[GreenKeys] USB-teletype adapters - Terminal Servers

Sun Mar 20 05:02:22 EDT 2016

THX for the manual Eugene.  Very nice indeed.  I've done a bit more research
and determined that the RSM-series provides a superset of functionality of
the TSM-series (see: http://www.wti.com/c-4-console-server.aspx) ... and at
least at the moment there are "more" affordable offerings on eBay for
RSM-series.  I took the plunge ...

I'm much obliged to you for mentioning this.

And now I'm also in your camp regarding "Gee, if we could get a serial
connection instead of, or addition to, USB ..." :->.  Although I'd still
like one of these USB-adapters since a bird in the hand ....  So back to the
thread topic!

-----Original Message-----
From: W2HX [mailto:w2hx at w2hx.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2016 3:15 PM
To: Paul Birkel
Cc: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [GreenKeys] USB-teletype adapters - Terminal Servers

Hi Paul, et. Al,

You are correct it is not a common feature. I originally purchased a fairly
standard lantronix unit. I really liked that unit until I discovered that I
really needed this interconnect capability to switch my 8-bit tape
reader/punch to different devices.  

The unit I have is a WTI model TSM-24. I have posted the manual here:
http://w2hx.com/x/WTI-TSM-24/

here is an excerpt from the manual:

"The full matrix capability of the TSM allows you to easily connect any two
serial ports, even when the ports are using different communications
settings. Ports can also be connected or disconnected by a third party with
Administrator or SuperUser level command rights, and system managers can
swap various RS232 devices between ports at a remote location."

I find this a great little unit. Right now there are some on ebay but for
crazy money. I think I paid around $100 for mine. It's a great little unit!

Good luck!
Eugene W2HX

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Birkel [mailto:pbirkel at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2016 1:20 AM
To: W2HX
Cc: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [GreenKeys] USB-teletype adapters - Terminal Servers

Eugene:  Which brand/model terminal server device are you using?  I didn't
know that any allowed you to cross-connect any two devices and then handle
speed translation (etc.); nice feature!

-----Original Message-----
From: GreenKeys [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W2HX
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 5:11 PM
To: epvgk at limpoc.com; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] USB-teletype adapters

If I am not already, let me be the first to tell you this is absolutely
brilliant. In so many ways,  you should be congratulated for this project. I
am very impressed. Small touches like baud rate changes (and generation of
the baud rate) and a local mode to allow you to set up parameters. Just
brilliant.

As for me, I hate USB! In my shack, I have a lot of serial devices. From
computers, to GPSDOs, one Cesium Clock, receivers that use serial control,
b-bit CNC paper tape reader/punch, an S100 computer, a PDP-8/e etc, etc,
etc. All of these use RS232 and are all connected up to a terminal server
which is connected to my home network. This allows two things. One, I can
communicate with any of these devices from anywhere in the house or anywhere
in the world using telnet. Second, I can issue commands to the terminal
server to cross connect any two devices and it will handle speed translation
etc, for me. It is not an expensive device on ebay. I think mine has 24
ports.

I would LOVE to put one of your  devices onto my terminal server. This would
be fantastic. Imagine, I could then connect my M28 to my IMSAI or PDP. I
could use my M28 as a printer for my PC. I could have my GPSDO send its time
or NMEA sentences to my M28. I could run all my 5-bit tapes to my PC in
order to store them. I could interconnect my M28ASR and copy my 5-bit tapes
to 8-bit mylar tape for long term storage by cross connecting to my CNC
punch. And then print from the 8-bit tape (which would only contain 5 bits
of data) to my M28. SO MANY ACTIVITIES (to quote the "Step Brothers" movie)!
All of these things would be possible by sending very simple commands to my
terminal server (ie "/C 4 5" connect port 4 to port 5).

But for me, USB doesn't fit :( Maybe either, there could ever be a serial
version of this board, or could I use some kind of USB-serial dongle of some
kind?

One last question, the documentation mentions that ASCII characters that are
unknown to ITA5 would be ignored. Is there an option to translate lower case
letters to upper case before going to the TTY side of the circuit?

Anyway, GREAT WORK!
Eugene

-----Original Message-----
From: GreenKeys [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
epvgk at limpoc.com
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 2:35 AM
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [GreenKeys] USB-teletype adapters

Hey, 

So I got the first few sample boards back for my USB serial teletype
adapter. 
Miraculously I appear to not have screwed anything up in the CAD files, so
they actually work. The assembly service only forgot a couple of parts :) 

I will probably go ahead and have a small batch built on the assumption that
at least the people who responded to my previous mention of it will want
some. 

I've done a little write up about it if you'd like to peruse and offer
thoughts. 
I probably won't do major overhauls of the hardware, but the firmware is
still a work in progress. 

Check it out at http://heepy.net/index.php/USB-teletype

eric
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