ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Podcast

Vince Cate, The Critical Connection In my last interview, I talked with the creator of SIO2PC, which let Atari users use a DOS computer as its disk drive and printer. This interview is with the creator a product which - six years earlier - let Atari users use a CP/M computer as its disk drive and printer (and keyboard.) Vince Cate owned a company called USS Enterprises, with just one product: The Critical Connection. Critical Connection was a combination of a specialized cable and software for connecting an Atari 8-bit to a computer running CP/M. The long cable had an SIO plug on one end and a 25-pin serial plug on the other, and some chips in the middle, allowing the Atari and CP/M box to communicate at 19,200 bps. The Critical Connection was released in 1983, six years before SIO2PC. They shared many similar features: with it you could: use an entire CP/M floppy disk as an emulated 600K Atari disk drive, create 92KB CP/M disk files which emulated Atari 90KB disks, and print from the Atari to the CP/M computer's printer. The CP/M machine even acted as a print spooler. You could also use the CP/M machine's keyboard to type on the Atari. Vince needed to create a file format to store virtual floppy disks on the CP/M machine: the filename extension was .ATR. I don't know positively, but I'm pretty sure it's a different file format from the well-known .ATR format that Nick Kennedy created for SIO2PC six years later... just similar functionality given similar names. Nick Kennedy told me that he had never heard of The Critical Connection. Here's what Jerry Pournelle wrote about Critical Connection in the September 1983 issue of Byte magazine: "Vincent Cate continues to improve his Critical Connection. This gadget makes an Atari think a CP/M computer system is a set of disks. The only requirement is that your CP/M system have an RS-232C serial port operating at 19,200 bps. Given that, you needn't buy disks for an Atari; by using The Critical Connection, you can make the Atari believe you have four disks. The really nice part is that you can use 8-inch as well as 5 1/4 -inch disks. Cate's new software package has automatic installation for a number of CP/M systems, including Kaypro, North Star, Sanyo, CCS, Heath/Zenith, and Morrow. ... Cate's documentation is improved, but it's not what I'd call good. Still, you can puzzle it out, and if you don't want to invest a lot in an Atari system but still want to use disks with it, Cate's Critical Connection is the way to go." This interview took place on November 20, 2024. Video version of this interview on YouTube Vince's web site Vince in Wikipedia Critical Connection review in ANALOG magazine 1986-02 CC version 1 in Antic XL version in Antic In Byte 1983-09 In Dr. Dobbs Journal 1983-09 Critical Connection at AtariMania ANTIC Interview 444 - Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and ATR Critical Connection source code Support Kay's interviews on Patreon

Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and the ATR File Format Nick Kennedy is the creator of SIO2PC, the hardware and software combination that allowed Atari 8-bit computer users to use a PC as a peripheral. In 1989, this was unprecedented, a new way to connect the little Atari to the bigger world, to the (relatively) massive storage and speed of a computer running PC-DOS. For the first time, Ataris could use a PC as storage, RAM disk, and printer. Nick also created the .ATR file format, which quickly became the standard for using virtual floppy disks on Atari emulators. Nick also created 10502PC, a cable that let you connect an Atari floppy drive directly to a PC; and AtariCOM, a less well-known utility that allowed two Atari 8-Bit computers to communicate using the SIO and joystick ports. And, he created Atari-based amateur radio tools: a terminal program for packet radio, and Morse code keyer software, which he and I talked about in detail in our previous interview. This interview took place on November 1, 2024. Video version of this interview on YouTube Nick's web site Nick's SIO2PC page Previous interview with Nick about ham radio: ANTIC Interview 441 - Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer ANTIC Interview 144 - Stephen Lawrow, Mac/65 assembler Bob Woolley's Review of SIO2PC in Atari Interface Magazine 1991-01 1993 Atari Classics article: SIO2PC: Slave An IBM To Your 8-Bit The .ATR File Format ANTIC Interview 441 - Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer AtariCom software DAK catalogs Best Electronics Mapping the Atari by Ian Chadwick AtariMax APE and ProSystem Old Hackers Atari User Group newsletter disks Nick Kennedy on AtariAge Support Kay's interviews on Patreon

Rick Reaser, Current Notes Magazine's 8-bit Editor Rick Reaser was the 8-bit Editor of Current Notes Magazine, a popular magazine dedicated to the Atari computers. He began in 1992, and wrote a column called 8-Bit Tidbits. Rick used his Atari 8-bit computer exclusively through his college years and for programming for grad school. He was also president of P3ACE - Pikes Peak Poke Atari Computer Enthusiasts - a user group serving the Colorado Springs area. This interview took place on February 11, 2023. Video version of this interview at YouTube P3ACE newsletters Rick's "Atari Revolution" quote Current Notes at Internet Archive The Current Notes issue Kay received from Rick Art of Computer Programming by Donald Knuth Rick's letter to Antic Magazine Volume 7 Number 11 "My kids love Talking Toddle" Support Kay's interviews on Patreon

Bob Stein, Atari's Encyclopedia Project Bob Stein worked at Atari Research for 18 months beginning in 1981. He was hired by Alan Kay. He worked almost exclusively on an encyclopedia project, a potential collaboration between Atari and Encyclopaedia Britannica that never went anywhere. I learned about Bob after he uploaded an item called The Atari Drawings to Internet Archive. It's a collection of nine colorful pencil drawings, drawn in 1982 by Disney animator Glen Keane. The drawings depict futuristic scenarios where people use a computerized encyclopedia to get information: for instance, "An earthquake wakes a couple in the middle of the night. The Intelligent Encyclopedia, connected to an online service, informs them of the severity of the earthquake and makes safety tips readily available." and "A mother and her children looking into a tidepool in Laguna ask the Intelligent Encyclopedia about the plants and animals that they see." Bob described the collection of art in his introduction to the document: "In 1982 executives from Warner, Inc., Atari's parent company, were scheduled to visit the Research Lab where the Encyclopedia Project was located. Brenda Laurel and I came up with these scenarios to give the execs a sense of what we were working toward. The drawings were made by Disney animator, Glen Keane. When you look at these, remember they were made 16 years before Google and 12 years before Yahoo, even 8 years before the earliest web-based search engines. That said, one of the most interesting things about these scenarios as seen today, is that with the exception of the image of the architect and the teacher none of them indicated any inkling that the most important element of the web to come was that it would bring people into contact with each other. What we see here is almost entirely people accessing content from a central server, no sense that we would be communicating with each other or uploading our own contributions to the collective culture. My own explanation for this lapse focuses on the print-era mentality that saw readers purely as consumers of content." Bob saved and scanned a large number of materials from his time at Atari, and uploaded them to Internet Archive. In addition to the scans of Keane's Atari Drawings, the documents include memos about the encyclopedia project and a transcript of a 1982 seminar for Atari Research featuring Charles Van Doren. Check the show notes for those links. After Atari, Bob was co-founder of The Criterion Collection, which restores and distributes important classic films; and co-founder of The Voyager Company, the first commercial multimedia CD-ROM publisher. In 2004, he co-founded The Institute for the Future of the Book, a think tank "investigating the evolution of discourse as it shifts from printed pages to networked screens." This interview took place December 16, 2023. Video version of this interview at YouTube The Atari Drawings ANTIC Interview 420 - Brenda Laurel, Atari Research Whither The Encyclopedia Project - Atari Encyclopedia Project memos Back to the Future -- In honor of Encyclopedia Britannica giving up its print edition (Wayback machine) Stein Kay Atari Memos Pt 1 Stein Kay Atari Memos Pt 2 Exchange With Steve Weyer And J. David Bolter 1983 Hadley Letter 1980-12-01 Atari...Ifugao Question Journal, Michael Naimark CVD Atari Seminar 20 December 1982 Encyclopedia And The Intellectual Tools Of The Future . . . November 1981 Bob Stein Archives at Stanford The Digital Antiquarian — Bob Stein and Voyager Charles Van Doren in Wikipedia Bob Stein wants to change how people think about the book (2010)

ANTIC Episode 111 - "Is Kay Really Funny, or is it Just a Courtesy Snicker?"

In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-Bit Computer Podcast… We go over the ABBUC Software Contest winners, we cover PRGE, Kay accelerates his interview publishing schedule, and we ask the question: Is Kay really funny, or are Randy's snickers simply courtesy? You decide …

READY!

Recurring Links

Floppy Days Podcast

AtariArchives.org

AtariMagazines.com

Kay's Book "Terrible Nerd"

New Atari books scans at archive.org

ANTIC feedback at AtariAge

Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge

Interview index: here

ANTIC Facebook Page

AHCS

Eaten By a Grue

Next Without For

What we've been up to

• PRGE - https://www.retrogamingexpo.com/

• Priming the Pump: How TRS-80 Enthusiasts Helped Spark the PC Revolution by David and Theresa Welsh - https://amzn.to/40l4vv1 (sponsored link)

Recent Interviews

• ANTIC Interview 439 - Making Modern Atari Hardware

• ANTIC Interview 440 - Ed Sabo, UltraBASIC

• ANTIC Interview 441 - Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer

News

• ABBUC 2024 Software Contest:

• https://www.atariteca.net.pe/2024/10/ruff-in-trouble-ganador-del-abbuc-2024.html

• https://abbuc.de/2024/10/ergebnis-abbuc-softwarewettbewerb-2024-result-abbuc-software-competition-2024/

• ABBUC Magazines - https://abbuc.de

• 4th ATASCII Compo 2024 - Presentation

• Pre-Launch for Clear Case for 800XL has begun:

• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seethruit/injection-molded-clear-case-for-atari-800xl-computer/

• https://forums.atariage.com/topic/373926-pre-launch-for-clear-case-for-800xl-has-begun/

• Bouncy World Server Available - https://www.atariorbit.org/2024/09/27/bouncy-world-server-available/

• Replacement cartridge slot - Screaming at the Radio - https://forums.atariage.com/topic/373896-replacement-cartridge-slot/

• Mastertronic Collectors Archive - Atari (8-Bit) Mastertronic Checklist - https://mastertronic.co.uk/atari-mastertronic-checklist/

Upcoming Shows

• Retro Computer Festival 2024 - November 9-10 - Centre for Computing History, Cambridge, England - https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/72253/Retro-Computer-Festival-2024-Saturday-9th-November/

• Silly Venture WE (Winter Edition) - Dec. 5-8 - Gdansk, Poland - https://www.demoparty.net/silly-venture/silly-venture-2024-we

• Event page on Floppy Days Website - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSeLsg4hf5KZKtpxwUQgacCIsqeIdQeZniq3yE881wOCCYskpLVs5OO1PZLqRRF2t5fUUiaKByqQrgA/pub

YouTube Videos

• Atari XL/XE -=Go! Tony Go!=- - Saberman RetroNews - Atari XL/XE -=Go! Tony Go!=-

• LIVE from PRGE 2024 Day 1: AtariAge New Releases & WIP - ZeroPage Homebrew - LIVE from PRGE 2024 Day 1: AtariAge New Releases & WIP (FIXED!)

• Videos of the ABBUC winners, such as:

• Atari XL/XE -=Eat Me!=- ABBUC Software Contest 2024 - Saberman RetroNews - Atari XL/XE -=Eat Me!=- ABBUC Software Contest 2024

• 1K Rainbox - Saberman RetroNews - Atari XL/XE -=1K RainBox=- ABBUC Software Contest 2024

• My Atari 800 prints out the news and weather every morning! - Sascha Segan - My Atari 800 prints out the news and weather every morning!

New at Archive.org

• https://archive.org/details/horten-computer-welt-11-85-preise/

• https://archive.org/details/brace-bits-vol-3-no-1/BraceBits%20vol1%20no4/

• https://archive.org/details/@allan52?query=portland

Github

• https://github.com/marktmiller/atari-8-bit-forth-projects/tree/main/fig-forth1.1/FP%20library

• https://github.com/ivop/saprtools

Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer I was adding a batch of ham radio newsletters to the Internet Archive's Digital Library of Amateur Radio And Communications, and I noticed the word "Atari" on one of the pages. In the September 2019 issue of Solid Copy, the newsletter of The CW Operators Club, Nick Kennedy had written: "Few hams who are both CW [morse code] enthusiasts and programmers of microcontrollers have been able to resist trying their hand at a keyer or two. I've done several in the past 30+ years, starting with one for the 6502 in an Atari 800 and on through PICs, AVRs and now...the Arduino." So I contacted Nick, amateur radio call sign WA5BDU, to find out what his Atari project was all about. First, a tiny bit of ham radio background: Morse code, that language of dots and dashes, can be sent over the radio waves using a Morse code key. Even if you know nothing about ham radio, I bet you picture a basic Morse code key: when tap the little lever, it makes an electrical connection that makes a sound. That's called a straight key. Avid Morse code enthusiasts may prefer a fancier "paddle" key: with two levers, one for short beeps and one for longer ones. A keyer is a device that is connected between the paddle key and the radio: it allows the sender to control timing of the transmitted signals, and other factors. Nick's software, WA5BDU Computer Keyer, turned his Atari computer into a keyer. He wired his Morse code paddle and his ham radio to joystick port 2. As he sent a message using his paddle, the Atari interpreted the signal, adjusted it as necessary, displayed the outgoing message on the screen, and sent the signal to the radio. Or, Nick could simply type on the Atari's keyboard to send Morse code messages, skipping the paddle key altogether. Nick sent me the keyer program and source code — as well as a packet radio terminal program that he wrote, and a tank game written by his brother. Check the show notes for links to all of those. Our interview took place on January 21, 2023. Video version of this interview Keyer software and source code at Internet Archive Ham Terminal software (with source code) at Internet Archive Various amateur radio software for for Atari 8-bit Nick interviewed by the QSO Today podcast in 2015 Nick's keyer article in Solid Copy Nick's web site Ad Astra magazine Pat Kennedy's tank game Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications Support Kay's interviews on Patreon

Ed Sabo, UltraBASIC Ed Sabo, with the help of his dad, founded UltraBASIC, a company that produced software for Atari 8-bit computers. UltraBASIC's software for the Atari 8-bits, which was all programmed by Ed, were: Tank Math: "a tutored math exercise plus a bonus roman numeral quiz" FunSpeller: "use your own words or the fifteen word-sets included" SuperFrogs: "the 7 game arcade with over 10,000 variations" … and Track Stack: a program launcher, "stack up to 15 machine language programs on the track stack disk" Ed also created some unpublished software, including a bulletin board system and RC Total, a program to track results of radio controlled car races. The company also operated a commercial coin op route, with video games, pinball machines, jukeboxes, and so on. Ed's UltraBASIC company still exists. Today, the company specializes in transmission rebuilds, custom headers, and other repairs for classic and custom cars. This interview took place on August 8, 2023. Video version of this interview (youtube): https://youtu.be/OXcW1Pm4DQ8 Tank Math: https://archive.org/details/tank-math-ultra-basic/ Super Frogs: https://archive.org/details/super-frogs-ultra-basic/ Funspeller: https://archive.org/details/superfrogs-funspeller-ultra-basic/ Track Stack: https://archive.org/details/TrackStackUltraBasic/ List of Ultrabasic games at Atarimania Ultrabasic, Inc.: http://ultrabasic.net M.U.L.E. Online: https://puzzud.itch.io/mule-online FujiNet: https://fujinet.online Support Kay's interviews on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/savetz

Two Interviews about Making Modern Atari Hardware In this interview episode, there are interviews with two people creating today's Atari hardware: the Atari 400 Mini and other modern reboots of retro consoles such as the Atari 7800+. First, an interview with Matthew Burnett, Vice President of Strategic Operations at Atari — the guy in charge of Atari's new hardware. We discuss how the Atari 400 Mini came to market. Then, I interview Ben Jones, Commercial Director for Plaion, a manufacturing and distribution company that was involved with the creation of the 400 Mini and 7800 Plus as well as other retro computing hardware like the C64 Mini and the A500 (Amiga) Mini. These interviews took place on September 27 2024 at Portland Retro Gaming Expo. Atari 400 Mini: https://atari.com/products/atari-400-mini-1 Atari 7800+: https://atari.com/products/atari-7800

ANTIC Episode 110 - Are the Grandkids Listening!?

In this episode of ANTIC The Atari 8-Bit Computer Podcast… Kay makes TI users unhappy, VCFMW recap, we drool over an Atari Home Computer Demonstration Center display, we bid farewell to an Atari podcast, and Randy uses a word he wouldn't want his grandkids to hear…

READY!

Recurring Links

Floppy Days Podcast

AtariArchives.org

AtariMagazines.com

Kay's Book "Terrible Nerd"

New Atari books scans at archive.org

ANTIC feedback at AtariAge

Atari interview discussion thread on AtariAge

Interview index: here

ANTIC Facebook Page

AHCS

Eaten By a Grue

Next Without For

Links for Items Mentioned in Show:

What we've been up to

• TI Fest West 2017 - https://forums.atariage.com/topic/260465-fest-west-2017/page/15/

• Kay as Radio Survivor podcast guest about Famous Computer Cafe - Podcast #342 – The Famous Computer Cafe

• ComputerLand radio commercials:

• https://archive.org/details/ComputerLand_Radio_Commercials

• https://archive.org/details/ComputerLand_Micro_Minutes_commercials

• VCFMW - https://vcfmw.org

• Indus GT drive

• https://atariprojects.org/2021/06/20/purchase-and-install-a-64k-ram-upgrade-for-an-indus-gt-floppy-drive-30-60-mins/

• https://atariprojects.org/2021/06/20/run-the-cp-m-operating-system-on-your-atari-8-bit-computer-using-an-upgraded-indus-gt-floppy-drive-30-60-mins/

• 10502PC cable - https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=157

• 6502 Software Gourmet Guide & Cookbook by Robert Findley - https://archive.org/details/6502sggac

• FujiNet-PC and Fujitzee - https://github.com/FujiNetWIFI/fujinet-pc/releases

Recent Interviews

• ANTIC Interview 438 - John Carlsen, Atari Summer Employee - https://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-438-john-carlsen-atari-summer-intern

News

• FujiNet update (RAPID 11)

• https://www.atariorbit.org/2024/08/10/fujitzee-fujinet-game-system-gets-new-game/

• https://www.atariorbit.org/2024/08/13/bouncy-fun/

• Atari Calculator/Colleen Calculator information

• https://fosstodon.org/@app4soft/113119855733880407

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Calculator

• NotebookLM https://notebooklm.google.com/

• Inverse ATASCII update and final episode

• SE8EB1 - Best of/Worst of - https://inverseatascii.info/2024/08/31/s8eb1-best-of-worst-of/

• SE8EB2 - https://inverseatascii.info/2024/09/15/s8eb2-summary-announcement/

• Into the Vertical Blank https://intotheverticalblank.com/

• (from Philsan) RM 800XL project by @rm_800xl continues. Trademark is now registered and Revive Machines is working on injection molds:

• Revive Machines - https://revive-machines.com/index-en.html

• Trademark - https://t.co/XccGGybXQ1

• Atari Basics newsletter - https://ataribasics.com/newsletter-hub/

• XCF12 - https://thingiverse.com/thing:6710517

• "F-16 Falcon Strike" - https://www.atariteca.net.pe/2024/08/primer-teaser-de-f-16-falcon-strike.html

