From: "donhamilton2002" <donhamilton2002@...>
Apr 28, 2007
Hello all,
Warning: rambling ahead.
I have been clearing out stuff in my =
shop and have found the two
mailstations I hacked a few years ago.
My firs=
t thought was to give this units away to someone.
My second thought was to=
re-engineer these units in someway.
Plastic cases are a problem for one o=
ff projects.
The mailstation is old technology and I would like to bring i=
t up to a
more recent processor.
The LCD display and keyboard are as good =
as any.
The builtin battery pack is very usefull.
The modem is a waste. I=
am sure people in this group will look for a
hotspot before using a modem.=
So, my thought is desiging a card that would replace the main board in
th=
e mailstation.
[ Idea 1 ]
A full 32-bit cpu with a couple of megs of memo=
ry (flash/ram), an
ethernet interface would be nice, but we would be talkin=
g about a
$100/$200+ retrofit.
Someone to layout the board, get them manu=
factured, put parts on them.
[ Idea 2 ]
A 32 bit single chip cpu with eno=
ugh memory would make a reasonable
development platform.
Maybe one of the =
larger single chip cpus for NXP.
Has anyhone measured out the main board i=
n the MS ?
The back panel has only a few openings but it may be enough.
A=
dd a compact flash for an 802.11 interface, an SPI interface for SD
cards.
=
[ Idea 3 ]
Finding a low cost cpu board that we can build a carrier to pl=
ug it
into the MS plastic.
Ok, what do you think.
Some summer project to =
keep us from mowing the lawn :-).
don
From: "John R. Hogerhuis" <jhoger@...>
Apr 28, 2007
The mailstation case and keyboard are not worth saving.
One thought is to start with a TRS-80 Model 100 or Tandy 102 case.
Much more room to work. Has a built-in 4 AA battery holder.
I think a MS display would fit in there.
The keyboard is much better than the MS's
If the CPU is fast enough, you could run VirtualT and have a
supercharged Model 100 :-)
I will donate a case and KB if you design a PCB.
As far as CPU I would go for low power, long battery life.
From: Eddy Wright <eddy@...>
Apr 28, 2007
I have a couple of MS's that I thought of doing something similar. I
wasn't able to find out how to drive the LCD with another processor. I
decoded the keyboard and was able to make a functional serial terminal
by using a different display. But my alternate display didn't fit the
case at all. I used a Mega32 AVR microcontroller to drive the LCD and
read the keyboard. It had more than enough power to act as a serial
terminal...
Anyone have success trying to drive the LCD?
Eddy
(URL)
John R. Hogerhuis wrote:
From: "Neil Morrison" <neilsmorr@...>
Apr 29, 2007
IMO these are desirable as is. All we need are solid methods to
rewrite the=
ROM to provide the functions we want. The internal fax
modem is fine as is=
.
If you want a WiFi computer, a laptop is now so cheap it isn't worth
the=
work needed to re engineer these.
My 2 cents.
Neil
ahoogroups.com, "donhamilton2002"
l,
shop and have found the two
y first thought was to give this units away to someone.
ght was to re-engineer these units in someway.
blem for one off projects.
ld like to bring it up to a
nd keyboard are as good as any.
ll.
a
hat would replace the main board in
A full 32-bit cpu with a couple of megs of memory (flash/ram), an
et interface would be nice, but we would be talking about a
trofit.
on them.
would make a reasonable
r single chip cpus for NXP.
the MS ?
=
d a carrier to plug it
From: "wayne" <waynem@...>
Apr 30, 2007
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
My 2 cents:
You have to find something that is worthwhile to be sold to the general
public or else it is NOT going to
be built in a Mass big enough to get the price down to reasonable !!
The Mailstation concept is still doable !!! A lot of people out there do
not have a computer, do not understand
how a computer runs, and do not want to put up with the hassles of owning
and maintaining one. This especially
goes for the Senior Citizens in this country.
BUT THEY STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE WORLD !!!
I have set up several Mailstations for some of my Senior relatives, and
although they were leery to use it, they
now don't know how they would survive without it. The world has gone from
written letters to electronic ones, and
the electronic ones are there is minutes.
The Mailstation just needs to be updated, and allowed to be used on ANY
email server unit. This would allow
the user to then search and find the best service for them and connect the
unit to it.
The new unit should be patterned after the Model 350, which allows the
downloading of pictures and larger
emails. Since memory has come a long way since the Mailstation's inception,
it is now efficient to include
larger memory in the unit.
Some of the faster, laptop CPU's would work with their lower power
consumption. Even a older Pentium chip
would still be faster than what the original Mailstation had in it.
Biggest problem would be watching to not step on any patents that still
might be used in the device.
The option of a plug-in WIFI card is a good one, let the option slot take
either a Modem, WIFI, or Ethernet
plug in card. That way whichever service is going to be used can be
accommodated easily and without having to
load all that extra circuitry into the unit and not use it. That would also
keep the cost down for the unit.
Just my thoughts,
Wayne
Iwireless
tempe, az.
From: mailstation@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mailstation@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Neil Morrison
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:52 PM
To: mailstation@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mailstation] Re: Re-engineering the mailstation
IMO these are desirable as is. All we need are solid methods to
rewrite the ROM to provide the functions we want. The internal fax
modem is fine as is.
If you want a WiFi computer, a laptop is now so cheap it isn't worth
the work needed to re engineer these.
My 2 cents.
Neil
charset="iso-8859-1"
w3c.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd">
work content -->
/HEAD>
olor=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>My 2
cents:</SPAN=
=3D984493200-01052007>You
have to find something that is worthwhile to be =
sold to the general public or
else it is NOT going to</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
=
052007>be
built in a Mass big enough to get the price down to reasonable
=
!!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
AN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>The
Mai=
lstation concept is still doable !!! A lot of people out there do not=
have a computer, do not understand</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
Arial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>how a
comp=
uter runs, and do not want to put up with the hassles of owning and
mainta=
ining one. This especially</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
r=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>goes
for the Senior =
Citizens in this country. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
l color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>BUT
THEY STILL=
NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE </SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=3DA=
rial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>WORLD
!!!</=
SPAN></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D9844=
93200-01052007> </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV=
01052007>I have
set up several Mailstations for some of my Senior relative=
s, and although they
were leery to use it, they</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007=
don't know how they would survive without it. The world has gon=
e from
written letters to electronic ones, and</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
ONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>=
the
electronic ones are there is minutes.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
ace=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SP=
AN></FONT> </DIV>
AN class=3D984493200-01052007>The
Mailstation just needs to be updated, an=
d allowed to be used on ANY email server
unit. This would allow</SPAN></FO=
NT></DIV>
4493200-01052007>the
user to then search and find the best service for the=
m and connect the unit to
it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT>&n=
bsp;</DIV>
84493200-01052007>The
new unit should be patterned after the Model 350, wh=
ich allows the downloading
of pictures and larger</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
class=3D984493200-01052=
007>emails. Since memory has come a long way since
the Mailstation's=
inception, it is now efficient to include</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
ace=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>large=
r
memory in the unit.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DI=
V>
-01052007>Some
of the faster, laptop CPU's would work with their lower pow=
er consumption.
Even a older Pentium chip</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007=
still be faster than what the original Mailstation had in
it.</SPA=
N></FONT></DIV>
cla=
ss=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007>Biggest problem =
would be watching to not step on any
patents that still might be used in t=
he device.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
T face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>Th=
e
option of a plug-in WIFI card is a good one, let the option slot take ei=
ther a
Modem, WIFI, or Ethernet</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
l color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>plug
in card. =
That way whichever service is going to be used can be accommodated
easily =
and without having to</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>load
all that extra circu=
itry into the unit and not use it. That would also keep the
cost down for =
the unit.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
T face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>Ju=
st
my thoughts,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
f size=3D2><SPAN
class=3D984493200-01052007>Wayne</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
class=3D984493200-01052=
007>Iwireless</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
ize=3D2><SPAN class=3D984493200-01052007>tempe,
az.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
LOCKQUOTE>
face=3DTahoma
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> mails=
tation@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailstation@yahoogroups.com]<B>On Behalf =
Of </B>Neil
Morrison<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:52 PM<B=
R><B>To:</B>
mailstation@yahoogroups.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [mailstation=
] Re:
Re-engineering the mailstation<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
rp-text>
to<BR>rewrite
the ROM to provide the functions we want. The internal fax=
is.<BR><BR>If you want a WiFi computer, a laptop is=
now so cheap it isn't
worth<BR>the work needed to re engineer these.<BR=
cents.<BR><BR>Neil<BR><BR>--- In <A
href=3D"mailto:mailstat=
ion%40yahoogroups.com">mailstation@<WBR>yahoogroups.<WBR>com</A>,
"donha=
milton2002"<BR><donhamilton2002@<WBR>...> wrote:<BR>><BR>>
H=
ello all,<BR>> <BR>> Warning: rambling ahead.<BR>> <BR>> I have=
been clearing out stuff in my shop and have found the two<BR>> mails=
tations
I hacked a few years ago.<BR>> <BR>> My first thought was =
to give this
units away to someone.<BR>> <BR>> My second thought w=
as to re-engineer
these units in someway.<BR>> <BR>> Plastic cases=
are a problem for one
off projects.<BR>> <BR>> The mailstation is=
old technology and I would
like to bring it up to a<BR>> more recent=
processor.<BR>> <BR>> The
LCD display and keyboard are as good as=
any.<BR>> <BR>> The builtin
battery pack is very usefull.<BR>>=
people in this group will look=
for a<BR>> hotspot before using a
modem.<BR>> <BR>> So, my tho=
ught is desiging a card that would replace
the main board in<BR>> the=
mailstation.<BR>> <BR>> [ Idea 1 ]<BR>>
cpu with a couple of megs of memory (flash/ram),
an<BR>> ethernet in=
terface would be nice, but we would be talking about
a<BR>> $100/$200=
+ retrofit. <BR>> <BR>> Someone to layout the board,
get them manu=
factured, put parts on them.<BR>> <BR>> [ Idea 2 ]<BR>>
; A 32 bit single chip cpu with enough memory would make a
reasonable<BR=
larger sin=
gle chip cpus for NXP.<BR>> <BR>> Has anyhone measured out the
mai=
n board in the MS ?<BR>> <BR>> The back panel has only a few openings=
but it may be enough.<BR>> <BR>> Add a compact flash for an 802.1=
1
interface, an SPI interface for SD<BR>> cards.<BR>> <BR>> [ I=
dea 3
]<BR>> <BR>> Finding a low cost cpu board that we can build =
a carrier to
plug it<BR>> into the MS plastic.<BR>> <BR>> Ok, w=
hat do you
think.<BR>> <BR>> Some summer project to keep us from m=
owing the lawn
:-).<BR>> <BR>> don<BR>><BR><BR></P></DIV><!--En=
d group email --></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
From: "Neil Morrison" <neilsmorr@...>
May 1, 2007
IIRC one or more of these already has a wireless modem (not WiFi though).
=
Neil
e option of a plug-in WIFI card is a good one, let the option slot
take
ither a Modem, WIFI, or Ethernet
From: "wayne" <waynem@...>
May 1, 2007
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Your thinking of the Model 350. This has a 900 Mhz. wireless connection to
it's
plug-in modem unit, so the Model 350 can be used remotely in the room and
not
have to be used where the telephone line plugs in. It is not compatible
with
the 2 Gig WIFI stuff. And changing the wireless unit out in the Model 350
would
mean that you would have to get the unit type accepted again by the FCC.
Easiest way is to use an "Option slot" for these. That way it would take
anyone's
unit, (Which is already FCC type accepted), and you would not have to mess
around
with it. It would also keep the cost down by not requiring each unit to
have all three
hookup cards, (WIFI, Ethernet, Modem) inside the main unit. I don't see any
situation
where you would be using more than one connection type at one time ??
You could go with the Linux software, since it is considered "Freeware", and
you would
not have to pay Microsoft any royalties for anything. But it would require
more time
compiling an Operating system for this specific use. Actually, Linux uses
less space
to run than Windows does, and works with more stuff. The Boot up Kernel can
be "Edited"
so as to just allow it to install and access only the drivers and devices
that you needed it too.
Unlike Windows, which loads everything under the sun on your system. A lot
of which is
not needed for your specific applications. Linux will run well with even a
386 cpu and small memory.
The Sendmail program is a tried and true mail program for Linux. There are
lots of other
programs for specific uses available for "Free" for Linux at the CPAN web
site.
Wayne
Iwireless
From: mailstation@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mailstation@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Neil Morrison
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 10:41 PM
To: mailstation@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mailstation] Re: Re-engineering the mailstation
IIRC one or more of these already has a wireless modem (not WiFi though).
Neil
take
charset="iso-8859-1"
w3c.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd">
work content -->
/HEAD>
717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Your
thinking of =
the Model 350. This has a 900 Mhz. wireless connection to
it's</FONT>=
r=3D#0000ff
size=3D2>plug-in modem unit, so the Model 350 can be used remo=
tely in the room and
not</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>have
to be used where=
the telephone line plugs in. It is not compatible
with</FONT><=
/SPAN></DIV>
=3D#0000ff size=3D2>the 2
Gig WIFI stuff. And changing the wire=
less unit out in the Model 350
would</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>mean
tha=
t you would have to get the unit type accepted again by the
FCC.</FONT></S=
PAN></DIV>
SPAN class=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D=
2>Easiest way is to use an "Option slot" for these. That way it would =
take anyone's</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
ONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>unit,
(Which is already FCC=
type accepted), and you would not have to mess
around</FONT></SPAN></DIV>=
ize=3D2>with
it. It would also keep the cost down by not requiring e=
ach unit to have
all three</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
7-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>hookup
cards, (WIFI=
, Ethernet, Modem) inside the main unit. I don't see any
situation</=
FONT></SPAN></DIV>
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>where
you would be using</FONT> <FONT face=
=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>more than
one connection type at on=
e time ??</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
ace=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
class=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>You=
could go with the Linux software, since it is considered "Freeware", and =
you
would</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>not
have to pay Microsoft any royalt=
ies for anything. But it would require
more time</FONT></SPAN></DIV>=
=
size=3D2>compiling an Operating system for this specific use. Actuall=
y,
Linux uses less space</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>to run
than Windows d=
oes, and works with more stuff. The Boot up Kernel can be
"Edited"</=
FONT></SPAN></DIV>
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>so as
to just allow it to install and access onl=
y the drivers and devices that you
needed it too.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
=3D2>Unlike
Windows, which loads everything under the sun on your system. =
A lot of which
is</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
7><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>not
needed for your specific=
applications. Linux will run well with even a 386
cpu and small mem=
ory.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
ass=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>The
S=
endmail program is a tried and true mail program for Linux. There are lots =
of
other</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
ace=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2>programs for specific uses available =
for "Free" for Linux at the CPAN web
site.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
class=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2></F=
ONT></SPAN> </DIV>
Arial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2>Wayne</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2>Iwireles=
s</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
ial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
=3D682481717-01052007><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff
size=3D2></FONT><=
/SPAN> </DIV>
tr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DTahoma
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<=
BR><B>From:</B> mailstation@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailstation@yahoogro=
ups.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Neil
Morrison<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, April =
30, 2007 10:41 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
mailstation@yahoogroups.com<BR><B>Subjec=
t:</B> [mailstation] Re:
Re-engineering the mailstation<BR><BR></FONT></=
DIV>
reless modem (not WiFi
though).<BR><BR>Neil<BR><BR>--- In <A
href=3D"=
mailto:mailstation%40yahoogroups.com">mailstation@<WBR>yahoogroups.<WBR>com=
"wayne" <waynem@...> wrote:<BR><BR>> The option of a plug=
-in WIFI
card is a good one, let the option slot<BR>take<BR>> either =
a Modem, WIFI,
or Ethernet<BR>> plug in card. <BR><BR></P></DIV><!--E=
nd group email --></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>