On Wed, 31 Oct 2001, David Williams wrote:
> > You need the coupler box for this, which isn't easy to find. It's a
> > black plastic box that plugs into the card, and has a phone jack on
> > the front.
>
> I hoped to maybe make a new one, assuming it was just a pass
> through connection of some sort.
It isn't. This modem was made in the days when you weren't allowed to
hook anything to the phone system unless it was Bell approved. This
particular box (called the "coupler") is an approved device for attaching
the modem to the phone network.
If I'm not mistaken, it contains the relays necessary for going on and off
"hook", among other circuitry that provides filtering and isolation. The
modem by itself cannot do this, and needs the coupler to fully function.
The Micromodem IIe (my first modem) had all this circuitry on-board. The
end of the modem had an RJ-14 jack that you mounted onto the back of the
computer.
I run across the couplers occasionally. The next time I see one I'll grab
it for you.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
Received on Wed Oct 31 2001 - 10:39:53 GMT