[vcf-midatlantic] Your First Modem? (was: Help me remember my first modem)

[Dave McGuire]

On 12/28/21 4:42 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
>>  Mine was a Livermore Data Systems model 71B 300-baud acoustic 
>> coupler.  Man did I run up some phone bills with that.  I still have it.
> 
>     Mine was a 300 baud Novation J-Cat in 1983, connected to my TRS-80 
> Model III. Direct connect, and I wrote a simple BASIC program to dial 
> out by pulsing the hook relay.
> 
> http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Modems/Jcat.html

   Wow, nice, I remember those from ads.

>     Dave, I have a Livermore 76B:
> 
> http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Modems/Livermore.html
> 
>     From a 1979 issue of Datamation:
> 
>      LIVERMORE DATA SYSTEMS76B
>      Bell 103/113A-compatible originate-only  type
>      Up to 450 bps using FSK modulation
>      Asynchronous,  half/full-duplex operation
>      Acoustic with  RS232B/C  interface
>      Features alternate voice-data
>      Over 4,000 sold  since  1975
>      $300

   Nice!  My 71B is very nearly identical to that, except the left 
switch on the rear has three positions, instead of two.  I don't recall 
what the other position is offhand.

   In mine, the two lamps on the front were those cylindrical aluminum 
incandescent cartridge bulbs, both of which were burnt out.  I couldn't 
get replacements at the time (I was ~13) so I replaced both of the bulbs 
and their sockets with LEDs, padded with some hot glue around them.

               -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA