Mike Dank

Weird #modempunk #salvagepunk guy. Written for n-o-d-e.net, 2600, Lunchmeat, Exolymph, NeonDystopia. Spoken at Radical Networks, WOPR, BSides, JawnCon. Currently building a payphone network and other strange things.

site: https://famicoman.com
infra: https://networksofphilly.org
payphones: https://philtel.org
modems: https://dialup.world

Last Notes

2026-01-25 21:01:26 UTC

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I have no idea if this is true everywhere but at some point in the US in the last 15 or so years they switched to hollow, particle board legs which will only really hold weight if you bolt all the way through with nuts and you still have sag. You could replace the legs with your own solid wood but at that point you might as well just make your own lack from scratch.
I remember lusting after my own in the early aughts and finally tried it years ago with disappointment.

2025-12-31 21:11:33 UTC

My friends when I tell them about some weird piece of hardware I just got in.
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/816/228/550/671/771/original/d49f3dd70293a739.jpeg

2025-08-27 20:59:23 UTC

Trying to figure out the secret handshake to film CRTs. Current winner seems to be 25fps with 1/60 shutter speed. Higher fps seems to always result in a big, noticeable rolling bar. Let me know if you have any tips!
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/115/102/733/262/060/899/original/38dec5572c70bc31.mp4

2025-08-22 17:01:26 UTC

#maxitel
From: @npub1gtp…5ukj
https://amicale.net/@cquest/115066575999994235

2025-07-25 04:39:45 UTC

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Okay, first release is live! naplps-server is written in python and designed to be used w/ a modem so you can take calls from your #NAPLPS #videotex terminal and serve it graphics! Works with the AT&T Sceptre and probably others.
Works great with a phone line simulator, BUT there is also a demo phone number up (or direct SIP details) to try. Warning: that might break if the client disconnects unexpectedly or data corrupts. More work to do!
Anyway, all the info is here! https://github.com/dialup-world/naplps-server/
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2025-07-24 03:18:51 UTC

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I can definitely see how this logic could be modified into a rudimentary BBS.
At one point I think something nearby was blasting IR because I was getting weird chars and then the Sceptre kept going into menus so it was clearly interpreting something as commands. Turned the Sceptre sideways and the weirdness stopped. Thought I was losing my mind and figured that was a good stopping point.

2025-07-24 03:16:28 UTC

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So I was dumb, the script doesn’t use a parity bit but the Sceptre’s connection expected odd parity. Switched that to none since there isn’t much we can do if something flips. Also increased the byte send delay to 10ms and things are really looking stable.
I don’t know if it’s standardized but this seems to be half duplex. If I send a file and then listen for input I can see keypresses that were done during the send. I bet this can be modified to also monitor during the wait between file sends.

2025-07-22 20:05:24 UTC

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Good stopping point for today. Added a delay to my script that adds 5ms between bytes and it is starting to render. I think that may still be too little and it does mess up occasionally. And I still get the parity errors.
Tomorrow I’ll increase it and play with the Sceptre’s settings, but with the script it’s working pretty much the same as if I was using Tera Term now!
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/898/773/121/694/549/original/9b22f0e5fe35f639.jpeg

2025-07-22 18:21:41 UTC

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I also didn’t realize the extent people used these for basic animations. This was essentially Flash in the ‘80s.
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/898/266/268/462/906/original/d5e8e809e1322ff2.mp4

2025-07-22 18:18:25 UTC

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I used Tera Term to manually ATA the incoming call and then I could drag and drop #NAPLPS files to transfer in binary mode. I had to limit the speed the characters are sent and probably still need to play with this. It still misses some stuff due to parity errors and there are some terminal settings I think I need to play with on the Sceptre for that.
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/898/254/797/566/254/original/6f5a64be19d675ad.jpeg
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2025-07-22 18:13:50 UTC

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So my initial attempt at a python program just sending data doesn’t seem to work. Part of me wonders if it is too fast even though I’d think the modem would bottleneck things so the Sceptre doesn’t choke
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/898/237/951/673/953/original/1a544ffa2425d809.jpeg

2025-07-21 18:16:58 UTC

The AT&T Sceptre #videotex terminal survived its trip to me, looks great next to a WE speakerphone!
Opened it up to check caps and wow what a number of bodges! Identified only a handful of chips including an AMD 8088 and a Toshiba mask ROM that has a part number only turning up old forum threads of people not knowing how to dump it. I think there are 2 ROMs but I could only find 1. A lot of mysterious WE chips, some of which appear to be gold/ceramic (I think, anyway). All the caps seem fine.
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2025-07-17 22:58:57 UTC

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Good to make your acquaintance, your name came up pretty quickly!
I’m sort of approaching this from the other side. If things go to plan I’ll have an AT&T Sceptre show up Saturday and I want to get it rendering graphics and then also host a line so people with various NAPLPS terminals can call in and see *something*. I’m hoping as a POC I can write a basic routine that just sends images over the line periodically from a directory of NAP files. We’ll see!

2025-07-17 14:24:30 UTC

Does anyone know of any #NAPLPS #videotex revival projects, server POCs, or compatible BBSes out there? I thought I had heard of a project based around Telidon or Viewtron but I think I made it up. I’m aware of Prodigy Reloaded and GlassTTY already but they aren’t quite what I’m seeking

2024-12-13 18:08:53 UTC

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error not found?

2024-09-23 04:03:58 UTC

Replaced the #meshtastic node at my parents' place with a Station G2 and a 5.8dBi fiberglass antenna!
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/113/184/878/347/693/535/original/011ebe34c8d1160f.jpg
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