[GreenKeys] M32 tape reader - how fast?

[w9ddd at tapr.org]

I wouldn't think the reader should run open loop.  Something should be holding it off until the morse character is sent.  I wouldn't think there's any kind of buffer memory available in the technology you describe.  


John, W9DDD


> On Nov 22, 2020, at 1:51 PM, Nick England <navy.radio at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Can a M32 tape reader run at 50 chars/sec?
> I am attempting to resurrect a Frederick Electronics Baudot to Morse converter.
> http://www.navy-radio.com/rtty/frederick-2.htm#baudot
> It has a built-in tape reader - made by Teletype Corp and looks like a M32 to me but I've never seen one in person...
> 
> It has parallel output from the reader and the control circuitry should do something like
> 1. Read a character
> 2. Translate to Morse via a diode matrix and variable length timing chain (E is 2 elements long, zero is 20 elements long)
> 3. When finished with the Morse character, read the next character
> If a character is a null or other non-printing I expect the diode matrix would tell it to read the next character as fast as possible. 
> Maximum code speed is 300wpm which is averaging 30 chars/sec
> 
> Current status - it just tries to read the tape at 50 chars/sec, So the 1, 2, 3 loop is skipping step 2. I can see the character getting loaded from the reader and addressing the diode matrix but it just immediately reads the next character - I haven't been able to figure out how things are supposed to work from there but I'll keep reverse engineering schematics.
> No manual, no schematics, Over two hundred 2N404's and a thousand resistors and diodes - it does something but I can't figure it all out yet. - did I mention all these parts are spread out over 14 printed circuit boards, most with 44 pin connectors?
> 
> But for now my question is,should it really try to run as fast as 50 chars/sec (500 wpm)?
> 
> Nick England K4NYW
> www.navy-radio.com
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