFi adapters as well - which are easier if there's no router close at hand.

[+DrVenkman]

Another vote for a Lantronix box (I use an MSS100) + CX87 cable and gender changer. Works a treat for that old-school feeling, at least if you have an Ethernet drop handy where you retro-compute. I don't have any experience with the new crop of serial/WiFi adapters but they get rave reviews.

Edited May 25, 2018 by DrVenkman

[+remowilliams]

This. Right here.

 

 

 

 

https://www.cbmstuff.com/proddetail.php?prod=WiModem232OLED

[wjalex4]

What can you do with the Ethernet connection, for example? I have my router and network switches all in the same room as my intended Atari setup.

 

Gosh, I wish I still had all my Atari 8 stuff I sold, probably way cheap, 20 years ago. :-/

 

Thanks y'all - Walter

[+Nezgar]

Depending on the router and network switches you have, an old or current cisco IOS router or switch with a console or aux port will work too for outbound telnet connections. The aux port can do full modem emulation too in theory but I haven't tried to interface a BBS for incoming connections yet.

 

The console cable that comes with every IOS router and switch gives you a 9pin female connection. Mate that to the 25 pin male end of an Atari CX-87 or compatible cable with an appropriate adapter (not null modem).