# Mycal Project Archive — archive.mycal.net

> Historical archive of projects, inventions, and technical work by Mike Johnson (Mycal), spanning 1983 to the mid-2000s. Covers embedded systems, early TCP/IP hardware, networking tools, micropower radio, firmware, audio compression, and consumer electronics. Original content preserved as published; structured data layer maintained current.

Mike Johnson (Mycal) is an embedded systems and networking engineer based in Petaluma, California. He co-founded iReady Corporation, which pioneered TCP/IP in silicon and was acquired by NVIDIA in 2001. He is also the founder of Group42 and nChip.

Canonical identity: https://blog.mycal.net/about/#mycal
Canonical UUID: urn:uuid:4ff7ed97-b78f-4ae6-9011-5af714ee241c
AnchorID: https://anchorid.net/

## Networking and TCP/IP Innovations

- [Stateless TCP (1995)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/stateless_tcp/): Notebook transcript coining "Stateless TCP" — a TCP-like server requiring no per-connection state, theoretically capable of serving unlimited simultaneous connections from a single microcontroller. Term coined late 1995.
- [TCP/IP in Silicon — First Hardware TCP/IP State Machine (1996)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/silicon_tcp/): First FPGA-based TCP/IP state machine implementation, built at iReady Corporation. Hand-wrapped Xilinx FPGA connections. Foundation of the iReady silicon TCP product line.
- [iReady iRouter (1996)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/iRouter/): Pre-silicon consumer router proposal with NAT, port mapping, and virtual network architecture. Written weeks before iReady pivoted to silicon TCP.
- [iReady Gigabit TCP Offload Engine (2000–2001)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/gigabit_tcp/): Hardware TCP transport offload engine for Gigabit Ethernet, offloading TCP/IP from host CPU to dedicated silicon. Continuation of iReady's silicon TCP technology.
- [uNetSerial (2000s)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/unetserial/): Serial-to-PPP adapter for GPRS/Edge and dialup networks. Over 50,000 units deployed worldwide. Commercial product from nChip.

## Firsts and Notable Inventions

- [World's First Internet Game Boy (1999)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/gameboy/): Possibly the first internet-enabled gaming system that wasn't a PC. Three-component system: Game Boy cartridge, iDongle serial adapter, and PHS mobile internet. Built at iReady Corporation.
- [TDK Internet Modem / IMM (1999)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/TDK_IMM_Modem/): First internet-enabled modem. Extended AT command set with IR (Internet Ready) commands for TCP/UDP socket access via serial port. Partnership between iReady, Seiko Instruments, and TDK.
- [Micom V/IP (1995)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/Micom_VIP/): One of the first, possibly the first, commercial Voice over IP hardware products. ISA card with DSP, custom calling protocol, UDP voice packets with Forward Error Correction, DOS/NetWare compatibility.
- [8BitE — 8-bit Ethernet Computer (1999)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/8BitE/): Standalone Ethernet-based irrigation controller predating commercial IoT smart home devices by a decade. Standalone internet device requiring no host PC, running on 8-bit microcontroller.
- [iJack Protocol and Internet Appliances (1998–2002)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/itam/): Serial command set enabling 4-bit and 8-bit processors to access internet resources without a full TCP/IP stack. Pre-IoT internet appliance ecosystem.

## Micropower Radio

- [FM MicroPower Radio — Self-Published Book (1993–1994)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/MicroPowerRadio/): Technical guide to micropower FM radio station construction and operation. Self-published; approximately 500 copies sold. Scanned archive available.
- [KSUC Pirate Radio Station (1986–1987)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/KSUC/): Pirate FM radio station at CSU Chico, operating before the micropower radio movement, before the Ramsey FM-10, and before Free Radio Berkeley. 10-watt transmitter, full programming.
- [The Bulletproof 800mW Amp (1996)](https://archive.mycal.net/old/projects/mpr/800mw.htm): 1.2-watt FM amplifier for Ramsey FM-10/FM-25 transmitters. Superior to Ramsey LPA-1; tolerates antenna mismatch conditions that destroy competing designs.
- [Ramsey FM-10 FAQ (1993)](https://archive.mycal.net/old/projects/mpr/fm10faq.htm): Comprehensive technical FAQ for the Ramsey FM-10 and BA1404-based FM transmitters. Compiled from alt.radio.pirate newsgroup starting August 1993.
- [DIY Mass Media (1995)](https://archive.mycal.net/old/projects/mpr/diy.htm): Introduction to starting a community micro-power FM radio station. Published in Iron Feather Journal #14.
- [FCC and the Law (1995)](https://archive.mycal.net/old/projects/mpr/fcclaw.htm): Analysis of FCC Part 15 regulations for unlicensed FM broadcasting and legal challenges by Free Radio Berkeley, Black Liberation Radio, and others.

## Software and Tools

- [Sound Tool (1994)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/sndtool/): WIN32 graphical audio compression tool supporting ADPCM and a custom 8:1 Adaptive Block Compression algorithm for voice transmission over dialup. Developed for early VoIP demonstrations.
- [Aviosys 9100a Scripts (2005)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/9100a/): PHP scripts and firmware enabling independent channel access from the 9100a 4-channel video server's single multipart JPEG stream.
- [Pinewood Derby Timer (2005)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/pinewood_timer/): 3-lane race judge using 38KHz modulated IR beams. Near-100% immunity to ambient light; designed for outdoor and gymnasium use.
- [JavaScript IP Cam Viewer (2007)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/webcam/): Memory-leak-free JavaScript webcam viewer using a single reused Image object and onload callbacks to prevent camera overcrowding.
- [tRouter — iReady Test Router (1999)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/tRouter/): DOS-based network simulator (also called Black Hole) simulating packet delay, loss, and other WAN conditions for TCP/IP stack testing.

## Employment History

- [Everex Systems (1987–1990)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/everex/): Graphics driver development for framebuffers and printers including AutoCAD device drivers. Everex North Graphics Research Lab, Sebastopol CA.
- [Netronix / Acsys — TokenWatch (1993–1995)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/tokenwatch/): Added SNMP to Netronix bridges/routers. Wrote TokenWatch Win32 network mapping application. STAC hardware compression, weighted fair queuing, RIP routing.
- [Micom → iReady → NVIDIA (1994–2004)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/nvidia/): Platform Architect at NVIDIA post-iReady acquisition (2001). TCP transport offload engines, server remote management (IPMI), and advanced networking.
- [Kleer / ENQ Semiconductor (2000s)](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/kleer/): Product Architect designing frequency-hopping wireless audio. Solved critical RF coexistence with Bluetooth and 802.11.

## Personal History

- [Misc Chico Stuff 1983–1988](https://archive.mycal.net/projects/misc_chico/): Personal photos and scanned documents from CSU Chico undergraduate years: cycling team, spring break, Dirty Boy Productions.
- [Petaluma Chicken Scratch Story](https://archive.mycal.net/pcs/Petaluma_Chicken_Scratch_Story_QR_Bottom_Right.html): Creative work from the Cronosonics project.

## Related Sites

- Personal hub: https://www.mycal.net/
- Blog: https://blog.mycal.net/
- Music: https://music.mycal.net/
- Group42 Information Archive (master): https://www.group42.net/
- GitHub: https://github.com/lowerpower
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mycal/