Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: nihonmasa on November 22, 2016, 10:21:31 am

Title: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: nihonmasa on November 22, 2016, 10:21:31 am
Hi all,

Found a Famicom Bridgestone Modem while I was in japan last month. It is missing it's outer box unfortunately.
Will upload a pic later on.

I did find this information online, however I am unsure of its use. Usual trading stuff? Information on it seems to be very scarce...

http://jironosuke.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2014/05/2-f3a6.html

edit: pics of mine; quite different from the ones on the link as you can see
(http://s614.photobucket.com/user/nihonmasa/media/IMG_4327_zpsamrczz0y.jpg.html)

(http://s614.photobucket.com/user/nihonmasa/media/IMG_4328_zpskr7cogxa.jpg.html)



Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: UglyJoe on November 22, 2016, 11:31:43 am
Oh neat!  I've never seen that one.  I have one of the TV-NET ones (http://uglyjoefw.tumblr.com/post/147976918714/famicom-dojo-put-out-a-video-that-briefly-goes).  That site you linked was the best reference I could find on the various non-Nintendo modems, but I can't read Japanese :-[
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: nihonmasa on November 22, 2016, 12:51:59 pm
My japanese is "so-so" at best... If there is a valuable info amongst him listing the models he has, then I do not understand it ^^

However, even though they're built by Bridgestone, they're different from mine.
Haven't found any info on my model.
The one I have is the only one I ever saw, so if anyone has any info on it, I'll take it!

Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: UglyJoe on November 22, 2016, 01:17:01 pm
His previous article has a picture of your model: http://jironosuke.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2013/12/post-927d.html (http://jironosuke.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2013/12/post-927d.html)
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: nihonmasa on November 22, 2016, 01:33:17 pm
thanks, missed it!

he says that it is the Sunline F2; and according to what he found he thinks there was a previous version (F1) but he never saw it.

So this is either the first or second model of modem to reach the famicom?

He thinks that it goes as follow:
1987 => first batch of modem (F1) for tests
early 1988 => F2 (mine), kind of early access
July 1988 => the Nintendo modem as we know it, and wide access

So from what I understand it would be kind of a Beta model before they released the usual modem?
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: UglyJoe on November 22, 2016, 01:41:10 pm
I'm not sure if or how the TV-NET and the official modem are related, if that's what the article is implying.

My TV-NET unit will boot up without a card slotted into it.  The official modem does not.  Also, the cards are of different sizes.  I have hardware specs for both (I think) and I'm pretty sure the TV-NET is the more powerful unit.  (I can look up the specs, if you're interested).

Does your modem boot up without a card?  Do you have a card for it?
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: nihonmasa on November 23, 2016, 09:53:58 am
nope, came without any card unfortunately  :'(

Nothing shows up on the screen when plugging it on my Twin Fami. Just the usual blank stuff you have when powering it without any game in the slot.
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: Raverrevolution on November 23, 2016, 12:09:49 pm


The card for this unit looks waaaaaaaaaaaay too much like a PC Engine hucard.  Heh, wouldn't it be great if someone could just stick a TG16/PCE Everdrive in there with the necessary files and get it to boot.

It's too bad that these are only for show.
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: P on November 23, 2016, 01:23:53 pm
Hmm 32 pins. Looks like a BeeCard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Card), Hudson's predecessor to the HuCard (which has 38 pins). They where used for various things like MSX games and memory cards, other companies also adopted the design as well.
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: 80sFREAK on November 25, 2016, 11:02:39 pm
Very nice. Any chance for PCB photo?
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: jpx72 on November 26, 2016, 01:13:25 am
Awesome, I always think I have seen everything Famicom and then stuff like this appears! Thanks for sharing the photos! Isn't Bridgestone into car tires? :)
Title: Re: Bridgestone Modem??
Post by: nihonmasa on November 27, 2016, 11:56:15 am
Quote from: 80sFREAK on November 25, 2016, 11:02:39 pm
Very nice. Any chance for PCB photo?


I'll try to make some when I have some time ;)