[R-390] off topic interesting read

[mikea]

On Wed, Apr 08, 2009 at 03:18:19PM -0400, Patrick wrote:
> Anyone here remembers de AUTODIN???    Pat retired IBM'er

OhYeah, big-time. I worked at the Camp Drake switch (NW corner of Tokyo) 
for two years.  I particularly remember, despite earnest attempts to 
recycle those neurons, the IBM 1976: a special-purpose beast that read 
and punched cards on one end, while the other hung off a 1200 (or 2400, 
4800, or 9600) Baud modem[1], with a comm line that went through Tech 
Control to the microwave and then to whatever transmitters were at the
transmitter site. Stone-age, but not quite as stone-age as the Plan-55
stuff. 

Topicality: the receiver site actually used R-390 to pull the data off
HF, and microwave from there to a tower at Drake. They changed to
R-390A about the time I was reassigned, and I have no idea what they
used after that. The AUTODIN switch there replaced a Plan-55 torn-tape
TTY commcenter, which was loads of not-fun, and which also used R-390
and R-390A. All gone now. Google Maps shows bare concrete and weeds
where the commcenter and the switch were.

[1]  We originally had modems with real mechanical resonators. When the 
     resonator stopped, we'd get a call, and apply a brogan to the front 
	 of the box to start it ringing again. Really. "Kick HERE"-type 
	 maintenance. I remember when we got solid-state Rixon modems to 
	 replace those things: they were so _tiny_, and they Just Worked. 

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin