Robotics Research 800 Super terminal

[falter]

I sort of get that this is tied into HAM radio somehow, but I'm not exactly clear on what it does:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Robot-Resea...289?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e615abb1

I'm wondering if it can also be used as a 'standard' computer terminal, or if it's something specific to HAM.

 

[g4ugm]

Looks like its Ham stuff only so Slow Scan Television (low res, 20 seconds or so per frame) , Morse Code (CW) and 5-bit code "Radio Teletype" (RTTY) but no ASCII terminal mode...

 

[g4ugm]

Mind it does have ASCII Out so perhaps.....

 

[falter]

Mind it does have ASCII Out so perhaps.....

Yes I found a manual online and supposedly it can handle ASCII.. I'm just curious how it would be used in conjunction with ham radio.

 

[g4ugm]

Basically it combines three existing modes into one box and saves space. Traditionally Hams send morse with a straight key , or a Vibroplex bug key:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibroplex

That just plugs into the rig. To receive you get the morse out as a series of bleeps, which you write down.

For RTTY (Radio Teletype) you had a Teleprinter, in the US a Teletype 28 , in the UK a Creed 7 or 75 and in Europe perhaps a Siemens or other German make. You connect this to your rig using typically an ST-5 terminal unit which is a modem and teletype loop driver in a single box.

For slow Scan TV, which is really a form of FAX as its still pictures you had a SSTV unit that typically had a scope tube with a long persistence phosphor (P7) so the image doesn't fade too much while its being displayed. There is a wiki but its not very good...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_television

Any way instead of using a separate Morse Code Key, Slow Scan TV receiver and Teletype for RTTY which took up loads of space you have one box that can do all three. You wouldn't do all three together, of course.

Hope that explains things

Dave.

 

[falter]

Basically it combines three existing modes into one box and saves space. Traditionally Hams send morse with a straight key , or a Vibroplex bug key:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibroplex

That just plugs into the rig. To receive you get the morse out as a series of bleeps, which you write down.

For RTTY (Radio Teletype) you had a Teleprinter, in the US a Teletype 28 , in the UK a Creed 7 or 75 and in Europe perhaps a Siemens or other German make. You connect this to your rig using typically an ST-5 terminal unit which is a modem and teletype loop driver in a single box.

For slow Scan TV, which is really a form of FAX as its still pictures you had a SSTV unit that typically had a scope tube with a long persistence phosphor (P7) so the image doesn't fade too much while its being displayed. There is a wiki but its not very good...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_television

Any way instead of using a separate Morse Code Key, Slow Scan TV receiver and Teletype for RTTY which took up loads of space you have one box that can do all three. You wouldn't do all three together, of course.

Hope that explains things

Dave.

Thanks much luck Dave.. that clears things up.

 

[saundby]

I'm resurrecting the thread because I just acquired an 800H without the manual that I'd like to get into service. I'll be fiddling around with it, but it'd sure be nice to have a manual. So far I haven't found one online.

I got a little information from an old sales listing, that the 'H' stand for it using the high RTTY tones.

If anyone could help, I'd appreciate it. I'm setting up a late 70s/early 80s vintage ham station with this as a part of it, a similar vintage computer will probably be added as well, but I've got to decide if I've got space for my S-100 bus system cabinet, or if I should go with the Ferguson Big Board system (which needs a power relay for the disk drives, they currently run continuously.)