I'm following this page pretty closely. Just ordered the supplies he mentions.

https://subethasoftware.com/2018/02/01/wifi-c … an-rs-232-port/

I'm not super tech savvy, but I don't think I need the null modem adapter/cable since I'm going to be plugging it directly into my 9-pin serial port. We shall see tomorrow when the stuff arrives from Amazon.

its exactly the same you just connect it to MAX2323 RS232 Adapter instead of USB TTL Adapter.

And for RS232 you need additional Power (3,3V Source).

This thread interests me so I must post.

Thanks everyone!

matze79 wrote:

And for RS232 you need additional Power (3,3V Source).

Where do I get this from? Can't get it from the serial or USB port? Even if it's 5V that I can regulate down to 3.3V?
How would you approach this problem?

I think USB power would be a great option! Although I read the ESP8266 could eat up 1A of power.

Serial does not deliver Power, you can get 5V from PS/2 or USB and use 2 Diodes in Series to drop to 3.6V (1N4001 for example).
But PS/2 may not supply enough current..

i power mine from USB Power Supply. -> using old Cellphone Charger.

matze79 wrote:

i power mine from USB Power Supply. -> using old Cellphone Charger.

I'm a total idiot, I forgot the ESP module has a USB input for power! That's all I need.

I'm gonna get the parts and give it a try, then post here my progress for anyone looking for this info to see.
Thanks people!

Just an FYI, I got the two pieces from Amazon in the mail today and had my DOS PC online in an hour or so. I just followed the instructions in the post I linked above.

Watching the ASCII Star Wars via telnet at 9600 baud as we speak. 😀

Good luck, kikendo!

Hey, can you tell me how you configured your terminal program?
I can't get this to work, the modem doesn't respond, I don't gt any startup text or the ability to use AT commands.

I am using Terminate 5

I followed this guide and am using this dude's modified firmware:
http://subethasoftware.com/2018/02/28/wire-up … modem-firmware/

[edit] I wonder if it is the TTL dapter that is failing? I bought one allegedly operating at 3.3V but I could be wrong.
Which exact 232-TTL part did you buy? Mind sharing a lnk?

[edit2] I installed the Arduino extension to accept this board and checked the serial console, the new firmware is working so it isn't that.
I get:

1Zimodem Firmware v3.4
2CoCoWiFi Version.
3sdk=2.2.1(cfd48f3) chipid=1458208 cpu@80
4totsize=4096k ssize=336k fsize=2880k speed=40m
5INITIALIZED
6READY.

I even managed to connect to a BBS using it, via PuTTY in Serial mode while connected to my main PC via USB. But it doesn't seem to be working on my Pentium II via Serial so maybe it IS the TTL adapter.
The one I have looks exactly like the one in the guide I linked above.

Seems like I am talking to myself here but I don't care, in case anyone lands on this issue again in the future, I figured out what was going on, and it was thanks to matze79 again. In his thread about an ISA-based ESP8266 modem, he said:

matze79 wrote:

On my MAX2323 Module the RX/TX Pins are already crossover (RX = TX, TX = RX) which i found pretty annonying 😀 i did not excpect they name it wrong.

8Bit ISA WIFI Card - Project - Brainstorm / WIFI Stick for RS232

That was it, damnit! They were mislabeled!
Everything working great now!
Thanks matze79!

Just ordered the two parts to give this a go when they turn up on Monday! I have no way of putting any expansion cards into my old PC (no riser card!) so this will be my route onto the Internet 😀

I'll follow this - http://subethasoftware.com/2018/02/28/wire-up … modem-firmware/

OK so the bits turned up early! I can dial up to a telnet session (e.g. StarWars ASCII 😀 ) but how do I dial up to just be 'online' on the Internet? I'm now thinking a Raspberry Pi might be a better choice for a PPP server? I have a few laying around.... time to do some Googling!

Edit - this looks promising http://www.retrospace.net/download/Raspberry% … P%20server.html

If you want a prebuilt I make and sell serial wifi modems! I do good work and I have them priced fair. You can find them at http://theoldnet.com/store