USB_to_RS232 Connector (usbModem)

Connect to any BBS or SSH host from any 8, 16 or 32 bit - Atari, Commodore or TI-99 computer using a USB to RS232 PL2303 cable

Debian - Raspberry Pi Usage

• Best run on a Raspberry Pi. When you order the USB/RS232 cable - buy a Pi as well!

• Purchase a USB to RS232 Adapter with PL2303 Chipset (on Amazon)

• If using an Atari 850 interface see 850 Null Modem cable wiring: Atari NullModem

• If using the Commodore User Port see GGLabs - User Port RS232 for Commodore 8-bit Computers: User Port RS232

• Install java JVM

  • Windows and other OS's - see documentation
  • On Raspberry Pi or other Linux

$ sudo apt-get install  default-jdk 

• Start the connector:

$ java -jar ./usbModem.jar -s=/dev/ttyUSB0 -b=19200

-s = serial port of the adapter
-b = serial port baud rate

• Connect up the cable run some terminal program - like TAZ, Bobterm, ICET, NovaTerm, StrikeTerm, etc...

• Set the baud rate is as above and bits/stop bit is 8/1

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Command Line Options and Usage

    *  -b,--baud <baud>           Serial Baud Rate
    *  -H,--remotehost <remhost>  TCP remote server mode host
    *  -i,--inboundfolder <in>    Inbound transfer folder path
    *  -l,--localport <localport> TCP server local mode port 
    *  -m,--menufile <menu>       Menu banner file path
    *  -o,--outboundfolder <out>  Outbound transfer folder path
    *  -P,--remoteport <remport>  TCP remote server mode port
    *  -s,--serialport <serial>   Serial Port Name
    *  -x,--xmlfile <xml>         XML BBS directory file path
    

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Configurtaion Files

• dialdirectory.xml - BBS directory

  • used with -x option
  • Current xml at https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/bbslist/
  • • (remove all non-standard XML after download - i.e. All "&" chars)

• banner.asc - Header and help file

  • used with -m option

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Examples

• Start with serial usb device ttyUSB0 at 19200

$ usbModem.jar -s=/dev/ttyUSB0 -b=19200

• Start with remote tcp (Altirra modem emulation)

$ usbModem.jar -H=192.168.0.100 -P=8080

• Start local tcp server

$ usbModem.jar -l=9090

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usbModem Commands

• help --> Display help

• nn [bbs_#] --> Connect BBS by listing number

• src [pattern*] --> Search for BBS listing number

• save [bbs_#] user password --> Save BBS user/password

• list [bbs_#] --> Display BBS by listing number

• atz --> Clear reset screen

• atd hostname/IP port --> TCP connect to host

• bbs hostname/IP port --> TCP connect to host

• ssh user@hostname:port --> ssh to host

• cls --> Clear screen

• prompt value --> Set command prompt

• ysend --> YMODEM Batch download

• yrecv --> YMODEM Batch upload

• xsend filename --> XMODEM Download

• xrecv filename --> XMODEM Upload

• lsi --> List inbound folder

• lso --> List outbound folder

• [esc] - --> Exit to prompt

• [esc] u --> User macro

• [esc] p --> Password marco

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Esc Key Macro Shortcuts

• [esc] - - Exit to prompt
• [esc] u - User macro
• [esc] p - Password Marco

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This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU Affero General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/