[GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

Don Robert House k9tty at dls.net
Mon Mar 18 22:45:33 EDT 2013


Rob,

ASCII 67 is an 11 unit code.  1 Start, 8 data bits, 2 Stop. However  
the 8th data bit is used for parity.
Since your machine is printing in local you must have a nicely  
operating machine.
I have never seen a 33 operate in Full Duplex, but it should certainly  
be possible.
The 32, 33, and 38 generate characters in parallel and are serialized  
by the distributor.
Your problem is located somewhere incoming to the selector magnet when  
the switch is in the Line position.
Your message reads that the machine is not running open so the  
selector has constant current in it's winding.
I have some schematic drawings for the 33, but I need to know what  
model you have.
There should be a sticker on the rear of the base near the call  
control unit.

Don
K9TTY




On 16 Mar 2013, at 3:19 PM, Rob Jarratt wrote:

It has been a little while since I looked at my ASR33 problem. Just to  
refresh everyone: In Online mode I can send characters from the ASR33  
to the computer, but the characters coming back do not print. It works  
perfectly in Local mode. I have checked and it is full duplex 20ma,  
which matches the setup of my current loop converter and I am using  
110bps, 7 data bits, 2 stop bits and Even parity. The ASR33 does not  
chatter (run open) when connected to the converter.

Today I tried sending a break from the PC to the Teletype. It did not  
chatter when I sent the break. I verified with a multimeter that the  
current goes to zero, so I am definitely sending the break.

Does this offer any clues?

Regards

Rob

From: Alf Fisher [mailto:alf_fisher at tiscali.co.uk]
Sent: 24 February 2013 21:39
To: r.jarratt at computer.org; 'Teletypeparts'; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

Hi Rob,
I'm sure others will agree but I believe the ASR33 doesn't actually  
need a high voltage source as there is a transistor circuit that  
actually drives the electromagnet.  I reckon 20 volts with a resistor  
to limit the current to 20 mA should work.

Is it possible with the Westermo, to loop-back the TTY to itself so  
you can print what you type? I don't know what is in the converter but  
another way may be to bridge the Tx & Rx pins on the Westermo RS232  
port  (pins 2 & 3?).  It should work the same as being in Local but  
you are switched to Line.

Alf


----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Jarratt
To: r.jarratt at computer.org ; 'Teletypeparts' ; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

I have not looked at this problem for a week or so but will be looking  
again today. To summarise, I can send characters from the Teletype to  
my computer successfully, but any characters I send from the computer  
to the Teletype do not print out.

So far I have verified that the ASR33 is wired for 20ma Full Duplex  
and that my Westermo converter works, because I can connect up the  
current loop interface into a loopback configuration and I get the  
characters I send on the RS232 side echoed back. I am using my RS232  
port set at 110bits/sec, 7 data bits, 2 stop bits and even parity. The  
battery test suggested by Teletypeparts has not worked though. The  
only things I have yet to check are:

1.       Is the mode relay inside the CCU is operating correctly? I  
used a multi-meter to test that the contacts were made and broken  
correctly. It looks to be making and breaking contacts OK for the most  
part. One of the contacts (AM-15) seems a little bent, requiring the  
relay to close completely to break the contact. As the bend was such  
that the contact might not open correctly, I tried isolating it with  
some paper, but it didn’t seem to make any difference. A couple of  
contact pairs showed shorts regardless of the relay position, but the  
relay was fully wired in, so this might be expected. The constantly  
shorted pairs are AM-9 with AM-8, and AM-1 and AM-2. Is there a simple  
way to test the relay with a battery? I am not sure what voltage and  
current it would need.
2.       The voltage provided by the converter. I am told it needs to  
be 80V and some converters do rather less, perhaps 20V. I have a multi- 
meter, but in this case I am not sure where to measure the voltage, I  
have tried T+ and T- with respect to the converter’s Shield connection  
and with respect to the TTY’s earth but I don’t get any more than  
about 1 volt, this is whether I am sending characters or not.

Any ideas?

Regards

Rob

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
] On Behalf Of Rob Jarratt
Sent: 10 February 2013 23:10
To: 'Teletypeparts'; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

I tried a loopback test on my Westermo converter and that worked fine  
when looping back from PC back to PC through the current loop. I tried  
looping back from the TTY side via the RS232 interface and there was  
no echo.

I then tried the battery test you mentioned and unfortunately that  
failed to work too.

I think the problem must be inside the 33. L

Regards

Rob

From: Teletypeparts [mailto:teletypeparts at aol.com]
Sent: 10 February 2013 22:28
To: r.jarratt at computer.org; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

Rob,

I have heard of the interfaces being bad but I am afraid I have  
exhausted my limited knowledge of interfacing.  Some of the guys on  
Greenkeys may be able to help you.

If you want to eliminate the 33 as a problem completely do the  
following:

Short together 4 and 6 and apply a 9 volt batt to 3 and 7.  Again, if  
it runs open reverse polarity on 3 and 7.  Do the test in Line mode.   
After you have the 33 running closed, type a few characters.  If they  
print OK the trouble is not in the 33.  I still dont recommend leaving  
the batt on very long.  A minute or so.  It may not harm anything, but  
just to be sure keep the time short.

What you have done is make the 33 half duplex (2 wire) and tested it  
in line mode.  I do that all the time here to check out the 33 in Line  
mode.  I also use a test generator, but before I had that I used the 9  
volt batt test.
Wayne

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>
To: 'Teletypeparts' <teletypeparts at aol.com>; greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net 
 >
Sent: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 4:28 pm
Subject: RE: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

I do understand about the echo that is needed to get characters to  
print in line mode. I am using a terminal emulator on the PC to  
receive and display the characters I type on the ASR33, and I type  
characters into the terminal emulator to send them to the ASR33 in the  
hope they will be printed. The emulator successfully displays the  
characters I type into the ASR33, but the ASR33 does not print the  
characters I type into the emulator, despite the Westermo LEDs showing  
activity which suggests it is receiving the characters from the  
emulator and sending them on to the ASR33.

