[GreenKeys] No... just a love of Mechanical Teletype... (and a fondness for something like an R390)

[zeke440 .]

> 
> Why all this hostility towards those not running mechanical
> equipment?
> 
> I find it ironic that you're all using the internet to voice this.
> 
> How many of you have a mechanical TTY hooked to a modem
> and a telnet connection into a mainframe rather than a PC?
> 

Hostility toward "Glass" NO just a love of Mechanical Teletype. (and a fondness for an R390)

Its been years since I had a TTY hooked to a radio.  Never had my own 
hooked to a transmitter but did operate a MARS station while in Korea.
While I was an ASA TTY repairman from 1070 till I retired (first time)
in 1986 Ratt Rigs were a "hobby" that I enjoyed, Fixed station Comm
and intercept was my primary responsibility.  (lots of my equipment
resides in the NSA Museum just down the road at Ft Meade)

Several times I had a 28 hooked to a receiver to copy AP, UPI, PyonYang,
Pravda and what ever was available to copy.  
It was the connecting a Mechanical Printer to a Tube driven receiver, 
tuning the Antenna for best reception and then listening to the hum of the motor 
the klacking of that 50,60 or 75wpm mechanical rhythm where I could hear when 
something wasn't right with the printer. 
The smell of warm oil and feel of the grease when repairing "My baby"...

I am not a HAM... BUT I understand  sitting at a set slowly rolling the dial
listening for a contact is satisfying... 
making slight speed adjustments to the printer motor to "fine tune" a contact
 
Just to listen in for a few min to a good thoroughly technical conversation
and a bit of the rag tossed in... Much of what I know about Electronics and 
Antenna theory came from "Contacts" that I was never able to thank.

Using the intranet to discuss it...  LOL I still don't have a license but having
recently retired (final time this time I think) I will be looking for another 28
and receiver... maybe even attempt a Technicians test in order to get "on the air" 
again... Here on the intranet at least I can thank someone for answering a technical
question... More importantly this is the venue to find people (via non RTTY) with
the knowledge base or to offer my knowledge when I may be able to help.

as for glass rtty...  LOL am I not doing that right now?... I can repair this
lap top and buy the software to get it on the air if I had a transmitter and license...
but contacts storable on disk instead of paper/tape will never be RTTY.

 

BTW I Gave a 28 ASR away a little earlier his year to a good home in MI because
I couldn't move it to Maryland...  
Is there a 28 KSR available (MD, VA or eastern PA) to a good home?

Andy