The Telstar Videotex System reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-11 20:42 Would this be a suitable SR to discuss videotex systems such as Prestel, Minitel etc. It's just that I run the Telstar Videotex system here in the UK and thought it might be of interest. It can be accessed via TCP or the more traditional dial up. glasstty.com:6502 or +441756 664433 Full details are here. [https://glasstty.com/?p=1](https://glasstty.com/?p=1) Enjoy! https://preview.redd.it/ieepui5vtvs71.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto= webp&s=bb59b9bfdfb1cd8e25bf31a26ac6fd422cdfd2cc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PraiseBobSlackOff · 2021-10-11 21:00 No luck with the web or telnet. Looks cool in the preview though. Trying to connect from Germany, through a vpn. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-11 21:15 What client are you using? You will need to use a videotex client such as those that were used back in the day for Prestel or Micronet services. There are a few videos that demonstrate how to connect etc. on the [https://youtube.com/glasstty](https://youtube.com/glasstty) channel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PraiseBobSlackOff · 2021-10-11 23:05 I’ll check it out, but I can’t even get to your domain. Times out. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SqualorTrawler · 2021-10-12 00:16 It would be really useful to understand how to do this through an emulator. I have Beeb-Em and B-Em. Beeb-Em has multiple teletext-related settings and it appears it can work via tcpser as well. But I haven't a clue where to start and the instructions I'm finding on Google seem to presume a general understanding of how all of this works. For many of us, Teletext is just something we've heard of or seen screenshots of, and certainly at least here in the US, there wasn't really any BBC Micro (or Prestel) community so we're kind of flying blind here. There is a particularly confusing section at glassty.com: > The provided TEST program is a tokenised BBC BASIC program aimed at providing a simple mechanism for users to test their respective client systems. Provided where? Are there better options? An explanation for those of us who have no access to original BBC Micro series hardware would be greatly appreciated. (For myself and I expect others, the whole British 80s computing scene is somewhat fascinating.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- hematomancer · 2021-10-12 00:18 Really cool, I didn't know anything about this. Thanks for sharing! Your page is super informative. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-12 03:27 The Test program is a Telesoftware program stored as a sequence of videotex frames. This can be downloaded using a videtex client. A good place to start would be to the web client here. https://vd- view.azurewebsites.net/ and then take a look at the section that describes how to connect using Apple II, PC, BBC etc. On this page here. https://glasstty.com/?p=1. In the meantime i will look at putting a simpler videotex 101 article together. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-12 03:28 Check out the following page https://glasstty.com/?p=1 hopefully that will help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PraiseBobSlackOff · 2021-10-12 04:06 ~~That times out. Cannot open the page, for whatever reason.~~ Edit: finally loaded. Not sure what the hangup was there. Lots of info to dig into. Tschüss! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-12 06:25 >It would be really useful to understand how to do this through an emulator. > >I have Beeb-Em and B-Em. This can be tricky, I have only had limited success using the TCP/Serial options on BeebEm. I am sure you will be able to get it working but it does add to the complexity. I would try Richard Russels BBC Basic software as this has a Telstar client in the Examples. Check out the info here [https://glasstty.com/?p=1](https://glasstty.com/?p=1). I have added a little to the article to better describe what Telesoftware is, so that (hopefully) should better explain the 'TEST' program. Videotex was used all over the world including North America and the wikipedia article here [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotex](https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotex) describes the many systems. Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- stlalphanerd · 2021-10-12 11:20 Outstanding work! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ShooterJennings · 2021-10-12 21:19 This is awesome! Forgive me for being so absolutely clueless on this. But what would I need to receive this in the US? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-12 21:55 Have a read of the article here [https://glasstty.com/?p=1](https://glasstty.com/?p=1) it should explain all of the options you have. If there is something that is not clear, let me know and I will do my best to explain. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-10-12 21:57 P.S. I guess the videos will help also... [Introduction to Telstar](https://youtu.be/MFkFPfOnGWo) and [Introduction to Telstar (Part 2)](https://youtu.be/_WIpLkSPIeY) Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2021-12-31 23:54 Based on your comments, I built a Viewdata client for Telstar (and other Videotex Systems). The software works on amd64/arm64 for Linux and MacOS and amd64 and 386 for Windows. Its not fully complete yet but is working OK. Full details and download at the link below. Enjoy! [https://glasstty.com/?p=1](https://glasstty.com/?p=1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2022-01-01 13:12 You may have seen already that I have just written a Viewdata Client for MacOS, Linux and Windows (arm/amd) that should get you started. Details here ... [https://glasstty.com/?p=1](https://glasstty.com/?p=1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SqualorTrawler · 2022-01-02 03:41 This works great so far! Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GlassTTY · 2022-01-03 22:02 Just keep re-checking the link every now and then. Like I mentioned its an early release and it has seen a few bug fixes over the last couple of days.