IBM 5140 Convertible XT - on internet??

[trievalot]

My challenge.....

How can i get my IBM 5140 on the internets?

it has the expander to give it a the serial and parallel ports.

http://www.c-reset.com/conv5140.html

Any thoughts on how i could get this running an IRC client? (i know, it would be slow, but wouldnt it be fun!)

Thanks

[ch_123]

Null modem cable to a computer with an internet connection? Not sure how you would proceed from there.

[trievalot]

This......

http://www.brutman.com/mTCP/IRCjr.html

might get me half way there

[mbbrutman]

Your 5140 should be able to get on the Internet to do IRC.  You have two options:

• Null modem connection to another machine that serves as a gateway, as mentioned above.  You would run SLIP or PPP over the null modem cable.  A Linux machine with a SLIP or PPP server would be ideal; dialup is possible two if you want to use a modem, but that's really hardcore.
• Find an Ethernet adapter that hangs off of the parallel port.  The Xircom PE3-10BT is one such adapter that works very well.  There are other Xircom models that might work, as well as other manufacturers like Linksys who used to make such adapters.

Read the mTCP setup directions (from the text file in the Zip) for more details.  I don't have a tutorial on setting up SLIP or PPP, but with a little googling it isn't hard to do.  Ethernet is preferred because of the speed, but IRC is fine over SLIP or PPP.


Mike

[mbbrutman]

Hi Kishy ...  I saw my code being referenced so I had to chip in.

I have a 5140 downstairs that I can try this on myself, but I'm so confident that it will work that I've not even bothered.  I've not come across a machine yet that it doesn't work well on.  SLIP and PPP are slow, but good enough for something like IRC.


Mike

[mbbrutman]

Just for giggles ..  the IBM PC Convertible on IRC (irc.gimp.net #vc) using TCP/IP running directly on the machine.





Detailed pictures of the screen and the Xircom PE3-10BT that I use for Ethernet can be found here:

http://brutman.com/pics/IBM_Convertible_IRCjr/IBM_Convertible_IRCjr_2_smaller.jpg

http://brutman.com/pics/IBM_Convertible_IRCjr/IBM_Convertible_IRCjr_3_smaller.jpg

[quadibloc]

Null modem cable to a computer with an internet connection? Not sure how you would proceed from there.

Well, I once subscribed to a dial-up Internet service that gave a BBS-like connection using Lynx as the browser, so it can be done. Basically, you run Linux on the computer with an Internet connection, and make it into a server of an... unusual... sort.

[didjamatic]

SERIOUSLY AWESOME, PROPS TO YOU!!!!

Anyone have a spare power supply for one of these?  I need one if you do.

[mbbrutman]

Thank you ..  It's been about 5 years in the making. :-)