Date   : Sun, 19 Jul 1998 00:00:46 +0100
From   : Mike Mallett <mike.mallett@...>
Subject: Re: Age asks about broadcast of BBC software over radio

Glenn Mulcaster wrote:
>
> I am writing an article about the introduction of digital radio, which
> will be able to offer music or software downloads with multi-channel
> broadcasting. However, I note from your page that the BBC Radio 4
> programme, The Chip Shop, broadcast software data that could be taped on
> a cassette for uploading on the BBC micro.
 
It was called Basicode. Somewhere I still have the original manual and tape.

>From memory it was developed bu NOS (a Dutch broadcaster) but later 
adopted by the BBC. The software was comapatible with a number of 
other micros of the time and so it worked to the lowest common 
denominator - so no fancy
graphics - just ASCII characters.

The device using a spot of light on the TV was done by ITV but I can't 
remember the name of the programme.

Of course the BBC also broadcast telesoftware over teletext. This 
needed a special teletext adapter for the BBC micro. This was quite 
successful and ran for a few years. I think the data rate was around 1200 baud.
Just before this service ceased they broadcast some s/w for the IBM PC
as well.

The current RDS (Radio Data Service) is capable of transmitting a 
limited amount of data but I have not heard of this being used on a computer.


-- 
Mike Mallett                mike.mallett@...               Reading, UK