Communications Archives

July 28, 2022 john

The TELSTAR Viewdata System

The TELSTAR videotex system provides a viewdata/videotext platform similar to those that were prevalent during the 1980s such as Prestel.

The aim of the system is to provide a Viewdata experience for anyone who is interested in how things ‘used to be’. Services in the past typically provided access via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) connection and this is indeed how Telstar works, however, Telstar also makes use of a simple internet connection for modern internet modems.

Communications Telstar Videotex

July 19, 2022 john

Using Minitel Terminals with Telstar

a Minitel Terminal, switches in a final translation layer at the point of rendering a frame. This translation layer converts Prestel type frames (CEPT3) to Minitel type frames (CEPT2), it should be a simple process but alas, it is not.

Telstar is a CEPT3 Prestel like system and cannot host CEPT2 type Minitel frames, it simply converts CEPT3 frames to CEPT2 frames on the fly at the point of rendering.

If for some reason Telstar fails to automatically detect the Minitel Terminal a single press of the Connection button (two presses will disconnect) should sort things out.

Communications Featured Telstar Videotex

July 16, 2022 john

Hosting Frames on Telstar

Are you a Teletext Artist? do you run retro computing events?
Why not become an Information Provider (IP) on Telstar and publish your frames for all to see.

Communications Telstar Videotex

June 17, 2022 john

Telstar Viewdata Client

To experience Telstar properly it needs to be accessed by a microcomputer or Viewdata Terminal from the 1980s. However, for a simple way to get started, the Telstar Viewdata Client can be used.

The Telstar Viewdata client is available for Mac, Linux and Windows and has no dependencies, It allows access to viewdata systems through either a direct TCP/IP connection or via a Modem connected to a local serial port.

Asterisk Communications Telstar

May 26, 2022 john

Building a Standalone Softmodem Enabled PABX

Inspired by the article ‘Build your own PABX and Modem Emulator’ by HereBeDragons, this project aims to build on top of that work and create an Asterisk (v18) PABX on a Raspberry Pi with two local extensions and two external connections to the Telstar Viewdata system. The idea is that I can connect a Prestel or Minitel terminal or an 1980s computer with modem, to the Telstar viewdata system.

Acorn Communications Telstar Videotex

April 4, 2021 john

Telstar – Troubleshooting

Here are a few settings, diagrams and documents that may help you get connected.

Communications Featured Videotex

April 30, 2020 john

Telstar Packet Assembler/Disassembler (PAD)

As part of The TELSTAR Videotex System PSTN (dial-up) access is supported using SIP telephone lines and the Asterisk Softmodem module. As

Communications Telstar Videotex

September 30, 2019 john

Using an Internet Modem For Telstar

A few things to remember when accessing TELSTAR with an Internet/WiFi Modem.

Communications Telstar

November 29, 2018 john

TELSTAR Directory

This is a list of the content currently available on TELSTAR. BBC News (Main Index 200) 2001 World News 2002

Communications Telstar Videotex

June 12, 2018 john

TELSTAR – What’s in a Name

Telstar, the instrumental by The Tornados ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstar), was released in 1962 and became the number 1 selling single in the UK charts,