Hello Everyone, i joined the forum because i have a goal: Learn the minitel/videotel standard and create a server that everyone with a terminal can dial and have some fun with it ! Now thanks to the awesome work of Jelora from what i undestood connecting somethig like a raspberry pi should be almost straightforward. I would like to create a PCB that everyone on the forum can get and have made from companies like PCB Way and JLCPCB but in the first place i have to understand how minitel works and establish a base point to begin. I found this schematic on jelora website as a sort of development board did you guys think could be a good idea build such a board to begin ?
You can use directly the modem V.23 of your videotel terminal. For my server, i do not maked a modem on a PCB, I used the returned modem of a minitel 2.
Let’s split you goal into sub ones…
- play with your terminal and the videotex standard
- run a server to allow other terminals to connect to it
It is best to start with the first part… because it is necessary for the second ![]()
You’ll need to connect your terminal to a computer (this includes also things like Raspberry Pi or Arduino microcontrolers).
If I remember correctly, the SIP videotel terminal has a DB25 connector, no DIN5 like the french Minitel.
I imagine it is a plain RS232 serial interface, so you need some RS232 serial interface on the other (somputer) side.
Maybe you should post some photos of your SIP videotel terminal to be sure about that…
For the videotex part, I wrote a small python module that simplifies writing videotex servers. You can use it with a terminal locally connected thru a serial port, and you can also use it to create a websocket based server on which a videotex terminal (made by @zigazou) can connect from a web browser. It can also be adapted to run a real server on a phone line.
That’s how I recreated the electronic diary at http://3611.re and several other services at https://3615co.de/
Ok guys, thank you very much for all the informations anf for all the answers, right now i have only one terminal, the alcatel ADF-258 that on the back have a din connector, the fun story is that i already have rs232 to din and usb to din converters because i used this terminal as a serial terminal so i only need to find them again (never realized that trought that port i could also do videotel) anyways i’m waiting 2 more terminal a philips one (that as cquest said have a db25 on the back) and another one but it is a surprise so you have to wait a little bit for that. Now in the following days i will find/rebuild a cable to connect a raspberry pi to minitel and start to play with it. I’m very happy to see you guys so interested with my project , thanks a lot to all of you, I’m very happy to be here
Share pictures of all of them, for the museum 
Sure, there will be a lot of Pictures
a couple of questions for jelora:
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Did you think i can use CH340C instead of the PL2303 ? (CH340C have onboard xtal so no external is needed)
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In the schematic i posted of your development modem i see 2 integrated circuit : 4116N and 4069N is it possible to have a more complete part number ? I’m unable to find them on the market (ebay, RS-Online, Mouser)
Thank You so much for your time
Yes, I read it Wrong, it was the CD4016 Sorry for that, Just a little Update, today i re-made the serial cable and it appears to be working, below a coupe of pics:
Now, how can i play with Minitel a little bit ? You guys mentioned a python script to show something on the screen if i remember correctly…
It worked like a charm, in 80 column mode this little crt is awesome to read, a very nice piece of hardware ! I’m almost sure the protocol used here in Italy was exactly the same !!
a picture for you guys:
Thank You so much for the help ! I’m confident We’ll made my future server working !!







