Commodore Computers VICMODEM VIC-20 User manual

«1020
The friendly computer
VICMODEM
S commodore
' COMPUTER

REQUIRED FCC NOTICE
The Federal Com munications Commission (FCC) has established rules
which govern data modem direct connection to the telephone network. A
jack is provided by the telephone company for the direct connection.
Jacks o fth e m odulartype re q uiredfo rthe connection are not provided on
party lines or coin lines.
If it is suspected that the data modem is m alfunctioning, it may be causing
effects on the telephone lines outside the permissable operating specifi
cation of FCC 68. In this case, the modem should be disconnected until
the source of the difficulty is determined.
This equipm ent generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not
installed in strict accordance with the installation and operating instruc
tions may cause interference to radio and television reception. The
modem has been type tested and found to comply with the lim its for a
Class B com puting device in accordance with the specifications of
Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, w hich are designed to provide
reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installa
tion. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particula r installation. If this modem does cause interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determ ined by disconnecting the
modem, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
changing the position of the VIC with respect to the television or radio.
Copyright® 1982 byCommodore Business Machines, Inc. All rights reserved. No part ofthis manual
may copied, photocopied, published or otherwise reproduced without written permission from
Commodore. VIC 20, VICTERM I and VICMODEM are trademarks of Commodore Business
Machines, lnc.The Commodore product numberforVICMODEM is 1600. TheCommodore product
number for VICTERM I is VT 232.

A PIONEERING ACHIEVEMENT IN MODEM
TECHNOLOGY
Commodore wants everyone tojoin the “Computer Revolution” —
that’swhywe invent productswhich are notonlyrevolutionarybut
also affordable. The VICMODEM™ is only an example.
When Commodore introduced VIC 20" — the Friendly Computer,
the first color computer priced under $300, we wanted to include
a telephone modem to go with it, but we wanted our modem to be
in the $100 range, so everyone could afford telecomputing.
Unfortunately none of the major modem manufacturers we
contacted would, or could, make a modem we could sell at this
price. Finally we located a small creative design group and
presented them with our concept and design specifications. The
group started working with us and a few months later delivered
the modem we asked for. It took a total of 6 months from concept
to production and.in March 1982 the first VICMODEMs were
delivered for sale.
The result is a low priced modem cartridge which plugs into the
VIC 20 and connects directly to your telephone. The VIC 20 and
the VICMODEM together retail for less than $410 . . . and that
price is lower then the price of many modems!
We at Commodore are committed to leading the Personal Com
puter Revolution with new products that bring you the most
advanced technology available, at prices you can afford.
WHAT IS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS?
What is “ Electronic Communications”? Very simply, it’s the ability
to send and receive information over phone lines using your
computer. The VICMODEM “translates” electronic signals to and
from your computer so those signals can be sent over the
telephone. Your VICMODEM lets you communicate and exchange
1

data with almost any type orsize computer. You can use yourVIC
to “talk” over the phone with other VIC users or users of other
computers, tie into computer “telephone bulletin boards,” or
access a computer information service.
SCIENCE FICTION IS NOW REALITY
Science fiction writers used to speculate that one day we’d be
able to use “electronic libraries” in our home or office - the
technology has been here for several years - but it took the low-
priced VIC-20 and VICMODEM to make this service affordable...
and turn science fiction into reality.
Your Commodore computer gives you tomorrow’s world of elec
tronic communications... today. By allowing you to connect your
computertoatelephone, yourVICMODEM putsyou in touch with
incredible information services like “CompuServe”, “The Source”,
“ Dow Jones”, and other computer networks.
FREE “COMPUSERVE55 SUBSCRIPTION
As a VICMODEM owner, you’re entitled to ONE FREE HOUR of
access time on the CompuServe Information Service... PLUS ...
Commodoregivesyou a FREE SUBSCRIPTION toCompuServe,
which includes Commodore’s own special information network
for Commodore computer users.
Here are just a few of the services available through CompuServe
(and the “Commodore Information Network”):
★ educational programs
★ sports scores
★ encyclopedia
★ computer games
★ spelling aids
★ home budgeting
★ electronic mail
★ Commodore Product News
★ commodities prices
★ newswire stories
★ financial reports
★ wordprocessing
★ stock quotes
★ airline schedules
★ research data
★ Commodore Technical Data
2

With your new modem, YOU can access information resources
that up to now only the largest libraries and businesses could
afford. If you’re a programmer, you can use different computer
languages and programming tools. Add to this the many personal
services available and you’ve stepped into the next era of
technology. . . the Computer Information Age.
GETTING STARTED - STEP-BY-STEP
INSTRUCTIONS
Please read this entire manual before you turn on your computer.
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to connect and use the
modem:
1. Make sure yourcomputer is turned OFF. (When ever inserting
or removing any cartridge it is best to have the unit off.
2. Insert the VIC MODEM into the User Port (see figure 1).
3. Turn your computer on.
INSTALLING THE VICMODEM
3

