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Today's Topics:
1. This is my plan (Scott McDonnell)
2. Re: This is my plan (Dave Everett)
3. Re: This is my plan (Scott McDonnell)
4. Re: This is my plan (Dave Everett)
5. Re: This is my plan (Scott McDonnell)
6. Re: This is my plan (Justin Poirier)
7. Re: This is my plan (Scott McDonnell)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:49:47 -0400
From: Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com)
? ? ?I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am thinking I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
? ? Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could could be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
? ? For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an HC-12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin 25 of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
? ? If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere inside, though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled as tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a tilt stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the BCR port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would need to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2025 10:50:52 +1000
From: Dave Everett <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID:
<CAG61pbdUm=2o+CR31yAFdeNKpXpMmYRXML8YKhHxTWASXm=u...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
What was the max baud rate for the m100? I regularly use transceiver
modules that do ttl rs-232. They run at 9600 but from memory that can be
changed. I just don?t recall if it can go lower.
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 08:50, Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com)
I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am thinking I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could could be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an HC-12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin 25 of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere inside,
though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled as tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a tilt stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the BCR port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would need to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
-------------- next part --------------
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:59:06 -0400
From: Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"
1200 baud seems to be the most reliable. 9600 is possible, though.
On 9/30/2025 8:50 PM, Dave Everett wrote:
What was the max baud rate for the m100? I regularly use transceiver
modules that do ttl rs-232. They run at 9600 but from memory that can
be changed. I just don?t recall if it can go lower.
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 08:50, Scott McDonnell
<[email protected]> wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com <http://oldnet.com>)
?? ? ?I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am
thinking I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also
allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the
battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't
really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will
attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
?? ? Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot
control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could
could be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
?? ? For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an
HC-12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the
serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin
25 of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for
adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the
M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
?? ? If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will
end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of
installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere
inside, though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled
as tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe
with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a
tilt stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the
BCR port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as
the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the
light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would
need to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably
outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
-------------- next part --------------
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URL:
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------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2025 11:08:32 +1000
From: Dave Everett <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID:
<CAG61pbed2Za1mtux27b=z3x37hqa6nhlndmycd8df5rwf3z...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Check out the description for these:
https://ebay.us/m/drkr36
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 11:04, Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
wrote:
1200 baud seems to be the most reliable. 9600 is possible, though.
On 9/30/2025 8:50 PM, Dave Everett wrote:
What was the max baud rate for the m100? I regularly use transceiver
modules that do ttl rs-232. They run at 9600 but from memory that can be
changed. I just don?t recall if it can go lower.
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 08:50, Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com)
I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am thinking I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could could be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an HC-12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin 25 of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere inside,
though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled as tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a tilt
stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the BCR port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would need to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
-------------- next part --------------
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URL:
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------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2025 03:10:05 -0400
From: Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"
They look like expensive versions of the HC-12 modules.
https://www.amazon.com/433Mhz-Wireless-Replace-Bluetooth-Antenna/dp/B0C7M99BQM
On 9/30/2025 9:08 PM, Dave Everett wrote:
Check out the description for these:
https://ebay.us/m/drkr36
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 11:04, Scott McDonnell
<[email protected]> wrote:
1200 baud seems to be the most reliable. 9600 is possible, though.
On 9/30/2025 8:50 PM, Dave Everett wrote:
What was the max baud rate for the m100? I regularly use
transceiver modules that do ttl rs-232. They run at 9600 but from
memory that can be changed. I just don?t recall if it can go lower.
Dave
On Wed, 1 Oct 2025 at 08:50, Scott McDonnell
<[email protected]> wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a
controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com <http://oldnet.com>)
?? ? ?I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no
plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am
thinking I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would
also allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain
the battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a
switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I
can't really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I
will attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project
to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
?? ? Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be
appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot
control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could
could be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
?? ? For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or
an HC-12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use
the serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output
to pin 25 of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day
for adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground
in the M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
?? ? If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I
will end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard
matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still
weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of
installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere
inside, though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that
were
available at the time which were battery packs that also
doubled as tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC
pipe with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as
a tilt stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to
the BCR port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with
it as the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of
the light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it
would need to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is
probably outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into
trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
-------------- next part --------------
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URL:
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------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:33:26 -0400
From: Justin Poirier <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
No comment on the other hardware, but I will comment on the battery
possibilities. These machines will gladly run on the 5V that a portable
USB battery bank puts out. I have made many USB-to-DC barrel connectors
to run my 102 and 200s on the go. Not only do you get the power density
of lithium chemistry, but you also get the pack's built-in charge
controller so you can just plug it in and recharge it like anything
else that charges via USB. Some battery backs support pass-through
charging as well so they can supply power while being charged. (This is
not always the case, and not often advertised as a feature so you may
have to test a few different battery packs to find one that supports
this.)
