[GreenKeys] RE: TTY Connect

[gil smith]

Hi Roy:

Just a quick note, as I have a busy weekend ahead:

Yes, autostart can be put into TTY-CONNECT.  I had several proto boards=20
made, and have one unit built up -- it is working great.  I am finishing=20
the first release of the software before getting a production run, just in=
=20
case I find that I need to make any changes to the board.  At the moment,=20
the only pcb errors are on the silk screen (I won't do a new rev unless I=20
need a copper change).

I need to finish the software to a level where I am happy with the board,=20
and then I will post a request for kit orders.  Any software changes made=20
after initial release will be a simple file download from your PC, so=20
subsequent tweaks will be easy.

I know it has been on the back burner for a while, but I will try to=20
expedite TTY-CONNECT.

gil


At 09:27 AM 4/24/2004, you wrote:
>Hi Gil,
>
>Haven=92t seen youin a while on GreenKeys.  I hope all is well with you.
>
>I wanted to touch base with you and see what the latest is on the TTY=20
>connect project ??  I saw the blurb you put out in January and was=20
>wondering when we might be able to buy kits from you ??
>
>I don=92t know if you have been following the recent dialog on GreenKeys=
 but=20
>there is a lot of interest in setting up an RTTY autostart net again=20
>similar to what used to be run by Irv Hoff and Keith Petterson on 80 and=20
>20 meters.  If you are not familiar with these nets, they used crystal=20
>controlled ham transceivers and computer controlled autostart so that if a=
=20
>query command ZCZC was typed on frequency, it would trigger an answer back=
=20
>consisting of sync pulses and the transmitting stations call and=20
>location.  That allowed one to see who was on frequency and if conditions=
=20
>would permit transmitting of a message.  You could bring up an individual=
=20
>stations transmitter by tranmitting his call and ZW  such as K4EEGZW=20
>whereupon my computer selcal would turn my transmitter on and send the=20
>following:  diddle =96diddle (for a while) (CR)(CR)(LF)(LTRS) DE K4EEG=20
>K4EEG, ROY IN WICHITA, KS (CR)(CR)(LF)(LTRS) and then switch back to=
 receive.
>
>Since this was being done on the HF ham bands, we had trouble with  our=20
>Terminal Unit bassed autostart system which tended to trigger on off=20
>frequency signals and static crashes, but it worked and for years we all=20
>had a lot of fun.  It generated a great deal of RTTY activity on the band=
=20
>for both the participants and those who just wanted to listen in.
>
>I have offered to serve as a net control station and to dedicate two=20
>Collins 208U-3 autotune transmitters to the project.  These transmitters=20
>would be kept on line 24/7 and can provide a 1.5 KW output signal to a=20
>good antenna system that should permit copy through out the United=20
>States.  I have several exciters, receivers, and TU=92s that I am willing=
 to=20
>dedicate to the project.
>
>The key to making it work is a good functioning selcal system that will=20
>recognize the code words and trigger the transmitter sequence.  I have=20
>searched through my stuff and the code (which was designed to run on a=20
>Heath H- 8 with an 8085 microprocessor is long since gone as is all the=20
>hardware.  It occurred to me that the TTY Connect project with the=20
>optional micro-controller might well be able to be programmed to perform=20
>these functions.  What are your thoughts on this??  I think a relatively=20
>good number of Green Keyers would be willing to purchase the expanded kit=
=20
>to allow autostart operation if you would be willing to include it.
>
>Or do you think a separate stand alone unit would be more desirable ??  We=
=20
>would need the ability to program in a persons call sign but other than=20
>that, the code would all be the same.  We would need to be able to=20
>activate a push to talk relay to turn a transmitter on when the=20
>appropriate call and ZW code was received and to send out the prerecorded=
=20
>TTY answer back message.  Also it would be great to have a relay that=20
>closed only when a valid digital signal was being received to turn on the=
=20
>teletype machine.  That would work so much better than the analog TU based=
=20
>autostart we dealt with then.
>
>Please let me hear from you as a functioning autostart capability is an=20
>absolute requirement to make this work.
>
>Best regards =96 Roy Norris
>
>

;-------------------------------------------------------------------------
;  vaux electronics, inc.             480-354-5556
;  www.vauxelectronics.com    (fax: 480-354-5558)
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------