Homemade 300 Baud Modem from the 80s!

Rick H, an old user from the Basement BBS, reconnected recently and mentioned that he was calling the Basement again using the same homemade 300 baud modem that he used in the 80s. I asked him to share some more details and photos of his homemade 300 baud modem. Below are his words in an email to me: (and yes, he shows how old school he is when he types in all caps 😁): JOHN,

THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN SEEING MY MODEM.

YOU CAN POST THEM ANYWHERE OTHER ATARI ENTHUSIASTS MIGHT SEE THEM.

I BUILT IT WITH SPARE PARTS FROM THE COMPANY I WORKED FOR IN THE 80'S.

I HAD BUILT A PREVIOUS VERSION THAT WORKED, BUT THEN DECIDED TO BUILD A DIRECT CONNECT VERSION. I ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF MY MODEM AND ONE OF MY EPROM BURNER WHICH WERE LOTS OF FUN TO BUILD.

I ALSO MADE A VOICE SYNTHESIZER, AND AMONG OTHER PROJECTS, AN EPROM BURNER TO LOAD EPROMS AT HOME FOR PROJECTS ALL FOR THE ATARI.

I GOT ALL MY ATARI STUFF OUT OF STORAGE IN 2019 AND AND FOUND A FRIEND HERE IN NEW MEXICO ON THE ATARIAGE WEBSITE.

NOW WE HAVE 7 GUYS THAT ARE STARTING A NEW USER GROUP "AACE 2.0". THERE WAS A USER GROUP IN THE PAST "AACE" THAT MY FRIEND WAS PART OF.

I HAVE TWO DESKS IN THE HOUSE EACH WITH ATARI COMPUTERS SET UP WITH 4 DRIVES ON EACH.

I KNOW HOW TO UPGRADE ANYTHING AND REPAIR ANYTHING. I HAVE 7 ATARI COMPUTERS IN MY COLLECTION.

IT HAS BEEN VERY SATISFYING TO SEE MY MODEM WORKING AGAIN!

THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK THE BASEMENT BBS AGAIN.

RICK H In a second email, he also added the following: I STILL NEVER PUT IT IN AN ENCLOSURE

BECAUSE IT LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL!

I USE THE SAME FLOPPY WITH AMODEM

7.22 THAT I USED IN THE 80'S TO CALL

THE BASEMENT. THE MODEM DOES AUTO

ANSWER ALSO.