[GreenKeys] TELEX-internet-converter?!

[Nico de Jong]

Hi Anna

I can help you with something.

For the danish IT museum, I've set up a telex exchange, so we can talk between the tleprinters we have in the museum. The software functions almost exactly like the old Gentex system, used by telegraph officies up to the 80's. This functioned almost like a telephone, so you could dial e.g. 31068+ for the office in The Hague. Dialling could be via a dial, or via the keyboard.
You must use a COM to current loop converter (20 or 40 mA, depending on the printer). There are lots of those around. These converters must be expanded with 3 buttons : a "connect" button for getting the attention of the dial-up software, a "disconnect" button for obvious reasons, and a "local" button. This button is used so you can create paper tapes locally, without the risk of being interrupted by someone calling you.
The software I just finished, has (1) an e-mail function, and (2) a function to send telegrams from the main operator to any teleprinter or e-mail client. You can also send e-mails from the teleprinter. An e-mail client is defined as a subscriber number (e.g. 31068) linked to an e-mail address. This table is maintained via the PC keyboard.

Normally, there could be a problem interfacing the printers, as they come in various speeds, character sets, etc. All these incompatibilities are handled by the software.

Now then, what is the catch?
The software is written in Delphi 6, so you would need a PC with the Delphi 6 compiler, so you can change the things you need to change. You need someone to build you a box (I have full documentation), you need to set up the software, and to test the connection.
I have no idea on how good you are at programming, so you might want to find someone local, i.e. where the teleprinter is located. the person should also have some hardware knowledge, and know about teleprinters. There are lots of those on this list, so the main problem is Delphi and location.

I would be happy to help, and you can use me (when time comes) as a telegraph office :-) After all, that's what I did for a living in the 60's, in the dutch PTT

Have a nice day !

Nico de Jong

PS: you can find a description of a part of the system in Danish, at http://www.datamuseum.dk/site_dk/20100422/fjernskriverforedrag.pdf
The software is not described, as it wasn't quite finished at the time

  ----- Original Message ---

  -- 
  From: Anna Lundh 
  To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2012 10:37 PM
  Subject: [GreenKeys] TELEX-internet-converter?!


  Hi,
  my name is Anna Lundh and I'm an artist from Sweden currently living in New York.
  I have been trying to track down a telex machine, preferrably Model 32-ASR, for an art exhibition I'm having here in New York later in March.
  It's a recreation of an art event from 1971, where they set up a Telex link between Sweden and NYC, Tokyo and India via RCA Globecom, to ask each other questions about the future 10 years from then. They seem to have been using the Model 32-ASR, from the pictures I have. (But the Model 33 looks similar, I think, so that might be an option as well.) I have a few leads on telex machines, but here's the bigger challenge: I would like for the telex machine to be able to connect to the internet, which I understand is possible (but a little tricky?). I have learned that I need a "serial to loop current" converter to connect the telex to a computer (preferrably a mac). I would be extremely thankful for any leads, tips or suggestions! A dream scenario would be if anybody has one of these that I could borrow or rent for a week for the exhibition! 




  thanks so much in advance!
  best
  Anna


  ---
  +1-347-282-9505
  ---

  www.annalundh.com
  ---




------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  ______________________________________________________________
  GreenKeys mailing list
  Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
  Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
  Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net

  This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
  Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 315 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/attachments/20120307/33b7f28c/attachment-0001.html