NABU Network

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Nabu (disambiguation).
NABU Network Corporation
Industry
  • Computer
  • Technology
Foundedc. 1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Defunctc. 1985; 39 years ago (1985)
ProductsNABU Network

The NABU Network (Natural Access to Bi-directional Utilities) was an early

cable TV.[1][2] It operated from 1982 to 1985, primarily in Ottawa, Canada. Its functionality was then revolutionary, though it was not a commercial success. It has been called "The Internet — 10 years ahead of its time"[3] (even though elements of the history of the internet
predate it).

Functionality

Families, schools, or individuals would purchase a NABU Personal Computer,

Logo
, news/current events, and rudimentary PC banking/shopping. At its peak, approximately 100 applications were available.

The NABU Network can be credited as being the first online version of fantasy baseball. The game, aptly named Managers Baseball, allowed for choosing teams based on the real names and statistics of MLB teams and players. Player performance in the game was based on real life player statistics and as a Manager you would draft your team and compete against another owner in a mock up game in a purely managerial role.

The NABU Personal Computer cost $950 CAD, approximately the same price as the wildly successful Commodore 64 at the time, and the network service cost $8 to $10 per month.[6]

Hardware

NABU Personal Computer
NABU Personal Computer
DeveloperNABU Network Corporation
Release date1982 (1982)
network adapter
Online servicesNabu Network

The heart of a NABU Personal Computer is a

RAM, a General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chip, and a Western Digital TR1863 UART to connect to the interface module (below).[7][4][8][9] Data was served via a Gould SEL minicomputer
. By default, the PCs lacked any individual offline storage, but an optional hard drive could be purchased.

The interface module included four socketed chips: a TR1865CL-04 full-duplex

circuit boards for frequency synthesis, data in and out and RF conversion and dual helical coil bandpass filters. Download speeds over the cable TV line were up to 6.4 Mbit
/second.

Business success

The NABU service first became available in 1983 through Ottawa Cablevision and Skyline Cablevision, through the efforts of John Kelly and Bruce Hempell. The project was heavily subsidized by the

chicken and egg
" problem that limited NABU's market potential.

The fact that network access was limited to the NABU Personal Computer, forcing the subscriber to buy it, was mentioned as problematic by 1984, with the company accumulating $5 million losses.[10][11] The same year Campeau Corporation, a major investor in NABU, pulled out.[12][13]

Another network was started in Japan. However, NABU never achieved commercial success and ceased operation in 1985.

2009-present: Display at York University Computer Museum and modern-day rebirth

York University Computer Museum (YUCoM) and Center for the History of Canadian Microcomputing Industry provides a display and a virtual tour of this and other Canadian inventions.[14][15][16][6][17][18][19][20] In 2009, the museum version was officially demonstrated, and in 2010, the development of a software emulator of the Nabu network began.[21]

On November 26, 2022, Adrian Black, creator of the

File Manager), SlideShow, NABULIB (C Library), and dozens of CPM utilities that enhanced the Cloud CPM experience. DJ has a very detailed youtube series that documents the progress of his NABU hacking
and software.

On December 5, 2022 NabuNetwork.com was launched as a NABU resource. The website includes a serial number tracker to see where all the NABU computers are around the world.[25]

Emulation of the NABU is also possible through a core added to MAME by a GitHub user with the handle "brijohn".[26] Marduk, a dedicated NABU emulator created by another GitHub user with the handle "buricco", is also available.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Home - The Nabu Retronet". nabu.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  2. ^ McNally, Neil (2021-08-12). "Nabu Computer Network: Doug Article/Advertisement". THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. ^ "The Internet Before Its Time: NABU Network in the Nation's Capital". Ewh.ieee.org. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  4. ^ a b "nabu PC". Hackaday. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  5. ^ Langdell, James (1984-10-02). "Software Direct to Your Door Via Modem, Cable TV". PC Mag. Vol. 3, no. 19. p. 54. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  6. ^ a b "NABU Network". Archived from the original on 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  7. ^ "Nabu PC Technical Specifications" (PDF). June 8, 1984.
  8. ^ "DAVES OLD COMPUTERS- Nabu". dunfield.classiccmp.org. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  9. ^ "NABU Personal Computer Diagnostics and Repair Manual" (PDF). nabunetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Michael (1984-11-05). "News from here and there". InfoWorld. Vol. 6, no. 45. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  11. ^ McCarthy, Michael (1984-10-15). "Tidbytes". InfoWorld. Vol. 6, no. 42. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  12. ^ Powell, James (2018-10-29). "Remember This? The NABU Network". Ottawa Matters. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  13. ^ "NABU Ends Service to Customers". The Washington Post. 1984-11-21. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  14. ^ "YUCoM Artifacts - 1970". Cse.yorku.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  15. ^ "YFile - York computer museum boots up". Archived from the original on 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  16. ^ "NABU Network was an idea well ahead of its time" (PDF). YFile – York's Daily Bulletin. April 28, 2009. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  17. ^ "Homepage (Archived)" (PDF). The Ottawa Citizen – canada.com. March 4, 2004. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  18. ^ Sutcliffe, Mark (2009-04-24). "NABU Network an idea well ahead of its time". Cse.yorku.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  19. ^ "Nabu memories are rekindled in Ottawa | CTV Ottawa | CTV News". Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  20. ^ "IT in Canada - Canada's Only Integrated Social Media News Network". Archived from the original on 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  21. ^ https://ottawa-future.com/uk/eternal-istoriya-the-nabu-network
  22. ^ The 80s computer you've never heard of: The NABU PC, retrieved 2023-02-26
  23. ^ 01 - NABU computer network adapter simulator, retrieved 2023-02-26
  24. ^ "NABU Computer Hacking - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  25. ^ "The NABU Network | NABU Personal Computer Information Center". www.nabunetwork.com. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  26. ^ "GitHub - brijohn/mame at nabupc_wip". GitHub. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  27. ^ buricco (2023-02-24), buricco/marduk, retrieved 2023-02-26

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to NABU Network.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NABU_Network&oldid=1220067013"