[GreenKeys] What brought you here?

Tue Apr 7 15:23:58 EDT 2020

 It's been fun reading the stories so far!  Here's mine:
I got into electronics as a hobby when I was 12-13.  In junior high, at 13, I was introduced to computers - our school system had an HP2000/F timeshare system, and I learned BASIC using an ASR33.  Of course, later on in high school were using CRT terminals, but I always had a soft spot for the '33.  When I was 14, the COSMAC Elf article came out in Popular Electronics.  At that point, I was also interested in ham radio and was considering getting my license.  I didn't have the money to support both hobbies, and my parents weren't well to do, so I had to choose between hobby computing and ham radio.  I chose the former.  I created my own version of the Elf using cheaper parts (8 LEDs instead of those expensive hex displays, giant Carling power toggle switches instead of the expensive miniature C&K parts), and my folks bought me the CPU, which was an exorbitant $39.  Of course, I wanted a printer, but an ASR33 was waaaaay out of the question.  IIRC, those were going for around $750 at the time.  CRT terminals were even more.  Well, a ham, who was also a member of our local computer club (he was a grad student in his mid 20's) sold me a Model 15 for $35, and my Elf had its printer!  At 17, I built a modem (our computer club put together a group buy for a pcb and  kit), and used the Elf to communicate with my school's timeshare system.  The Elf provided character translation and buffering from the 110 baud ASCII to the 60 mA current loop.  
After graduating from college (with a BSEE), I horsed the thing to my first rental house, but when I moved out, I sent it to the junkyard - I had a "real" computer by then - an early PC clone.  I also threw out my homebrew Elf, but I saved the CPU b/c of sentimental attachment...
Along came the "Elf 2000."  I discovered that in about 2003, and of course, I went looking for a model 15 - they're pretty scarce here in flyover country.  I signed up for greenkeys, and a local guy contacted me that had one to sell - so I got it and interfaced it to my Elf 2k.  Then, I also got nostalgic for an ASR33.  Once again, those are rare around here.  When a local one showed up on ebay in 2010, I sniped it and got it.  Luckily, it hadn't been used since the print hammer had deteriorated, and thanks to Wayne Durkee and this group I degummed and restored it.  It's actually a TWX machine and I've used it both directly and through the 101C modem, which, like the machine, is just a marvel of engineering.
This group is wonderful, both for the technical support, and the stories and projects that others are working on here.  Sorry to be so long winded, but it's been a long strange trip indeed...
Cheers,
Keith
    On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, 12:45:14 PM CDT, Jeff G <jeffg at junknet.net> wrote:  

 I'm sure this has been done in the past, but figured I'd ask as I'm a bit of a newb here and it would give me something to read. What got you into Teletypes, and ultimately to Greenkeys? Can be a simple answer or a short story!
For me...I always had an interest in them, and I'm into vintage computing amongst many many many other hobbies. I acquired a Teletype Model 32 and HAL ST-6 last year, and its been a learning experience to learn about the history, how they work, current loops, baudot, etc. I'd love to get a 33 some day, and (hopefully) have lines on a couple older models as well now, as I LOVE the old/steampunk/electromechanical aspect of them, and have several older items displayed in my living room, like an Edison cylinder player (Edison Triumph). That said I'm probably a youngin at 42.

I'm also a new-ish ham (licensed in 2016) and definitely want to try RTTY, outside of a contest. Also just before the s--- hit the fan, I started volunteering on the Battleship NJ and aimed to help them get some of their TTY stuff going again.

Jeff KC3GJX
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