when hackers talked in even parity and were 40 columns wide

Gosh, this takes me back:


Message # 00661
**Hacker's section**
From: JONATHAN BARBER
To: ALL
Subject:EUCLID
Date: 6/3/86
Fob all of you who want an easy
hack heres how to get onto the
EUCLID computer.First di!l up'
JANET gn 01 831 6181 for 1200/75
or try 01 388 2333.Type PAD
and RETURN as soon as your connected
Then type HELP ADDRESS.Then type
CALL UCL.EUCLID*If nothing happens
hit RETURN a few times.You should
get a request for your account
number.Type in WMAPB00 W.The
password is PROJECT.

Have fun!

…referencing OS4000 on UCL EUCLID — I remember using those modem numbers at 1200 baud, too; with a huge modem (more than A4-size and 4cm deep) and a soldered-in linedrop switch.

Comments

2 responses to “when hackers talked in even parity and were 40 columns wide”

  1. WMAPB00 – that would be… um…

    W = student type (temp account, maybe; Z = undergrad, U = postgrad, C = IT staff)
    M = university code, probably Queen Mary’s London? C = UCL
    AP = likely Physics/Astrophysics, cf: ZCAPC48, my userid
    B = 1984 (license plate year)
    00 = account number 00 .. 99

    I wonder who it was.

  2. Robin Wilton

    4cms deep? “Waffer-thin”… ;^)

    Check out these puppies. Once ran a course dependent on dial-up between St John’s Wood and Greenford for all the practical sessions, over 2 of these for about 30 participants. (ulp)

    http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/IBM-ProdAnn/3863.pdf

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