The Internet Before Its Time:
NABU Network in the Nation’s Capital
The NABU (Natural Access to
Bidirectional Utilities) system provides
an example of technology that did not
succeed because society was not
ready for it in 1982.
Based on John Kelly’s imaginative concept, it was the “Internet”- ten years ahead of its time
(910391, 921242).
NABU, launched in Ottawa, was intended as a two-way system, providing many services
including tele-banking, tele-shopping, electronic mail, home security, computer games, and a
host of other applications including Canada’s innovative Telidon* (850382) system for interactive
television. Users bought the hardware for $950-about the same as a Commodore 64 computer,
or one-quarter the cost of a Macintosh Plus. They accessed programs via the cable TV network
for $8 to $10 per month and viewed them on their television. The first programs available, about
100, were mostly games but included personal finance packages and consumer services. The
host computer for the NABU Network was a DEC mainframe. The data transfer rate was a very
fast 6.4 megabytes per second-information was instantly accessible. Most Internet users today
just dream of such speeds! An optional hard drive could be purchased to store data for later use.
A printer connected to a serial port.
In 1985 NABU went off-line, overtaken by the rapid rise in personal computer technology with its
plethora of games and software options. Few expectations were met, as the NABU Network did
not catch on due to lack of accessible resources. Another problem was the security of transmitted
information, an issue only now being solved.
* Closed captioning on television for the hearing impaired was developed for the Telidon system.
We were able to acquire the set-top converter / controllers for this network. This equipment provided the interface between the 117 MHz cable signals that were exchanged between the DEC server and the user's TV. There was probably a keyboard type device used with this for selecting services and interaction.
In addition to the power supply described above there are 2 modules inside the unit. There is an RF module that down-converted signals from the cable connection and up-converted requests to be sent to the server. This also provided the TV signal to the user's set. All sections of this unit are enclosed in another RF-tight box. There are 4 circuit boards for frequency synthesis, data in and out and RF conversion and dual helical coil bandpass filters. All parts on these boards are descrete components and include some LS and CMOS chips. This module is mounted on a 4 3/8" x 8 1/2" one-quarter inch thick heatsink.
The logic module includes 4 socketed chips: a TR1865CL-04, a full duplex UART, a SC87253P 8 bit microprocessor, a N8X60N FIFO I/O controller and a pre-programmed ROM. The remainder of the parts on this board are numerous 74LS series logic ICs.
While there are a lot of components included on these boards they are literally antique and more of a curiousity than anything else. Keep in mind that at the time these boxes were made, there was no internet. Only BBSs and teletext services. By the way, if you are familiar with the service these boxes were used for, let us know so we can share the information with others.