The Commodore 1600 was an extremely prolific and inexpensive modem,
introducing millions of computer users to the online world. Marketed
to the VIC-20 user, the "VICMODEM" as it was nicnamed, operated in an
extremely strange manner. Instead of connecting to the phone line
directly, the VICMODEM relied on a connection THROUGH the phone to the
handset (see right picture). One would dial the number they wished to
connect to, then remove the extension from their handset, plugging it
into the modem after a carrier signal is heard.
Some customers in Canada were lucky enough to get their VICMODEM packaged with
this telephone manufactured in Canada by Northern Telecom. Ironically, the
phone did not have a detachable handset, making it useless by itself for use
with the modem. Therefore, the set also included a small adaptor which allowed
one to plug the VICMODEM directly into the wall line cable, daisy chained to the
phone. After dialing with the phone, a switch on the adaptor would redirect the
carrier signal to the modem.
Model : 1600 Connection : Phone handset Interface : CBM User port Speed : 300 baud Notes : No dialing abilities
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