Re: Apple II internal modem

[Robert Steinmetz <rob@steinmetznet.com>]

Simon Williams wrote:

> Just a thought: with the impending arrival of the 8-bit internet,
> would it be possible/sensible for someone to design a modem-on-a-card.
> I was thinking that if it's possible (and seemingly worthwhile) to
> plant a laptop HD on a card, then perhaps a laptop modem on a card
> might be the next great Apple II accessory... any takers?
>

Almost all "true" modems on an expansion card communicate through a pseudo
(or real) serial interface. That is they look like a serial port to the
host computer. A really high speed, intelligent serial port would be the
first step. We know that the SSC was capable of limited speeds. Possibly a
better OS could help that. We know that the intelligent localtalk
workstation card ( also a form of serial port) was capable of much faster
speeds, although I have never seen the actual speeds published. If an
original Apple ][ could keep up with a 9600 baud connection, an
accelerated Apple ][(+, c, e) should be able to go much faster, say
28.8kbps. I would think (with appropriate serial port), an intelligent
card with good buffering should be able to improve on that, and keep up
with a full speed dialup connection. Perhaps the USC (Ultra Serial Card)
or the (UMC) Ultra Modem Card should be in the works. A high speed serial
card, coupled with SLIP could provide a local area network for apples and
a gateway to the internet.

--

Rob Steinmetz