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PowerBook 180c modem software for System 7.1

Posted by: ibook99 on 2023-03-11 12:39:36

I have two PowerBook modems for my 180c; however, I cannot find any software for them. One is a "Supra Fax Modem 144PB," and the other is a PowerPort Gold Model A502".

I assume these are after-market modems since the add-on modem in the Fall 1993 Apple Catalogue is called an "Express Modem" and costs $250 extra.

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2023-03-12 17:27:25

SupraFAX looks like the same one that's in my PowerBook 170. Never looked for its software, but I recognize that one weird looking electrolytic style capacitor that has different labeling from other brands found in Macs. Kept a close eye on it in my 170 and it doesn't appear to have leaked even slightly, the pads for it are as shiny as they come, not "doesn't look like it's leaking to me" shiny that you see often where dullness is visible.

Posted by: croissantking on 2023-03-23 07:45:45

I have the Express Modem in my 165 - I think. Would also like to know how to get drivers for this.

Posted by: croissantking on 2023-03-23 07:51:21

Would the PowerPort software not be available on Macintosh Garden? I have it installed for the PP A540 on my PowerBook 540c, I can send it over to you if you want.

Posted by: croissantking on 2023-03-23 07:53:08

GlobalFax (Global Village PowerPort software) - Macintosh Garden

Installer disk for GlobalFax software 2.08, AppleTalk Remote Access scripts for PowerPort and Global Village Mercury/Gold/Silver modems, and ZTerm 0.9. GlobalFax allows PowerPort modem users to send and receive faxes with their PowerPort or GV modems.

macintoshgarden.org

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2023-03-23 07:54:52

That 165 modem probably needs to be recapped - those are the normal SMD caps we all know and love.

Posted by: croissantking on 2023-03-23 07:55:54

That 165 modem probably needs to be recapped - those are the normal SMD caps we all know and love.

I have done it 😃 this was the photo I took as a reference a while back so I could order the right caps.

Posted by: 3lectr1cPPC on 2023-03-23 08:02:24

Nice! I'll add the reference to my website.

Posted by: Sideburn on 2023-10-09 22:16:26

I finally got my PowerBook 180 built in apple modem to work by installing the express modem drivers from the custom install options on this cd image: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/apple-telecom-v303

Posted by: croissantking on 2023-10-10 02:35:22

I finally got my PowerBook 180 built in apple modem to work by installing the express modem drivers from the custom install options on this cd image: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/apple-telecom-v303

Does your modem look like any of the ones posted above?

I’m not sure if I have an express modem, as it seems to be made by PSI integration.

Posted by: Sideburn on 2023-10-10 06:21:42

I have two and both say apple on them.
T he ey look like this one —> https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/WPuQpgkMjrYZvbDi.huge

I read somewhere that they are express modems and then found the software and that solved the issue. A whole new control panel for it.

Posted by: croissantking on 2024-11-08 09:34:06

Here are better shots of the front and rear of my PSI Power Modem that came in one of my PowerBook 180s. It is recapped.

I had the sticker off and saw the chip was an RC224ATF/I, so a 2400 bps modem. I can't imagine how slow this would be, probably only usable for BBS etc.? Is that what it would it have been used for back in the day?

I presume it would have been aftermarket and compatible with the PB100, as well as the whole range 140-180c. By the time the second generation of 100 series were out, 2400bps would have been pretty slow I'd have thought with 14.4kbps solutions available as posted by OP.

Does anyone have software for this?

Posted by: croissantking on 2025-01-19 18:50:36

I have two PowerBook modems for my 180c; however, I cannot find any software for them. One is a "Supra Fax Modem 144PB," and the other is a PowerPort Gold Model A502".

Right, I’ll try to demystify things a bit.

I picked up a PowerPort Gold A502 modem:

It’s stacked, like this. I find it amusingly similar to the internals of the PowerBooks it goes into. Guess they couldn’t fit everything onto one board.

