A 1982 Modem for $100 hackaday.com

Dave Farquhar recounts how Commodore and modem maker Anchor Automation sold the 300-baud VICModem for under $100 in 1982, using a Motorola MC14412 chip and other cost-saving design choices. The modem connected directly to a phone line but could not dial, so users had to make the call themselves; a bundled adapter cable addressed incompatible handset connectors.