[GreenKeys] FIGS-BLANK-H

[Ralph Irish]

Tom & Group 

"Figs-Blank-H" was a sequence used by some to initiate what was called a 'Fast Break' 
change-over of operators. 

I don't have a clue as to who first used it or who first published anything about it in the 
RTTY Journal, but that sequence may have been selected due to the way many Model 
28 Printers were equipped from the factories for 'general use'. Someone may have 
taken this sequence for that reason, in addition to the fact that "Figs-Blank-H" is a 
sequence that does not occur in normal text or even 'abnormal' things involving our 
RTTY mode. 

- - - - 

Each station needed to have their Stunt Box rigged the same way. Ideally, when Station A 
initiated that sequence, (Figs-Blank-H) it would trigger a relay or maybe several, to put his 
own Transmitter off the air, and enable the Transmitter of Station B. When Station B sent this 
sequence after replying, answering questions or asking a few, then his station would go into 
Receive, and the relays, etc. on the other end would mute that Receiver and turn on the 
Transmitter. 

This sequence was commonly referred to as "Fast Break". So, if you were communicating 
with someone for the first time, you might ask (or be asked) if "Fast Break" was available? 
If so, each station would throw a switch or two and be ready for the next 'turn over'. 

During some of this time, the CW Ident was a requirement, so to be completely legal, one 
would also have to have this function as part of the "Fast Break" sequence. But, I would 
not be surprised if some stations only used CW ID a few times during a QSO that might 
have had seven or eight 'turn-overs'. I don't think that the FCC had monitoring stations 
across the country for the purpose of identifying stations who were not 'faithful' with their 
CW IDs. There were far more important issues at that time. 
- - - - 

I submitted an article to the RTTY Journal with a relay circuit that could be quite useful 
for "Fast Break, Figs-Blank-H" operation. It required a special Western Electric relay 
that had a "Make-Before-Break" contact pair as well as a more conventional Break-Before- 
Make contact pair. These relays were identified as "Wire Spring Relays" and were used 
for many switching applications in the Bell System. Somewhere, I have a photo of my 
circuit, and will identify the RTTY Journal Issue with the short article. 

I should point out that ANY relay that had a 'Make-Before-Break' contact pair would 
probably work. One nice thing about the Wire Spring Relays was that they had a very 
'low mass' in the contacts and they operated a bit faster than more conventional relays. 
Speed of operation was sometimes critical in the Bell System switching systems. 

- - - - 

This article was published after the Journal moved to California, and Dee Crumpton was 
the Editor/Publisher. (N6ELP?) So, it will be in one of the larger format issues. 

I'm going to make my way to the basement and find the article and send out a message 
with the Month, Year and Pages, etc. 

73, 

Ralph 

- - - - - - - - 

From: "Tom Hunter" <tomhenryhunter at gmail.com> 
To: "greenkeys" <GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 4:33:39 PM 
Subject: [GreenKeys] FIGS-BLANK-H 

Thank you Jerry Murphy, 

I had tried every key on my ASR in LTRS and in FIGS but neither 28 nor 29 would operate. I see the reason now. My ASR does not have a BLANK key. 

A KSR I am still working on does, so I took the paper out of the ASR, pulled the KSR close enough to watch the ASR stuntbox. and, sure enough, FIGS-Blank operated function pawl 28, then an H operated 29. 

I do not have the relays for motor control. I use an Idle Line Motor control anyway. Someday I may use FIGS-BLANK-H to operate something externally. 

I thank you again. 

Tom N3CRK 

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