Apple Modem 1200
| Apple Modem 1200 | |
|---|---|
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| A beige modem from the 300/1200 family. The Modem 300 and Modem 1200 share this case (photo: Apple Rescue of Denver). | |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | External modem |
| Release date | 1984[1] |
| Price | US$495 with the Apple III accessory kit (December 1984 list)[2] |
| Interface | DE-9 serial (DATA) |
| Compatible | Apple II, Apple IIc, Apple III, Apple Lisa and Macintosh, with the matching cable |
| Model | A9M0301 (Modem 1200); A9M0300 (Modem 300) |
| Power | External transformer (service part 076-8077) |
The Apple Modem 1200 and its slower sibling the Apple Modem 300 are external modems that Apple introduced in 1984.[1][3] The two models use the same case, the same power transformer and the same service procedures, and differ in the modem board fitted. Apple's service manual treats them as one product, the "300/1200 Modems".[4][5] The Apple advertisement of 1984 described them as auto-dial, auto-answer modems with built-in error diagnostics, shaped to sit under a desk telephone.[3]
Apple Modem 300
[edit | edit source]Apple's service self-test runs every modem at 300 and 110 baud, and the Modem 1200 at 1200 baud as well; the technician skips the 1200 baud step on a Modem 300.[4] The labels give the model numbers as A9M0300 for the Modem 300 and A9M0301 for the Modem 1200.[6][7] Both labels carry FCC ID BCG794 followed by the model name, the same FCC registration number (BCG 794-12381-DM-E) and a ringer equivalence of 0.4B.[6] In December 1984 Apple's dealer price list gave the suggested retail price of the Modem 300 with the Apple III accessory kit as US$225, against US$495 for the Modem 1200 with the same kit.[2]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Models | A9M0300 (Modem 300), A9M0301 (Modem 1200) |
| Speed | Modem 300: 0-300 baud. Modem 1200: 0-300 baud in low-speed mode, 1200 baud in high-speed mode |
| Data format | Asynchronous; seven or eight data bits; one or two stop bits; odd, even, mark, space or no parity; full or half duplex |
| Operating modes | Auto or manual answer; auto or manual dialling, tone or pulse |
| Audio monitor | Speaker with volume control |
| Receiver sensitivity | 0 to -45 dBm |
| Transmitter level | -10 dBm, fixed, as per FCC Part 68 |
| Connectors | Power, DB-9 data, two modular telephone jacks |
| Interface | RS-232-C on a DB-9 connector |
| Temperature | Storage -20 to 65 °C; operating 0 to 45 °C |
| Requirements | Single-line telephone with an RJ-11 jack; computer with an RS-232 interface (the Apple IIe needs the Super Serial Card); communications software |
Hardware
[edit | edit source]The modem is a flat case with the electronics on a single board, the PCB in Apple's parts list, sitting in a bottom cover with four rubber feet. A small speaker is mounted on the board, and power comes from a separate plug-in transformer that Apple calls the power module.[5][4] The front carries an Apple badge and a green indicator light.[3]
| Label | Connector or control |
|---|---|
| PHONE | Two RJ-11 telephone jacks |
| DATA | DE-9 serial connector to the computer |
| CD/NC/DTR | Block of three small switches |
| POWER | Socket for the transformer |
| ON/OFF | Toggle switch |
Apple's installation checklist starts with the setting of the switches on the back of the modem, then the data cable, the power module and its pins, and the power switch.[4] Apple's service procedures do not describe the switch settings. They send the technician to the Modem 300/1200 User's Manual for installation.[4]
Two Modem 1200 boards
[edit | edit source]Apple made two kinds of Modem 1200 board: one that needs a sprayed case and one that does not. Apple's sprayed-case service boards and exchange units could not be used to repair the unsprayed Modem 1200s, and the parts list gives them different numbers.[4][5]
| Item | Part number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 815-0790 | Top cover |
| 2 | 076-8077 | Transformer, cable assembly |
| 3 | 661-75164 | PCB, Modem 1200 |
| 4 | 661-75165 | PCB, Modem 300 |
| 5 | 661-0293 | PCB, Modem 1200, w/CSA |
| 6 | 865-0003 | Rubber foot |
| 7 | 815-0791 | Bottom cover |
Cables
[edit | edit source]Each computer family needs its own data cable. Apple's parts list gives these:[5]
| Part number | Description |
|---|---|
| 076-8075 | Cable assembly, RJ-11 |
| 590-0121 | Interface cable (Apple II, Apple III, Lisa/Macintosh XL) |
| 590-0197 | Interface cable (Macintosh) |
| 590-0192 | Interface cable (Apple IIc) |
| 590-0553 | Macintosh Plus peripheral adaptor cable |
| 590-0550 | Apple IIGS peripheral adaptor cable |
On an Apple II Plus or IIe the modem connects through a Super Serial Card. Apple's checklist has the card's DIP switches checked and its jumper block fitted with the triangle pointing to MODEM.[4] Apple sold accessory kits for each family: A2C0356 for the Apple II with a serial interface card, A2C0354 for the Apple IIc, and A3C0354 for the Apple III.[6][2] Apple Rescue of Denver also lists a white Modem 1200 with a coloured Apple logo, sold for the IIc.[6]
