[GreenKeys] Help setting up a RTTY station

[Joel Wilson]

Sorry about that, should've included more info there.  Trying to deliver baby goats and talk about radios at the same time is a bit trying.  The widow does not remember the 14 ever running, but she was sure it did.  I was not able to find anything that looked like it was hooked up to it as it was in a separate room from his operating room.  This RTTY machine was in the room where it looked like he did most of his repair and revive work.  I've got a Heathkit Maurader that has a heartbeat but have not tested it on the air yet.  I've got a Kenwood TS 130S, a Tempo One, a Drake TR-4 that needs some help still, and a BC-348 Q.  The Heathkit DX-60 with HG-10B does not have a pulse yet.  Other than that, I've got a couple 2m rigs.  I would like to use it on HF and VHF eventually.  Where would be the best place to look for a receiving converter and or a transmitter distributor if it isn't already there.  I've looked on Ebay for some equipment, but prices are all over the place and I really can't afford to buy the stuff that I don't need or won't work.
 
Thanks for the help
 
Joel
kj6dif
 


From: WA5CAB at cs.com
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:57:44 -0400
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Help setting up a RTTY station
To: joel1847 at msn.com; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net

Joel,

AFAIK, Bell didn't build machines so I'll assume (and you can confirm) that the machine is a former Bell System Teletype Model 14 typing reperf.  Further, you'll need to say what radio(s) you plan to use and (maybe) whether HF or VHF.  And if the SK had the machine running and on the air, you should look for the hardware he had to go with it.

But basically, to put a Model 14 into service on RATT (civilian term is RTTY), first you need to be able to run it on a local loop.  That basically means you can turn it on, type on the keyboard and have it print and punch on the tape.  The only real requirement for that is a 120-130 VDC loop supply with an adjustment to set the loop current to 60 mA (or maybe 20 mA but holding magnet selectors aren't that common).  Second, to receive you need a receiver and a receiving converter (civilian term is Tuning Unit or TU) to convert the audio coming out of the receiver to current pulses for the M14.  Third, to transmit, you need a transmitter and a means to frequency shift key (FSK) or audio frequency shift key (AFSK) it to follow the on-off pulses from the keyboard (to transmit using the tape you need another piece of hardware called a Transmitter Distributor or TD).  FSK is traditionally used on HF and AFSK on 6 Meters and above.

You need to tell the list what radio you have, and maybe what bands you want to operate on.  Some of the others here can suggest specific hardware.  I don't know anything about any of the civilian TU's, having never owned one.  But you should also determine whether the SK ever had the machine operating and find out what hardware he had.  It might still be around somewhere.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480