Author: spravca

Connect Atari to Internet

Captain’s log stardate 06.03.2019

I had a vision of having 8bit atari’s connected to internet. I don’t like to put fancy new stuff, SMD’s, fast processors inside retro computers, but times you need to take both of the worlds. Times have changed and now it is literally impossible to connect old modems to the telephone network. My idea was to make external device that “pretends” to be telephone line modem, but in reality it would be ethernet or wifi capable device.

I considered raspberry pi, mikrotik routers with rs232 ports and arduino. Then I came across a site www.atariproject.org and saw the same idea, but they used sio2pc and PC computer or advise a nice box Lantronix UDS-10 External Device Serial Server

Lantronic UDS-10

It can emulate a modem with up to 115kbit speed , and You can connect it to atari via r-verter serial interface (similar to sio2pc). Has own webserver for configuration.

I look forward for testing it. The second part is to provide a modern BBS and software client for Atari’s. It should be a mixture of web/bbs and teletext – here are some ideas:

  • Atari hypertext language – simplified html like content
  • Possibility to refer to online source using file system like driver (at least within same connected server)
  • offer links to pictures that can be viewed fullscreen in different formats
  • probably use ST-mouse 🙂
  • online CMS providing both Atari and standard HTML pages

Of course a brainstorming is needed


Marian Vybostok’s site

Hi, i’m Marian and I will try to share here my small steps in my three hobbies.

  • Jeep Willys MB
  • Atari 8 bit hardware and software
  • deejaying – my greatest passion and job

There is probably a breaking moment in every humans life, that makes you look backward, what you planned and what you really achieved. I had recently one of those moments, when I discovered I work a lot but don’t have time for my hobbies. Some projects laying over 10 years in the drawer. Car standing 2 years in garage. The feeling that it has to change, made me to start my website.

Recently I met some old friends that I’ve not seen over 5 to 20 years, and met some new people. Now I did not feel alone, when You know, there are still some individuals that have passion for old computers, like to develop for the dead platforms, and push the limits higher and higher.

I will share my work here in english. And try to publish Slovak versions on www.atari.sk portal.

Maybe there are people around the world that will be interested in my stuff too. I have recently found many of my old “in the drawer” ideas around the net as someone else got the same idea maybe with different approach.

I am open for cooperation in new ideas, as there are only few of us left.