[GreenKeys] Teletype over the Internet

[Derek Cohn/WB0TUA]

Hi Dave,

This is a great idea.  I'm a member of the Morse Telegraph Club and we =
do something very similar right now.  We do AFSK over the internet and =
have a "loop interface" circuit that generates power to operate our =
landline telegraph instruments from the serial port on a computer.  I =
think this system would also work for teletype.  I have a vested =
interest in this as our group, which does a landline Morse chat every =
Saturday at the local Wabash RR depot would like to add teletype to our =
display.

The inventor of this software is Les Kerr, N7RZ, and it's been in use =
for several years now.  In the last week or so, just before your e-mail, =
I asked Les what he would think about opening one or more TTY "channels" =
on his server.  He was very enthusiastic about it and has already =
established one.

I am not as technically minded as most people on the list but would like =
to make this happen.  I also do not have a functioning teletype at the =
moment (my Model 15 is acting very cranky).  Here is Les' web page where =
the download for the software is located:

http://home.earthlink.net/~n7rz/morse/

Here is a link to the loop interface circuit that would be used to =
generate power to operate the selector magnets.

http://home.earthlink.net/~n7rz/morse/techdocs/loopinterface.pdf

Les had some thoughts on a slight modification to his software that may =
be required to make it compatible with tty.  Here is an e-mail he sent =
me last week on the subject:

"The #14 wire is now reserved for TTY operation.  See the wire number =
assignment list at =
http://home.earthlink.net/~n7rz/morse/handbook.htm#wirenos .  You can go =
ahead and test whenever you feel like (I know you said it would be =
several months before you're ready) but there's a technical issue you =
should be aware of.  The KOB program sends one code packet over the =
internet for each Morse character.  The program looks for the space =
between the characters, and that's how it decides when to send a packet. =
 For initial testing of the TTY wire through the KOB server, you'd =
better leave a space between the characters you type on the Model 15's =
keyboard, so the program knows when to send a packet.  Other than that, =
I think the system can be used as is.

I'm toying with the idea of adding an experimental "TTY" mode to the KOB =
program.  In addition to allowing full-speed sending by the teletype, it =
would enable someone without a TTY unit to participate on the TTY wire =
by typing on the KOB computer's keyboard and seeing the printed text in =
the "code reader" window.

You're probably aware that Tom Curtola sends continuous broadcasts of =
the news headlines and U.S. weather on KOB wires 101 to 104.  With =
hardly any extra effort on his part, he could also send similar =
broadcasts for TTY users (once the KOB program has the "TTY" option, of =
course).

Don't worry about TTY users overloading the server.  If it ever gets =
that heavily used, it'll be easy to set up a second server dedicated to =
TTY use.

Just some thoughts...

73,

--Les"

I have the parts to build the loop interface and I'm about 1/2 done (my =
wife is out of town and I'm swamped with household stuff until she gets =
back).  If you or anyone on the list would be interested in working with =
me on this, I'd be happy for the assistance.  At a minimum, our local =
group would be pounding out copy on Saturday's from the Wabash depot =
here in St. Louis.

Once again, I think this would have very broad appeal and may be able to =
be implemented with very little effort.

73,

Derek Cohn
Morse Telegraph Club - Alton Chapter
Office UD, Sine DJ
Amateur Radio Station - WBØTUA
1969 Brunswick M274A5 Mechanical Mule
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <NNN7DXB at aol.com>
To: <greenKeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 6:01 PM
Subject: [GreenKeys] Teletype over the Internet


> All:
>
> Ideas and Thoughts:.....
>
> With the tremendous interest in teletype, teletypewriters, teletype
> equipment, converters, and all of the equipment and technical
> knowledge that seems to be so prevalent on this list, has anyone given
> any thought to devising a way to get Teletype Traffic Over The
> Internet working? I think there are enough folks with enough knowledge
> who could get this going, if we can develop interest.
>
> I am aware that ITTY exists, but as we have seen, it has problems.
>
> We need more than one online Internet Teletype outlet......
>
> Perhaps its time for someone else to pick up the ball and run with it,
> and maybe come up with a different application, such as a send/receive
> system, or a 100 wpm RO, ASCII to Baudot converters, etc for use
> online via the Internet wherein many folks can participate, provide
> input, promote the hobby and enjoy the machinery and their operations.
>
> It is apparent that many folks are interested in keeping teletype machines
> and traffic alive.....so, why not do it?
>
> Give it some thought, and perhaps it's worth talking about....
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
> **************
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