Find a good battery bank and then 3-D print the supports and legs to
make it a good fit for tilting the machine (maybe velco would be fine
to make it easily removable) and you're done from an electrical
perspective.
--Justin
On Tue, 2025-09-30 at 18:49 -0400, Scott McDonnell wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com)
?? ? ?I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am thinking
I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also
allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the
battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't
really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will
attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
?? ? Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot
control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could could
be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
?? ? For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an HC-
12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the
serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin 25
of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for
adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the
M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
?? ? If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will
end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of
installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere inside,
though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled as
tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe
with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a tilt
stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the BCR
port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as
the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the
light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would need
to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably
outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2025 07:51:41 -0400
From: Scott McDonnell <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [M100] This is my plan
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Of course! Total mental blackout on my part.
There are even DIY kits that could be fitted into a custom 3D printed stand.
On 10/1/2025 7:33 AM, Justin Poirier wrote:
No comment on the other hardware, but I will comment on the battery
possibilities. These machines will gladly run on the 5V that a portable
USB battery bank puts out. I have made many USB-to-DC barrel connectors
to run my 102 and 200s on the go. Not only do you get the power density
of lithium chemistry, but you also get the pack's built-in charge
controller so you can just plug it in and recharge it like anything
else that charges via USB. Some battery backs support pass-through
charging as well so they can supply power while being charged. (This is
not always the case, and not often advertised as a feature so you may
have to test a few different battery packs to find one that supports
this.)
Find a good battery bank and then 3-D print the supports and legs to
make it a good fit for tilting the machine (maybe velco would be fine
to make it easily removable) and you're done from an electrical
perspective.
--Justin
On Tue, 2025-09-30 at 18:49 -0400, Scott McDonnell wrote:
I plan to dedicate one of my Model 100s to use as a controller for my
80s robots.
These are my planned mods to implement this:
1. Internal retro wifi modem (oldnet.com)
?? ? ?I plan to make hack onto the MC14412 chip. I have no plan to
retain the original modem functionality, but if I did, I am thinking
I
could implement this via the modem enable signal. That would also
allow
me to control power to the ESP8266 so that it did not drain the
battery
when not in use. I could bring the enable line out to a switch to
reconnect the enable line to the MC14412. At the moment, I can't
really
think of why I might ever want the original modem.
I will use a Wemos D1 mini with an external antenna that I will
attach
to the M100 body.
2. Complete my originally idea to port the TPDDuino project to the
sparkfun openlog hardware and make this internal
?? ? Here, I am thinking the BCR TTL serial mod would be appropriate.
This frees up the serial port which I will need for the robot
control.
Not sure if TSDOS already supports this, however. There could could
be
some benefits to the faster speed possible with the BCR hack.
3. Wireless serial
?? ? For this, I have not decided whether to use bluetooth or an HC-
12
module. This will be in an external modules so that I can use the
serial
port for other purposes. I do plan to add a fused 5V output to pin 25
of
the serial port. This was a common pin to use back in the day for
adding
a power output. It doesn't appear to be connected to ground in the
M100
per the schematics, but I will need to double-check.
4. Joystick mod mentioned previously
?? ? If I will be using the BCR port for the TPPDuino, then I will
end
up implementing the ideas discussed in that thread for using the
parallel port. But I also might just hack into the keyboard matrix
arrows since this will be dedicated for this purpose. Still weighing
this while I work on the other mods.
-----------------------
Interested in internal battery hacks. I have been thinking of
installing
a 7.2V nimh pack. I am not really sure it could fit anywhere inside,
though.
While looking through old magazines, I had seen products that were
available at the time which were battery packs that also doubled as
tilt
stands. I liked the look of those and might end up 3-D printing
something like that. There was a simpler project to use a PVC pipe
with
D cell batteries and the author fashioned that to also act as a tilt
stand.
For my first M100, I had modified a book light to attach to the BCR
port
to provide light for the LCD. I wasn't especially happy with it as
the
clear plastic bezel is too glossy and reflected too much of the
light. I
feel like if there were any possible enhancement here, it would need
to
be some sort of front light mounted internally. This is probably
outside
of how much effort I want to put into this.
Interested in hearing about any experience and efforts into trying to
improve the readability of the LCD.
------------------------------
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