How to connect to IRATA.ONLINE from an Atari computer
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IRATA.ONLINE is the website for retrocomputing enthusiasts and also hosts a PLATO server, to which we can connect from our Atari 8-bit computers.
PLATO is an acronym for Programmed Logic And Teaching Operation (Programmed logic and teaching operation), a shared educational resource that operated from 1962 to 2015; and that despite its many virtues, was not entirely popular among the computing community.
"(PLATO) provides a unique combination of social, educational and programming features in one place, for new and old computers," explained Thomas Cherryhomes (USA), administrator of the IRATA.ONLINE server to Atariteca and author of PLATOTerm - a PLATO client in the form of a self-booting MyDOS disk.
Indeed, PLATO has more than 16,000 educational lessons on a variety of subjects - from high school-level biology to how to operate a nuclear reactor. It also has a rich collection of games; a threaded discussion forum system known as Notes; a multi-user chat; and an authoring environment, where users can create entirely new things in the TUTOR language.
Apart from Atari, Cherryhomes has already written terminals for Commodore 64 and Commodore 128, as well as for Apple II. In addition, it has been developing similar ones for TI 99/4A, Atari ST/TT/Falcon, Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC, among others.
"I see a unique opportunity to provide a system that any vintage computer can plug into, regardless of platform, and communicate with each other, and because of the integrated development environment, to do our own things together," Cherryhomes stresses.
The main system is composed of two levels: on the first level, there is a standard server PC emulating a Data CYBER 170/865, a supercomputer from the late 1970s with 60-bit registers and support for more than 24 peripherals. On the second level, there is the PLATO environment running under a special emulator called dtCyber, which not only provides the underlying hardware emulation but also provides the connections to the outside world.
Finally, if you are using real hardware, an Atari 800 computer with 48K of RAM is recommended, and a peripheral - such as the Atari 850 - to connect to modems.
How to connect to the server
Step 1.-Download the latest version of the PLATOTerm terminal.PLATOTerm for Atari 8-bit computers
Download | 91 KbStep 2.-Download theLatest version of Altirra emulator(3.10).
Step 3.-Setting up the emulator. To start, we open the Altirra emulator. Next, we go to the menuSystemConfigure System
A window will open, where we must select:PeripheralsDevicesand we press the buttonAdd
Another window opens. In the list, locateSerial I/O bus devicesand select850 Interface Module. We press the Ok button.
Then, in the window that opens, update the drop-down menuSIO emulation a Full SIO Protocol and 6502 R: handler. We press the Ok button.
Back in the window, we will see the Atari 850 device already added. Below it appearsSerial Port - No attached devices. We will click on the textSerial Portand we will press the buttonAdd
In the next window, we select the textModem. We press the Ok button.
In the new window, we verify that the drop-down menuReported connection speedhave 1200 baud selected. Press the OK button.
We press the Ok button again, which closes the initial window and returns us to the emulator.
Before loading PLATOTerm, we will do a "cold reset" to the emulator, by pressing the Shift and F5 keys together.
Step 3.-Connecting to the server. We load the ATR that we downloaded. Once the program finishes loading, type the textatand press the Return key.
Now, we type:atdi irata.online 8005
Press the Return key.
The program will start communicating with the server. We will be shown the welcome screen. To enter, we can use the wordguestand as a groupatari
Another possibility, highly recommended, is to register as a new user in Irata. You canSign up for free at this linkand request your personalized name.
When you log in with your personalized user for the first time, the server will ask you to define a password and confirm it.
Below is the main server menu, you can press the key to the left of each option to select it.
Once inside the system, key combinations must be used to navigate the server. The most important commands are:
Back ► Control - B
Next ► Return
Data ► Control - D
Edit ► Control - E
Help ► Control - H
Stop ► Control - S
The complete listIt is available at this link
By the way, Atari originally wrote a PLATO terminal in cartridge format, calledThe Learning Phone
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