Telstar Viewdata Client

Created: 13th March 2022

Introduction

The Telstar Viewdata client is available for Mac, Linux and Windows supports resizing and a genuine full screen mode. In addition, the client can connect to systems through either a direct TCP/IP connection or via a serial modem connected to a local serial port.

The software was originally written to test Telstar, however, the client can be used to connect to any Viewdata/videotex service either over the internet or via a serial modem. The software is pre-configured with some well known services, but these can be changed as required.

All versions of the telstar-client are available here.

Installation

Linux

Download the appropriate zip from releases:

TelstarClient-linux-arm64-<version>.zip — arm64
TelstarClient-linux-x64-<version>.zip — x64

$ ./install.sh

You will be presented with an option to install for all users or for the current user. A suitable uninstall script will then be created allowing the program to be uninstalled.

MacOS Installation

Download the appropriate zip from releases:

TelstarClient-macos-arm64-<version>.zip — Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)
TelstarClient-macos-x64-<version>.zip — Intel

Extract the zip and move TelstarClient.app to your Applications folder.

As TelstarClient is not notarized with Apple, macOS may report it as damaged or block it from running. To bypass this:

Option 1 — Ctrl-click method:

Ctrl-click the TelstarClient.app icon and select Open. This only needs to be done once.

Option 2 — Terminal method:

Execute the following command in a terminal.

xattr -cr /Applications/TelstarClient.app

Then double-click as normal.

Option 3 — System Settings:

System Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll down → click Open Anyway.

Option 4 — Ad-hoc signing:

If you have Xcode command line tools installed:

codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/TelstarClient.app

Then double-click as normal.

Windows

Download the appropriate setup executable from releases:

TelstarClient-Win-arm64-Setup-<version>.zip — ARM 64
TelstarClient-Win-x64-Setup-<version>.zip — x64

Run the downloaded setup program.

Log Files

When reporting issues, details from the appropriate log file would be helpful. The log files are located in the following directories:

Linux = ~/.config/TelstarClient/logs
macOS = ~/Library/Application Support/TelstarClient
Windows = %APPDATA%/TelstarClient/logs

`Telstar Status`

Line 1: (01756 664433)
Status: OK

Line 2: (01756 664434)
Status: OK

TCP 1: (glasstty.com:6502)
Status: OK

TCP 2: (glasstty.com:6503)
Status: OK

`What's in a Name`

Telstar is named after a BBS with the same name that operated during the 1980s. That early BBS was created the author and a friend called Terry Slater. Telstar is an anagram of T Slater.

Prestel Servers were typically named after authors that originated from the area the server was located. The Telstar server names, Currer, Ellis and Acton are of course the pseudonyms used by the Bronte sisters, who like the author of Telstar, originated from Yorkshire. These have been selected as the names of the three Telstar servers.

`GlassTTY`

In the 1970s, character mode terminals e.g., ADM3A, VT100 etc. were considered preferable to the large cumbersome teleprinters. These new all electronic devices with their glass screens were often referred to as "Glass TTYs".