Releasing AirTalk: Wireless plug-and-play LocalTalk dongle

[Sideburn]

What’s the status of this project? If it is what I think it is it sounds awesome. You can transfer files from a Mac emulator to a 68k Mac over Wi-Fi as well as link two 68k makes over apple share through Wi-Fi?

Maser on the website it looks like the only option is to DIY one?

 

[daanvdl]

What’s the status of this project? If it is what I think it is it sounds awesome. You can transfer files from a Mac emulator to a 68k Mac over Wi-Fi as well as link two 68k makes over apple share through Wi-Fi?

Maser on the website it looks like the only option is to DIY one?

Yes, indeed. You can transfer files from Mini vMac by joining the LocalTalk network wirelessly

I have a few left, go for the PRO version if you want a complete (non-DIY) product. https://www.Airtalk.shop

 

[Sideburn]

Yes, indeed. You can transfer files from Mini vMac by joining the LocalTalk network wirelessly

I have a few left, go for the PRO version if you want a complete (non-DIY) product. https://www.Airtalk.shop

Awesome So how many would I need?
I want to connect a Macbook pro to at least one 68K mac (Portable, Plus, Powerbook 180)
Also I have an Atari STacy with a Spectre GCR Mac emulator running system 6.0.5. I guess that would be pushing it to try to get it to be able to transfer files between itself and another 68k mac or my MacBook pro I assume since it has no AppleTalk support and the ST hardware has a serial // parallel port (DB25).

 

[daanvdl]

I am not sure about your Atari, but always a nice thing to try;-)

I generally use them between two of or more 68k Macs and occasionally to a Mini vMac instance. Remember it is LocalTalk, so don’t expect Ethernet speeds;-)

Don’t forget the printer/serial cables if you don’t have them yet!

 

[Sideburn]

I am not sure about your Atari, but always a nice thing to try;-)

I generally use them between two of or more 68k Macs and occasionally to a Mini vMac instance. Remember it is LocalTalk, so don’t expect Ethernet speeds;-)

Don’t forget the printer/serial cables if you don’t have them yet!

This is exactly want to do as well. Don’t care about speed. So I should get two then?

What about the DIY and or Kit? I have a picKIT 3 and have build my own boards with PICs on them so I’m capable but not sure if I want to deal with it if it’s a big hassle.

Do you have a kit ? I don’t mind buying the pro. Just curious what the options are and gains / losses.

 

[daanvdl]

Do you always connect multiple Macs in a network, then maybe more. My suggestion is always 2, or equivalent to the LocalTalk concurrent network connected Macs.
I do have 1 diy kit left, but I suggest the PRO because of the look and feel.

 

[Sideburn]

Do you always connect multiple Macs in a network, then maybe more. My suggestion is always 2, or equivalent to the LocalTalk concurrent network connected Macs.
I do have 1 diy kit left, but I suggest the PRO because of the look and feel.

Na I’m just going to be linking two devices to transfer files. Either two 68k Macs or one and my MacBook Pro.

 

[Sideburn]

Dang I am in USA so shipping is going to be $30.00….

 

[bigmessowires]

Could you say more about how to use LocalTalk with Mini vMac to connect with a computer using AirTalk? Do I need to compile a custom build of Mini vMac to enable LocalTalk support? From what info I could find, it sounds like this is only supported on OS X and not Windows or Linux?

 

[bigmessowires]

Dang I am in USA so shipping is going to be $30.00….

Group buy?

 

[cheesestraws]

Could you say more about how to use LocalTalk with Mini vMac to connect with a computer using AirTalk? Do I need to compile a custom build of Mini vMac to enable LocalTalk support? From what info I could find, it sounds like this is only supported on OS X and not Windows or Linux?

You need to build mini vmac beta 37 with the localtalk emulation option enabled. It should work under Linux and Windows too; the patch I sent to Paul C. Pratt did generically UNIXy things, and he ported it to run on Windows too, though I personally haven't tried it on anything else other than OS X.

At that point, mini vMac will act like an AirTalk-attached 68k mac on the same wireless network, so it'll see all other Macs on LocalTalk segments that are attached to the same WiFi network (so long as that network passes IP multicast, which most do).

 

[bigmessowires]

Just spitballing... instead of emulating a whole 68k computer with Mini vMac, it would be cool to have a minimal OS X / Windows / Linux program that you could point to a directory and say "share this over LocalTalk". Instant file server! Combined with an AirTalk device, this could fill many of the same use cases that Floppy Emu does now, for transferring Macintosh Garden software onto your vintage Mac. I guess you'd have problems with differences between the host filesystem and HFS, like different rules about allowed filenames. And there'd be no simple way to handle files with resource forks. It could work great for things like .sit archives though.

 

[cheesestraws]

Just spitballing... instead of emulating a whole 68k computer with Mini vMac, it would be cool to have a minimal OS X / Windows / Linux program that you could point to a directory and say "share this over LocalTalk". Instant file server

Totally agree, this would be awesome - I haven't had enough time or energy to devote to do it, alas. I'm hoping that @robin-fo's AppleTalk efforts eventually produce something like this, though - their prototype AppleTalk user-land stack supports the same protocol (LocalTalk-over-UDP) and will interoperate without issues.

 

[Sideburn]

Group buy?

That might work

 

[robin-fo]

Totally agree, this would be awesome - I haven't had enough time or energy to devote to do it, alas. I'm hoping that @robin-fo's AppleTalk efforts eventually produce something like this, though - their prototype AppleTalk user-land stack supports the same protocol (LocalTalk-over-UDP) and will interoperate without issues.

Ok I must admit that virtually nothing of AFP is implemented at this point. ASP obviously needs to be fully implemented first but it would really be cool to be able to share (and browse!) files to/from vintage Macs!

 

[daanvdl]

That might work

Let me know if I can facilitate something

 

[Iesca]

Have there been any developments on transmission speeds between AirTalk and the Mini vMac host when it's also on WiFi?

 

[TimHD]

I will be getting a couple of the Pros.

If anyone else in Australia wants to jump on an order, I am happy to facilitate a group order with Daanvdl for Aus (have PM'd him already).
Basically, I can on-post your order for just the local postage cost (will send you the Aus Post receipt and tracking codes). If you want some plastic single 3.5" floppy disk cases can do so also (bought a bunch from the US and have on shipped some as well as some MeowToast batteries to fellow users in Australia). Just PM me and I can chuck them in at cost too.