Very cool! I actually saw the digicom64 software when I was doing my research. It seems like CB use with packet was a lot more common then huh? Thanks for sharing.

Very cool. I seen a lot of those PK232 on eBay when I was looking for a TNC I could use with the c64.

As someone working with current ones in the US, perhaps they have stalled out over the past decade lol. Thanks for sharing!

@ModernHam ha probably! I worked on the UK "Bowman" project, which is now obsolete after only 20yrs of use!

That station sounds pretty unique. Its a good thing I don't have any more room for retro computers. I really wanted an IBM. I think I saw a version of pacterm on the 64.

That Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 looks like a very interesting device for its time. Would be cool to see it on your own channel when you get it running!

@@scottpastor1 I have an opportunity to possibly snag a TRS-80 along with the expansion deck... fingers crossed. I would love to know how you interfaced the devices, looked like the thing was covered in centronics connectors when I looked at it... like old printer cables.

@@jwreagan so far I’ve connected it to my KAM modem. I found a pdf of the original instructions for the Model 100 and followed the steps in the TELNET chapter. I got the two talking with just a little experimentation with the parameters.

Might show some of the other ham related applications.

I agree about the lights. Something about the indicators and tuning knob gives a warm nostalgic feeling (even if I wasn't around at the time). Mine came as the TNC2, and has KISS. I'm not sure if that was just an upgraded model, or someone had flashed it before myself. I had a time making the cable for a modern RS232 port so I'm interested on what your solution was there. I found a Pinout online to convert the 25 pin to a regular 9 pin we use today. A regular Commodore 64 can be found on eBay for 80-140 dollars, you just have to use an external monitor.

It has been fun! I have to say, after trying to learn Morse a few times, I feel the same way. Eventually I'll get to it. 73!

ARRL dropped the morse code requirement on the tech license in 1991.

Wish I had a terminal cartridge. This takes 3-5 minutes to load each time. Very cool though, the SX64 has been a joy to tinker with. I'm playing through some old games like ZORK too.

@@ModernHam is it really that slow with the Rpi1541?

My setup in the early 90s was a standard 64, MFJ-1276, and an FT-2500M, terminal software was mfjterm from mfj on floppy. Was a lot of fun, my equipment was outdated when I got into it... and even more so now lol. I am getting ready to test like 10 TNCs... including my first TNC to get back into it

Good news is, TCP-IP over AX-25 is what I'm talking about about next in the packet radio series. I might try and talk about some of those other softwares too.

or how about getting the soldering done perfect... only to realize you forgot to put part of the connector on the cable FIRST... unsolder, assemble correct, resolder... wrong, unsolder, resolder, find the premade cable you already bought for it two decades before...

Nice! The SX64 has been a fun time. I'd never heard of mustang. I did use AOL on dial up when I was younger. Thanks for sharing!

I started out in 1982 with a Commodore VIC-20/tape drive and then later on the C64 and a 1541 floppy drive and 300 baud modem then moving up to a 1200 baud modem. I was dialing into bbs's back then. Then later on came Quantumlink. AOL started out as Quantumlink and it was a COMMODORE based service created with Commodore computers in mind, then after a few years they changed the name to AOL America On Line and switched to IBM pc based format. I was a member of Quantumlink and then AOL. Back then you dialed up a local number and connected to the service and then could go into the "internet" from there. Quantumlink basically was a stand alone service with files and information you could download as well as chat rooms and email, everything and more for Commodore computers. Apple wouldnt exist without Commodore because Commodore owned MOS Technologies, makers of the 6502 processor used in the first apple computers. Back in 1975/1976 MOS Technologies invented the prototype KIM-1 computer based on the 6502 processor, that was later developed into the PET series of computers and then the Commodore VIC-20. AOL wouldnt exist without Commodore because Commodore computers were the reason Quantumlink was started and then they became AOL. Microsoft wouldnt exist today if it wasnt for Commodore because Microsoft wrote the Commodore DOS operating system that was used in the Commodore PET computers and later Commodore computers. This large contract for Microsoft from Commodore gave microsoft the capital to invest in the company and when the IBM pc came along they could produce dos and later windows operating systems. Commodore had a lot of influence and effected the world of computers and shaped what we know today and many people do not remember or acknowledge what Commodore CBM contributed to brands and companies we know today. They were very innovative and had advanced capabilities. C64's were one of the most sold and used computers out of any model computer in the world hands down.