Software
[edit | edit source]Apple's service tests use Apple Term (Apple Term II on the Apple II, Apple Term III on the Apple III).[4] The Apple II accessory kits came with an Apple Term II disk.[6] Macintosh and Lisa users were referred to the part of the modem manual written for those machines.[4]
Troubleshooting
[edit | edit source]Apple's service procedure is a self-test, a test call to a known bulletin board or service, and a back-to-back test between two modems. Faults are fixed by swapping the power module, the data cable and the modem board in turn.[4] The Service Source symptom chart lists two symptoms: an indicator LED that does not light (replace the power supply, then the logic board) and no sound while the modem is working (turn the volume control clockwise, then replace the logic board).[9] The Apple Modem 1200 Troubleshooting Guide has the full procedures.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Rear panel: PHONE jacks, DATA (DE-9), CD/NC/DTR switches, POWER and ON/OFF -
Modem 1200 base label, model A9M0301 -
Modem 300 base label, model A9M0300 -
Apple's exploded view: (1) top cover, (2) transformer, (3-5) Modem 1200, Modem 300 and CSA/1200 boards, (6) rubber feet, (7) bottom cover
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Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Apple Modems Documentation: Apple's Technical Procedures for the 300/1200 modems (section 1 and the parts lists) and the Service Source chapter for Apple's modems.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Apple Modem 1200 Troubleshooting Guide
- Apple Data Modem 2400, the 2400 bit/s successor
- Apple IIc
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia, "List of Apple products", 1984 table (read 4 October 2026). Lists the Apple Modem 300 and Apple Modem 1200 as 1984 products; no discontinuation date is given. History only.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Apple Computer, Apple /// Dealer Price List, 15 December 1984, Apple /// Datacommunications Products, p. 3. archive.org item apple-iii-dealer-price-list-1984-dec-15. A3P2023 Apple Modem 300 w/A/// Accessory Kit, suggested retail US$225.00; A3P2024 Apple Modem 1200 w/A/// Accessory Kit, US$495.00; A3C0354 Modem Accessory Kit for Apple ///. Page 5 lists AppleCare for the Apple Modem 300 (SC20023) and Apple Modem 1200 (SC20024).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Apple Computer, "Something no modem has ever said before", magazine advertisement, 1984. archive.org item apple-modem-300-advertisement. Introduces the Apple Modem 300 and the faster Apple Modem 1200: auto-dial, auto-answer and built-in error diagnostics; cable, phone cord and power supply included; a serial interface card offered for the Apple IIe; shaped to sit under a desk telephone.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 Apple Computer, Apple Service Technical Procedures: Cross Family Peripherals, Volume One (part number 072-0230, March 1991 build), Modems tab, section 1, pp. 1.1-1.11 (Jan 1984 to Oct 1985). Hosted as File:Apple Technical Procedures Modems (1991).pdf. Troubleshooting and take-apart for the Apple 300 and 1200 modems: self-test, modem verification test, back-to-back test, PCB removal, the two types of Modem 1200 board.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Apple Computer, Apple Service Technical Procedures: Cross Family Peripherals, Volume One, Modems tab, Illustrated Parts List, pp. IPL.2-IPL.5 (Apr 1987). Figure 1, Apple 300/1200 modems: top cover 815-0790, transformer cable assembly 076-8077, PCB Modem 1200 661-75164, PCB Modem 300 661-75165, PCB Modem 1200 w/CSA 661-0293, rubber foot 865-0003, bottom cover 815-0791. Figure 2, cables and connectors.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Apple Rescue of Denver, "Apple Modem 300 & 1200", product listing with photographs (read 4 October 2026). Model numbers A9M0300 (Modem 300) and A9M0301 (Modem 1200), shown on the base labels in the photographs; Modem 300/1200 Accessory Kit for Apple II with Serial Interface Card A2C0356; Accessory Kit for the Apple IIc A2C0354; a white Modem 1200 with a coloured Apple logo sold for the IIc; contents of the kits (power adapter, RJ-11 cable, User's Manual Parts I and II, Apple Term II disk). Retailer listing, used for model and kit numbers read off the products.
- ↑ Computer History Museum, "Apple Modem 1200 Box", catalogue number 102666262 (read 4 October 2026). Box, manual and brochures, circa 1984; model number A9M0301 printed on the box.
- ↑ Apple Computer, Tech Info Library article 1116, "Apple Modem: Specifications (Discontinued)", created 8 April 1985, reviewed 17 October 1994. Copy at absurdengineering.org. Specifications of the Apple Modem 300 (A9M0300) and Apple Modem 1200 (A9M0301).
- ↑ Apple Computer, Service Source: Modems (PDF dated November 1995, from the Service Source 2.5 CD of 1997). Hosted as File:Apple Service Source Modems (1995).pdf. Take Apart, Modem 300/Modem 1200, pp. 8-10; Troubleshooting, Symptom Charts, Modem 300/Modem 1200, p. 4.