Anyone using a Lantronix UDS10/UDS100?

[David Nelson]

I was just looking through the user guide for a Lantronix UDS100 (very similar to UDS10) and the possibilities for my C128 were mind-blowing. From what I have read so far, it is a little box that connects to any serial device (in this case, the C128) by a RS232 cable. The other end is an ethernet jack to be plugged into an internet-ready network. It supports modem commands and incoming connections and all that. So it looks like I could fire up a terminal program, issue a ATDTipaddress/port and connect to that internet address and port number. Imagine calling a commodore BBS FROM a commodore. Oh and it works the other way, too. Tell it to monitor port 6400 and somebody could telnet in, and the commodore would get a modem ringing code and so forth for a BBS to answer. Now imagine calling a commodore BBS from a commodore, if both are using UDS's. Wow, this is cool stuff.

I have the parts to do the hack for the Palm ethernet cradle to kinda function like the UDS, but it's limited to 19.2kbps I believe and requires appropriate software on the commodore's side. I haven't fully read up on it, but plan to do so when I'm ready to tackle this project. The UDS on the other hand supports 300bps-115kbps and nothing special required on the commodore side. The downside? The palm hack costs well under $20, and the UDS is $50+ if you're lucky enough to find one that cheap on Ebay. Otherwise double that.

With that all said, is anyone actually using one of these UDS devices? Or the palm ethernet hack? Very, very interesting... Might just have to get me one of those UDS to play with. Just don't tell the wife!

-David

P.S. Seems there is a COM-port redirector for the Windows side if you wish to make the commodore think it is directly connected to the PC for some reason. Oh and this UDS would work with any 7 or 8 bit device. Not just the commodore, but ... anything ... doesn't have to be a "computer". cool.

[David Nelson]

Woo hoo! My Lantronix UDS100 arrived today. I also managed to pick up another C128D and a couple 1571's for it off the 'bay. Now all I need is some more free time to sit down and play with it. Stay tuned... First thing I'll try is "calling" a telnet Commodore BBS from a real Commodore, just to get the feel for it. Then maybe I'll set up a quick BBS for a test and try it the other way around. I really wonder how well it will work out. Stay tuned!

-David