/ /
Expansion Port User Port
Figure 1.
3. Dial the correct phone number, listen for a high pitched tone,
then remove the plug from the handset, (see figure 3)
4. On the side of the VICMODEM there is a red indicator light,
(see figure 2) This light will illuminate when the modem is
transmitting and receiving information via the telephone.
4

5. Load your terminal software (you will need to use a “terminal
program” to allow your VIC to “talk” over the telephone). You
can use any of the following programs.
a. VICTERM I - this is a cassette program included with your
VICMODEM. Requires use of the DATASSEJTE to load into
the computer. See instructions later in this manual.
b. VICTERM-40 Cartridge - A special Terminal cartridge avail
able summer 1982.
c. VIC-terminal program. - see page 7.
6. In order for VICTERM I to function properly you must not have
any cartridges in the Expansion Port (see figure 1). Be sure to
turn the computer off before inserting or removing any car
tridges. If you are not using VICTERM I be sure to follow the
instructions as given in the manual provided with the software.
CONNECTING THE TELEPHONE
1. You must have a modulartelephone in which the plug may
be disconnected from the handset, (see figure 3) If your
handset does not have an RJ11C plug (afour pin plug) you may
have to purchase a VICMODEM Non Modular Telephone
Adapter.
2. Set the originate/answer switch on the side of the modem to
the correct position. You should push it to the “O” position
(originate mode), when you are using yourcomputer to “talk” to
most information providers. It will be in this position to
connect to the Commodore Information Network. It is set
“A” (answer mode), when you are receiving a call originated by
another computer; example, you plan to communicate directly
by phone with a friend; he will start his VICMODEM in “originate
mode” and you will set yours to “answer mode”.
5

4. Insert the plug into the phone socket in the back of the
VICMODEM. (see figure 2) Now your computer is ready to
operate as a terminal. At this point you must follow the
instructions given to you with your CompuServe subscription,
or, if using another service, in their instructions. (NOTE: Once
you have removed the handset, put it on the side, DO NOT put it
on the phone cradle!)
SOFTWARE
Included FREE in this package isVICTERM l,which is loaded into
yourcomputer via the Commodore DATASSETTE. By loading this
software and following the instructions provided in the manual
your computer will be able to operate over the telephone.
Also available is VICTERM-40, a cartridge which plugs into the
VIC 20 User Port. This software package not only turns your VIC
into a terminal, it gives you a 40 or 22 column display and allows
you to save the valuable information you receive, on your
Commodore printer or the Commodore disk.
6

The following computer program is for use with the VIC 20. This is
a third method of turning your VIC into a terminal. You may type
this into the computer and then start it by typing “ run”, those of
you learningto program mayfindsomeofthe routines interesting!
For your convenience, we have provided an explanation of the
listing.
Term inal Software for the VIC
100
110
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
330
340
350
360
370
380
390
410
OPEN 5,2,3,CHR$(6)
DIM F%(255), T%(255)
FOR J=32 TO 64: T%(J) =J: NEXT
T%(13)=13: T%(20)=8: RV=18: CT=0
FOR J=65 TO 90: K=J+32: T%(J)=K: NEXT
FOR J=91 TO 95: T%(J)=J: NEXT
FOR J=193 TO 218: K=J-128: T%(J)=K: NEXT
T%(146)=16: T%(133)=16
FOR J=0 TO 255
K=T%(J)
IF K< >0 THEN F%(K)=J: F%(K+128)=J
pnfJr« «punff/1471 NOTE:lnsertaspacebetween
rnllNl v^nncj>^l^f () thequotesinprogramlines
GET#5,A$ 300, 330 and 360. Do not put a
IF A$=“ “ OR ST < >0 THEN 360 sPace in the Quotes in tine 320.
PRINT“ “CHR$(157); CHR$(F%(ASC(A$)));
IF F%(ASC(A$))=34 THEN POKE 212,0
GOTO 310
PRINT CHR$(RV) “ "CHR$(157); CHR$(146);: GET A$
IF A$< > “ “ THEN PRINT#5,CHR$(T%(ASC(A$)));
CT=CT+1
IF CT=8 THEN CT=0: RV=164-RV
GOTO 310
TIP. Once you have typed the above program into
your computer, save it on your tape or disk for
future reference or use.
7

Line Number(s)
Software Explanation
Explanation
100 Opens channel to modem
110 Dimensions input and output buffers
200 Places special characters into transmitting array
210 Enters carriage return, disables Shift into the
array and defines the reverse key
220 Enters lower case characters into the array
230 Enters special characters into the array
240 Enters upper case characters into the array
250 Defines the RVS/OFF and f1 keys as break keys
260 thru 290 Defines the receiving array(F%) to be identical to
the sending array (T%)
300 Clears the screen
310 thru 330 Reads from the modem and prints that character
on the screen
340 Resets the quote mode
360 thru 390 Places a cursor on the screen for ease of reading
and writing
400 Checks modem before sending characters
You can add the following line to your- program to give the
standard start and stop commands.
255 T%(1 37)=03: T%(134)=17: T%(138)=19
t%(137) turns the f2 key into a control C
T%(134) turns the F3 key into a control Q
T%(138) turns the f4 key into a control S
8