@@ModernHam Mustang was just on the Internet proper before there was a WWW. It never went to the WWW this was during the time when they were setting up the WWW. Once we were done I got put on AOL they took my Internet access away. I suspect the company had a lot to do with both. No one should use AOL if it is still in existence. The internet proper was Text only. I protested both AI on the internet and found a file I should not have seen. Got my furniture moved around and a debrief because of that file. I suspect that Dad's clearance and being in the company "Family" had something to do with me having access to the internet in the first place. I don't know how high he was in all that but one day he brought Warner von Braun to dinner, I was about 11-or 12 then. He was a electro-mechanical engineer did reverse engineering. Shrunk the AGC from the size of a house to about 18" x 18" in diameter . He was on the crew that reverse engineered the Mig 25? that defected to Japan in the 80's. Every space capsule and Shuttle has his fingerprints on it. When von Braun came to dinner he was on the Saturn 5 project. When he died they disappeared him as Mom put it. I have had NASA people look into finding some articles on him and with in 2 weeks they no longer know me. Ok NOW I probably said too much.

Thanks for sharing. I saw the left over from a lot of those tweaks and mods when shopping for the SX64. Saw a lot of those "dialup" hacking programs too for the modems. I definitely want to flash JiffyDOS eventually and would like to put a switch in to change the internal floppy between drive 8 and 9

APRS is indeed very popular. I'm hoping to see a shift back to it with software TNCs. The next section of all of this will show off some very cool things you can do with it that might appeal to young people.

Wow, there's actually lots of old school nodes out there. I'd like to get my hands on one of the kantronics TNCs but they are expensive.

You caught me. I had to emulate a drive with a PI1541(a raspberry pi based drive emulator) attached to the serial port, and load the software from it. Unfortunately you're right, the SX-64 couldn't use these cassette tapes. The floppy drive works, but I couldn't find the software on floppy unfortunately. I could load up any generic terminal software from a floppy and archive the same thing I guess.

My radio is tuned to 14.105LSB with tones 1600 and 1800 at a speed of 300, which is the most active frequency for HF packet radio. You are correct in your assumptions about the role of the TNC and the C64. I've got a whole packet radio series on KZfaq now that will show you how to connect with modern technology using software based TNCs such as Direwolf. That will give you an idea of how to replicate a retro setup as well. Typically there are Beacons setup to transmit in intervals to let people know your node is there to use. Modern solutions also include text based games, internet website forwarding through the terminal and much more.

@@ModernHam Thanks for the response; while I'd love to get dirty with Direwolf, there's just something incredibly nostalgic and appealing to using vintage electronics. None the less, I'll check out DW! Re: tones, I imagine that's something you configure on the TNC and must be unique (as in no other nodes on freq are using them?) Sidenote: Will definitely be checking out your packet radio series. Thanks again, 73's!

I know the feeling. I wanted to get the Pakratt, but I gave up on winning an acceptable eBay auction. Would be nice to see a video when you get around to it.

I belive the C64 cartridge I have has the Pakratt software on it, it will also run the AEA PK-232 tnc as well.

@@kd5inm I think I have the PK-232 also... round here somewhere...

I have been thinking about putting a ham HF bbs up on a pi or on a commodore just for fun. I used to run a phone line bbs back in 1988 and 89 in Waco Texas. It was fun. I actually met girls on the bbs's I ran and got dates back then.

@@kd5inm do it! Don't expect the dates this time though... I think packet has died out quite a bit since the 80s

Unfortunately not unless it was the same as my own. I found the old manual online and it showed the PTT/Data in and out pins soni matched it up with my FT-891s manual.