[Coco] CoCo Ethernet for $25-$30...

[Allen Huffman]

Folks, I have found a cheap RS232->Ethernet interface that sells for $25-$30. It is based on a chip that sells for $6 that handles all the TCP/UDP/IP/Enet protocol. The product number is WIZ110SR. It needs a 5V power supply, so that will add a bit more to the cost.

It has three modes: Client, Server and Mixed. In Server mode, it can be configured so it listens for an incoming connection, then transfers it over to the serial port. This would let a CoCo BBS run without the need for any PC -- just configure the box and plug it up to Ethernet.

Client mode can be configured so the RS232 system can dial out to some remote system. I believe both of these modes are designed to transparently retrofit a device that expects something at the end of a serial port.

Mixed Mode lets it receive connections and make connections. There is a text based serial way to program the IP, gateway, etc. It uses a version of the Hayes modem escape sequence ("+++") to switch between data mode and command mode.

I found it online for $25 from www.saelig.com, and the big Arduino hobbyist company www.sparkfun.com has it for $29.95.  Digikey has it for $43, so...

This would be a dirt cheap way for us to get our CoCos online independent of a host computer. I am going to look in to one of these and see how it goes. Ideally, it would be nice to find something like this built on the iChip (which handles application protocols like FTP and mail and such).

My project is using this chipset, but I am creating a wrapper to make it look like a modem so it could be used with normal comm software -- as long as you could enter your own string for the phone number. (i.e., a terminal program may start "ATDT" then put in your phone number, and my code would let you configure the phone number to be an IP address or remote.com:23 and then Ultimaterm or whatever would send "ATDTremote.com:23" so anything could work unless it rejected invalid phone numbers.

This board will not do that, requiring more application work, but I thought I would share it in case anyone is interested.
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Allen Huffman - PO Box 22031 - Clive IA 50325 - 515-999-0227 (vmail/TXT only)
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