The build quality feels premium and it’s interesting to read a former employee’s memories of working at Global Village here, in which he mentions the modem. 14.4kbps was the absolute cutting edge in 1993 and GV was one of the first to bring them to market. Also interesting that Global Village was competing against (and were hated by) Apple France, developers of the Express Modem.

The correct software is here. The first download, the 2.08 software, works for me under System 7.5.3. Remember to set the modem port to use the internal modem in the PowerBook Setup control panel - this is vital and easily overlooked.

I’ve seen photos of the later PowerPort Mercury and Platinum versions of the modems for the 100 series. The latter is a 28.8k modem, so that’s probably the fastest you could get internally.

As for the Supra modem, I am not sure if the software is up on the ‘Garden (I haven’t checked). However, the script for this modem is included with Apple Remote Access, so you might be able to use it anyway. The manufacturer’s software is mainly to do with fax.

Posted by: croissantking on 2025-01-20 13:02:16

I found this link for the SupraFax 144: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/supra-fax-modem-drivers
Perhaps it will work - but I don’t have one to try it with.

I find these modems really cool, even though they’re basically useless. It’s something to do with the way they fit inside the PowerBook 100 series so neatly and give it that ‘cutting edge’ vibe.

I’ll try dialling out to an ISP when I next have access to a landline, I hope dialup still exists in Britain but things may have changed! I also wish I still had a fax machine (ok, not really lol) so I could test out that feature - I’ve sent plenty of faxes but never to/from a Mac.

Posted by: croissantking on 2025-01-20 16:00:06

So, as I feared, there no longer seem to be any ISPs in the UK still offering dialup support... ah well.

What do other people do with their modems? I've seen some POTS emulators and stuff like that (although POTS is still commonplace in UK households)... and I guess you can still dial up another computer directly.

Posted by: dcr on 2025-01-20 16:11:15

I also wish I still had a fax machine (ok, not really lol) so I could test out that feature - I’ve sent plenty of faxes but never to/from a Mac.

I don't know if I ever sent a fax from a Mac, but I used to send faxes from my Newton. That was cool but not a lot of use cases.

Posted by: A24A on 2025-01-21 17:50:19

So, as I feared, there no longer seem to be any ISPs in the UK still offering dialup support... ah well.

What do other people do with their modems? I've seen some POTS emulators and stuff like that (although POTS is still commonplace in UK households)... and I guess you can still dial up another computer directly.

A line simulator can sometimes be as simple as a 9 V battery in series with a 330 ohm resistor.

A ring signal generator of some kind would be useful if one wants automatic answering at the receiving end (for example, a fax machine).

Also, an AirPort Extreme base station A1034 with a built-in modem may be of interest because of its dial in possibility (in addition to dial up). The A1034 could act as a bridge between Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a phone line.

Posted by: Cedsrepairs on 2025-02-23 09:36:25

@croissantking did you fond software for your PSI modem ? I've got the same

Posted by: croissantking on 2025-02-23 12:14:27

@croissantking did you fond software for your PSI modem ? I've got the same

I actually found a PSI installer disk amongst my floppies. Unfortunately it is like disk 2 of 2 and the first one is missing so it's a bit useless. The name of the software we're after is 'Faxcilitate'.

Posted by: A24A on 2025-02-26 06:24:41

I actually found a PSI installer disk amongst my floppies. Unfortunately it is like disk 2 of 2 and the first one is missing so it's a bit useless. The name of the software we're after is 'Faxcilitate'

FAXcilitate would be the fax software for the PowerModem. Disregarding faxing for a moment, have you tried to use this modem for plain data communication?

Since this does not appear to be a soft-modem variant, it may be possible to use a normal terminal emulator (such as Terminal 2.2, FreeTerm, or even the communications section of ClarisWorks) without a special driver. Apple's Serial Tool 1.0.2 may also be needed. You could test this (once the terminal emulation software has been appropriately configured) by sending AT commands (like ATI, ATI1, ATI2, ATI3, ATI4, et cetera) to the modem.

If the FAXcilitate software is not available, would it possibly be worth checking whether another fax application can be used?

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