I had to re-read about start bits because I had forgotten about them.  
I think start bits are always present, so there is no setting to  
control them. So basically, I think I am already using 1 start bit, 7  
data bits, one parity bit and 2 stop bits, but nothing is getting  
printed. I am using a line speed of 110 bits/sec, which in this case  
corresponds to 110 baud too.

I suppose the Westermo converter could be faulty and not sending data  
out to the ASR33. Unless anyone has any other suggestions I’ll try a  
loopback test on the converter to see if it is working.

Regards

Rob

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
] On Behalf Of Teletypeparts
Sent: 10 February 2013 18:20
To: r.jarratt at computer.org; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

Rob,

Read on as I put something important below.

I guess the voltage doesnt need to be 80 or more.  It may run OK with  
less.  The norm is 20 MA at 120 VDC.

I dont know anything about the Westermo, but I know that when you send  
to the computer from the 33 the computer needs to be programmed to  
echo back to get a copy on the 33.

When you type in Local, the print is pretty much instant.  When you  
type in Line thru the computer you will see a slight delay, not much  
but enough to notice.

The 33 doesnt care about parity on its receive side, it will print  
whatever the bits from 1 to 7 are.  The 33 is 110 baud, not sure what  
that converts to in computer language.

Oh and this is important, you need a START bit which is always a zero  
or a space or no current which all terms seem to be interchangeable.    
The rest you got correct.  Its one start bit, 7 data bits, one parity  
bit and 2 stop bits.  The 33 will run with 1 stop bit, but its normal  
to give it two when you can.

If you put the START bit in, I bet it will work.

Wayne

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>
To: 'Teletypeparts' <teletypeparts at aol.com>; greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net 
 >
Sent: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 5:36 am
Subject: RE: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33
I made some great progress, with one last hurdle to overcome.

I configured the Westermo to be in active mode (ie supply current) on  
both its receive and transmit sides). This cured the problem with the  
RD light on the Westermo being on all the time and it stopped the  
chattering too.

I connected it up to a terminal emulator running on my PC. When I  
press a key on the ASR33 the corresponding character appears on the  
terminal emulator. However, when I try to send characters from the  
terminal emulator to the ASR33 nothing happens. I am using 110bps, 7  
data bits, even parity and 2 stop bits.

As the chattering has stopped, does this mean that the Westermo’s  
transmit side is set up correctly now?

Am I using the right serial port settings?

Could the Westermo not be outputting the right voltage? It is a 20ma  
interface, but the manual does not say anything about the voltage  
which you say needs to be 80V or more.

What else might prevent the characters from being printed out?

Regards

Rob

From: Teletypeparts [mailto:teletypeparts at aol.com]
Sent: 09 February 2013 20:30
To: r.jarratt at computer.org; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33

Rob,

The 33 should chatter or run open when in Line mode and not connected  
to anything.  The reading of a short is normal as on 3 and 4 you are  
basically looking at a switch, the distributor of the 33.  Same  
reading on 6 and 7 as I recall.

Neither side of the 33 generates any current.  The receive wants 20 MA  
at 80 volts or more and the send will accept whatever the interface  
gives it, usually 12 or 15 volts.

A quick test you can do is wire a 9 volt batt to 6 and 7 while in line  
mode.  You have a 50/50 chance of getting the polarity correct.  If  
still running open, reverse the leads.  The 33 should run closed.   
Dont leave the batt connected for a long time.  You have now verified  
the 33 will run closed in Line mode and you need to proceed with the  
adapter stuff of which I know very little.

I believe the Send side of the Westmo should be set to active to  
generate 20 MA current for 6 and 7 of the 33.

Dont know about the Westmo receive side.

Hope this helps,

Wayne
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Jarratt <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>
To: greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sat, Feb 9, 2013 7:22 am
Subject: [GreenKeys] Current Loop to RS-232 Conversion on ASR33
I emailed this list a little while ago about getting my ASR33 to talk  
RS-232. I have since sourced a Westermo MA-21 current loop converter.
I have noticed however, that the ASR33 will “chatter” in line mode  
regardless of whether the current loop wires are connected to anything  
or not. When I plug it into the Westermo the RD light on the Westermo  
comes on even if the ASR33 is disconnected from the mains. The RD  
light is supposed to come on when it is receiving data from the line  
interface (manual here if you want to see it: http://www.westermosales.com/pdfs/MA-21manualENGSEDE.pdf) 
, which makes no sense if the ASR33 is not even connected to the mains.
I have set both the receive and transmit side of the converter to  
passive mode for now (ie they don’t generate the current), but I think  
the receive side of the converter will need to be set to be active so  
that it generates the current because the drawings of the ASR33  
suggest that the ASR33 receive side generates current but the transmit  
side does not. In fact all the switches are set to the factory  
settings at the moment.
I tried switching the receive side of the converter to active and when  
I switched on the converter (with the ASR33 disconnected from the  
mains) the RD light did not come on this time.
I have also noticed that with the ASR33 disconnected from power the  
screw terminal pairs 3&4 and 6&7 appear to be shorted (ie 3 shorted to  
4, 6 shorted to 7). I suspect this may be expected but I am not sure.
I have wired screw terminals 3&4 on the ASR33 to the Receiver side of  
the Westemo, and 6&7 to the Transmitter side.
I wonder if there is a fault in the ASR33, should it chatter in line  
mode when it is not connected to anything?
Which side (if any) of the Westermo should be set to active to  
generate current?
Regards
Rob
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