• Mention of Atari computer in "It's no longer as simple as hitting the print button" (Bluefield, WV) - https://www.bdtonline.com/opinion/its-no-longer-as-simple-as-hitting-the-print-button/article_a533a3a8-5c1a-11ef-ba19-831e933a50bd.html

• NUC plus4 - https://ataribits.weebly.com/nucplus4.html

Upcoming Shows

• Portland Retro Gaming Expo - September 27-29 - Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR - https://retrogamingexpo.com/

• Tandy Assembly - September 27-29 - Courtyard by Marriott Springfield - Springfield, OH - http://www.tandyassembly.com/

• Retro Computer Festival 2024 - November 9-10 - Centre for Computing History, Cambridge, England - https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/72253/Retro-Computer-Festival-2024-Saturday-9th-November/

• Silly Venture WE (Winter Edition) - Dec. 5-8 - Gdansk, Poland - https://www.demoparty.net/silly-venture/silly-venture-2024-we

• Event page on Floppy Days Website - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSeLsg4hf5KZKtpxwUQgacCIsqeIdQeZniq3yE881wOCCYskpLVs5OO1PZLqRRF2t5fUUiaKByqQrgA/pub

YouTube Videos

• Carol Shaw's Road To River Raid - Revealing Gaming's History - Game Informer - https://archive.org/details/youtube-1OcT5zJzVV0

• 90 Minutes With Atari CEO Wade Rosen | All Things Nintendo - https://archive.org/details/youtube-yn8GTA4HMCU

• Decent USB Host: USB, Wifi and Bluetooth on Atari 8-bit computers - Screaming at the Radio! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgaEhkeXd_A

• Santosp Atari XE Remake Motherboard Build Part 1 - flashjazzcat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUMweiI8sOU

• Atari 8-Bit Series: Part 7: 410 Program Recorder - 8 Bit Milli - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvqy997uL84

• 1090XL Video With New Cards - reifsnyderb - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDsrE2A81y4

• Capt. Grace Hopper on Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si9iqF5uTFk

New at Archive.org

• https://archive.org/details/computer-shopper-february-1989-vol-9-num-2-atari-articles

• https://archive.org/details/computer-shopper-july-1984-vol-4-num-7-atari-articles

• https://archive.org/details/alog-pagewriter

• https://archive.org/details/portland-atari-club-computer-news-january-1988

• https://archive.org/details/portland-atari-club-computer-news-august-1988

• https://archive.org/details/portland-atari-club-computer-news-april-1988

• https://archive.org/details/atari-roots-rev-2-r-1

• Computer studio catalog at SDH Feniks - Warsaw - https://archive.org/details/fhkd_katalog_feniks_warszawa_zelazna_32_

Github

• https://github.com/snorklerjoe/atari8-ham-terminal

• https://github.com/BartGo/forth-atari

• https://github.com/stefanschramm/retroload

• https://github.com/mwenge/attackofthemutantcamels

• https://github.com/ivop/8x8-fonts

ANTIC Interview 438 - John Carlsen - Atari Summer Employee

Hello, and welcome to this interview-only episode of ANTIC, The Atari 8-bit computer podcast. I'm Randy Kindig, your host for this episode.

John Carlsen worked at Atari only briefly, as a summer job for 6 weeks in 1987, between his final years of high school. Later, in 1988-1989, he worked for its founding president, Nolan Bushnell when he signed on to Nolan's latest startup, called Bots, Inc. They made pizza delivery robots (and a related customer-facing order entry system) for Little Caesars Pizza. John then worked for Axlon, which was created by former Atari employees to manufacture add-on products for the Atari computer, followed by Aapps Corp., which spun out of Nolan's offices. In 1990-1991, John also worked for Mediagenic (Activision, Infocom, etc.) until a week after its hostile takeover.

This interview took place on March 6, 2024.

Links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Bushnell