Atari 1030
| Atari 1030 Modem | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Atari 1030 direct-connect modem | |
| Manufacturer | Penril DataComm for Atari, Inc.[1] |
| Type | Direct-connect modem |
| Release date | 1983[2] |
| Interface | Atari SIO, two serial I/O ports; telephone line jack[1] |
| Compatible | Atari 8-bit computers[1] |
| Power | External AC adaptor, 9 V AC, 5.4 VA (Atari C062195)[2] |
The Atari 1030 Direct-Connect Modem is a 300 bit/s modem for the Atari 8-bit computers that plugs into the SIO bus and connects straight to the telephone line. Its ROM holds a terminal program, ModemLink, which loads into the computer at switch-on.[1] Atari introduced it with the 600XL and 800XL at the June 1983 Summer CES in Chicago.[2] The owner's guide warranty names Penril DataComm as the manufacturer.[1]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard | Bell 103, 300 bit/s, full duplex[1] |
| Modulation | Frequency-shift keying (FSK)[1] |
| Modes | Originate (at power-on) and answer[1] |
| Dialling | Pulse or tone from the keyboard; tone dialling from the keyboard not available on the Atari 400[1] |
| Connections | TEL LINE jack, telephone connector cable, PWR IN jack, two serial I/O ports[1] |
| Indicators | READY (lit when a carrier is received) and ON/OFF[1] |
| Software in ROM | ModemLink terminal program and the T: device handler[1][3] |
| Power | 9 V AC, 5.4 VA adaptor, Atari C062195[2] |
Hardware
[edit | edit source]In 2023 an AtariAge member dumped the ROMs of a broken 1030 and published a disassembly of its firmware, with these findings:[4]
- The controller is an 8050 microcontroller (8048 family) with 4K of internal ROM, used together with an external 8K ROM for 12K of firmware in all. The external ROM holds data only, with no program code.
- All of the external ROM and about 60% of the internal ROM hold the T: handler and ModemLink, which the modem downloads to the computer.
- The firmware runs four serial shift registers in software, for SIO send and receive and modem send and receive, at a quarter-bit resolution (1,200 Hz for 300 baud).
- The first part of the firmware is a patched version of the Atari 835 modem's firmware.
- Invalid command bytes can send the firmware to random code; the byte $5F locks it up.
Software
[edit | edit source]ModemLink
[edit | edit source]ModemLink loads by itself on the 400, 800 and 1200XL: turn on the modem, then the computer. On a 600XL or 800XL with built-in BASIC, turn on the modem, then hold OPTION while turning on the computer. With BASIC or a language cartridge already running, type DOS and press RETURN to load it.[1] ModemLink dials from the keyboard or works with a manually dialled call, switches between originate and answer, and offers a HELP menu with printer on/off, display options and a memory buffer for incoming text.[1] It cannot upload or download files.[3][5] Later 1030s came with a disk, "The New Atari 1030 Software Package", holding AMODEM, TSCOPE and DiskLink.[5]
T: handler
[edit | edit source]The 1030's ROM also holds a device handler named T:, which other terminal programs can use through the normal OPEN, CLOSE, INPUT, PRINT, GET, PUT and STATUS commands. Russ Wetmore's Antic article of August 1985 documents it:[3]
- The handler is not relocatable and always loads at $1F00. It must be loaded before BASIC is initialised, for example from an AUTORUN.SYS file on a boot disk, or it overwrites part of BASIC's memory.
- It takes 20 extra commands as escape sequences (ESC followed by a letter), not XIO calls; an XIO call returns error 146. The handler only looks for escape sequences while location 7 (CMCMD) is non-zero.
- The input buffer is 256 bytes and the output buffer 64 bytes.
- While the modem is active it takes over the serial bus, so disk drives and printers cannot be used. ESC Z suspends the modem and ESC Y resumes it. Closing the device hangs up the line.
- The handler supports tone dialling (ESC O), which the public domain handlers of the time did not.
Setting up
[edit | edit source]- Plug the I/O data cord into either serial I/O port on the back of the modem and into the computer or another peripheral. Do not connect an Atari 410 program recorder while using the 1030 with ModemLink. An Atari 810 or 1050 disk drive may stay connected but must be switched off.[1]
- Connect the telephone line to the TEL LINE jack and the telephone to the modem's telephone connector cable, then plug the adaptor into PWR IN.[1]
- After switching the computer off, wait three seconds before loading ModemLink again.[1]
Faults
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Cause and remedy |
|---|---|
| READY prompt instead of ModemLink at switch-on | A language cartridge or the built-in BASIC is overriding ModemLink. Type DOS and press RETURN.[1] |
| MODEM POWER LOST on the screen | The modem has been switched off, or its power lead has come out of the wall socket or the PWR IN jack. Check the connections.[1] |
| Carrier tone heard but the READY light stays off | Both modems are in the same mode (originate or answer), or the line is bad and the carrier weak. Return to the start-up menu and set the modem back to originate; if READY still does not light, hang up and redial.[1] |
| LINE DISCONNECTED | The line has dropped. Return to the start-up menu and redial.[1] |
| Nothing happens after connecting, or random characters appear | Bad telephone connection. Return to the start-up menu and redial.[1] |
| Typed characters do not appear | The service is not echoing them. Switch KEYPRESS ECHO on from the HELP keys (option 3).[1] |
| Typed characters appear twice | Both the computer and the service are echoing them. Switch KEYPRESS ECHO off.[1] |
| Garbled data | An extension telephone picked up or left off the hook, or a call-waiting beep.[1] |
| Error 138 (device timeout) from a terminal program | The T: handler has not been loaded or has been overwritten, or the SIO cable is faulty or loose.[3] |
| Error 136 during input or output | The carrier has been lost.[3] |
| Firmware locks up | Invalid command bytes sent to the modem; $5F locks it up (community finding).[4] |
The T: handler has an analogue loopback test, switched on by ESC W and off by ESC X. While it runs, every character sent to the modem comes back as if received from the line, which checks that characters pass through the modem unaltered.[3]
The original warranty was 30 days, and out-of-warranty repairs went to Penril DataComm's service group.[1]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]The owner's guide is hosted and described on the Atari 1030 Documentation page.
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 Atari, Inc., The Atari 1030 Modem with ModemLink Telecommunications Program: Owner's Guide, C061798 Rev. A, © 1983. Hooking up (pp. 4 and 5); starting up (p. 6); pulse and tone dialling (p. 7); originate and answer (p. 9); HELP features (pp. 10 to 13); questions and answers (pp. 14 and 15); definitions (p. 16); warranty (back cover). Hosted here as File:Atari 1030 Modem Owner's Guide.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Michael D. Current (ed.), Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions, comp.sys.atari.8bit FAQ, last modified 29 November 2009: section 5.1 (the 830, 835, 1030, XM301 and SX212 modems), section 6.7 (power requirements) and section 11.1 (history, June 1983). faqs.org. Community reference.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Russ Wetmore, "Unleashing the 1030 Modem: secrets of its built-in device handler", Antic vol. 4 no. 4, August 1985. atarimagazines.com.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 AtariAge forums, "Atari 1030 firmware disassembly", thread started September 2023, with ROM dumps of the 8050 and the external ROM and a disassembly of the internal firmware. forums.atariage.com. Community source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Curt Vendel, "The Atari 1030 Modem", Atari Historical Society. atarimuseum.ctrl-alt-rees.com.