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TELEPRINTERS FOR THE RADIO AMATEUR
There are three fundamental requirements which must be considered before purchasing a machine: 1. The electrical
signaling characteristics. Signaling CharacteristicsMachines manufactured in the U.K. normally use what is known as Double Current or Polar signaling, in which the two signaling states, Mark and Space, are represented by current flowing in opposite directions, often +/- 20mA, with Mark being represented by a negative current flow. Whereas machines manufactured in the U.S.A. and Germany normally use what is known as Single Current or Neutral signaling, in which the two signaling states, Mark and Space, are represented by the presence or absence of current, often 60mA, the actual polarity being unimportant.Note that we are referring to current flow in each case, and not to voltages. The receiving section of a teleprinter usually consists of a form of electro-mechanical relay, often called the electro-magnet, with a fairly high inductance, perhaps up to 4 Henrys, and a low DC resistance, perhaps only 200 Ohms, which responds to the incoming signaling impulses. The actual voltage developed across the receiving electro-magnet is quite small, perhaps only 4 volts, but in order to reduce the time constant of the signaling circuit, which is represented by the total circuit inductance divided by the total circuit resistance, and thereby increase the speed of operation of the elecro-magnet, the circuit resistance must be increased to the maximum practicable, which is best served by a current source and not a voltage source. In the real world voltage sources are more convenient to generate than current sources, but a current source can be simulated by using a fairly high voltage and a series resistor. When the resistance is increased to reduce the time constant, the driving voltage must also be increased in order to maintain the required current through the electro-magnet. For historical reasons the voltages usually used are +/- 80 volts for Polar signaling, and 120 volts for Neutral signaling, but the precise values are not too important. However, for Polar signaling, it is important that the positive and negative supplies are balanced, otherwise distortion will be introduced. What all this means in practice is that a machine designed for Polar signaling will not work in a circuit designed for Neutral signaling, and vice-versa. Designs for Terminal Units are available which are suitable for either type of signaling, and the Terminal Unit configuration required should be checked very carefully before any teleprinter is purchased. Having said that, some of the Creed machines can be adjusted to operate in Neutral circuits by means of auxiliary springs, or other means, but the parts required may not be fitted on individual machines, and this should be checked if single current operation is required. The transmitter output of a double current machine consists of a single pole changeover contact which operates in sympathy with the transmitted code, the two poles representing Mark and Space respectively. Whereas the transmitter output of a single current machine consists of a normally closed contact which opens for the duration of the Space impulses. In addition to this transmitter contact, the Creed machines usually have a second single pole changeover contact known as the Send-Receive switch. This contact operates just before the Start impulse of the character is transmitted, and restores just after the end of the Stop impulse has been transmitted. In the case of punched paper tape readers the contact remains operated for as long as characters are being transmitted, and restores after the end of the last character has been transmitted. All of the contacts mentioned above are fitted with radio interference suppression networks, usually consisting of resistance, inductance and capacitance which are suitable for the normal signaling voltages and currents involved in teleprinter signaling. Machine CodingThere are several codes in use for communications purposes, with the standard five unit code being the International Telegraph Alphabet number 2 (ITA2). Other five unit codes which may be found are: the Murray code, which has some similarities with ITA2 and is partially compatible with it; Elliott 403, Stantec Zebra, and Ferranti Pegasus which are all early computer codes dating from the 1960's and are of no practical purpose to the Radio Amateur; and the Baudot code which dates from the late 1800's and was never used for teleprinters as we now know them. The only Baudot equipment that I know of is in the London Science Museum, and the now closed BT Museum in London. Needless to say, none will be found on the Amateur surplus market! When people refer to Murray and Baudot code they invariably mean ITA2, because they do not appreciate the differences between the codes. There is no certain way of checking the code of every machine which may be found without actually seeing it in operation. A simple way, which is usually a good guide, is to carefully inspect the keyboard. The layout of the characters should be very similar to that of a standard typewriter keyboard, and as long as there are no strange characters, the machine may well be coded for ITA2. However, even this is not guaranteed as machines which use the Elliott 403 computer code have a very similar keyboard layout to a machine coded for ITA2. In addition to five unit codes, there are also codes with seven units which are primarily used for data communications, rather than plain language communications. The main code which may be encountered is the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) which is now in fairly universal use. In addition to the five information units in the code, the machine requires a START unit and a STOP unit or units. In order for the machine to re-synchronise at the start of every character, the STOP unit is usually made 1.5 units long, or in the case of machines from the U.S.A. 1.42 units long. This is why teleprinter codes in general, and ITA2 in particular, is sometimes referred to as a 7.5 unit code. The corresponding machine receive cycle is usually 6.5 units, which allows the machine to cope with transmit cycles of less than 7.5 units, and significant speed errors. Standard Radio Teleprinter TelegraphY (RTTY) communications use the ITA2 code, any other code is usually considered under the umbrella term of data. Machines will only be able to talk to each other if they use the same code, and it would be extremely difficult to change the coding of a machine after it is purchased. Indeed, it would be easier to throw it away and look for another machine! Signalling SpeedThere are a number of speeds in use on the Amateur bands, but the main ones are:
Before considering speeds in greater detail, perhaps a few words about the "Baud" would be appropriate. The Baud is the unit of signaling speed, and is named after Emile Baudot who was an eminent French telegraphic engineer of the late 1800's, and who also devised the now obsolete Baudot code. The signaling speed in Bauds may be defined as "the reciprocal of the shortest signaling element in seconds". Therefore, a system operating at 50 Bauds will have a signal element time period equal to 1 second divided by 50. That is: 20 ms. This is most important, because machines will only be able to talk to each other if they both have the same Baud rate. Knowing the number of units in the code, and the Baud rate at which it is transmitted, allows us to calculate the signaling speed in words per minute. For this calculation it is always assumed that a word consists of five letters plus a space, that is a total of six letter intervals. Therefore, at 50 Bauds, and using the ITA2 code with a 1.5 unit Stop bit: This is usually abbreviated to 66 words per minute. By the same reasoning, a transmission at 45.45 Bauds is equivalent to 60.6 words per minute (60 words per minute, or 60 speed), and a transmission at 75 Bauds is equivalent to 100 words per minute. Most machines use an electric motor to derive all of the internal machine timing, and it is the speed of this motor which sets the Baud rate for the machine. Motors may be governed, if they are to be run from DC supplies, or synchronous, if there is a stable AC mains source available. A governed motor driving a machine at 50 Bauds can usually be adjusted for 45.45 Bauds, and vice-versa, but a motor driving a machine operating at 75 Bauds cannot be adjusted to operate at 45.45 or 50 Bauds because the change in speed is just too great. In order to check the motor speed, stroboscopic markings are normally provided on the motor governor case. These markings are used in conjunction with a special tuning fork which has small shutters attached to the tines. When the motor speed is correct, the markings on the governor will appear stationary when viewed through the shutters. In practice, the motor speed is normally set so that it is running very slightly fast when idling, and very slightly slow when on full load. Under average operating conditions the motor speed will then be just right. The stroboscopic tuning forks are sometimes found at rallies, and may also be obtained through the advertisement columns of Datacom, and other Amateur radio magazines. When synchronous motors are fitted it is necessary to replace some of the internal gears if it is required to operate the machine at different speeds, because the signaling speed is directly related to the AC mains frequency. Gears were normally produced for the three common speeds of 45.45/50/75 Bauds, but if they have to be specially manufactured they can turn out to be very expensive. Another solution which has successfully been used is to start the machine on 50 Hz AC mains, and then automatically changeover to the output from a 45.45 Hz power oscillator. Some machines may be found which are fitted with a manually operated dual speed gear box, usually for 45.45/50 Bauds or 50/75 Bauds. Intending purchasers should always check the speed at which the machine is operating, and what will be required to change the speed on that particular machine, should it be necessary. SummaryTo summarize the items above, to be of much use in Amateur circles a teleprinter must:
[Left: 4-bank Commercial Typewriter Keyboard. Right: Normal 3-bank keyboard.]
8 This is the receive only version of the model 7 teleprinter and, hence, is not fitted with a keyboard. It is otherwise identical to the model 7. 25 This is a high speed non printing tape reperforator, introduced in 1955, which operates from a parallel drive at a speed of up to 33 characters per second. The speed of operation is independent of the motor speed, and is determined by the parallel drive circuitry. This machine was usually fitted with a 1500 rpm induction motor operating from 50 Hz AC mains, but 3000 rpm governed motors for DC supplies may sometimes be found. It was designed for use with some of the early electronic computers, and may be found in versions for 5, 6, 7, or 8 unit tape, and with drive voltages from 12 volts to 100 volts DC. It is not normally used for communications purposes, but with suitable drive electronics it can be put to good use. 35 This is a high speed paper tape reader operating at a speed of up to 40 characters per second, in either direction, with a parallel output. The speed of operation is independent of the motor speed, and is determined by the control circuitry. This machine was usually fitted with a 1500 rpm induction motor operating from 50 Hz AC mains. It was designed for use with some of the early electronic computers, and may be found in versions for 5, 6, 7, or 8 unit tape, and with drive voltages from 12 volts to 100 volts DC. It is not normally used for communications purposes, but with suitable drive electronics it can be put to good use.
67 This is a combination of the model 7P keyboard perforator and the model 6S punched tape reader, which was introduced in 1934. This permits a tape to be punched, and transmitted directly to line. A governed motor operating at 1500 rpm is normally fitted, which will permit operation at 45.45 and 50 Bauds. It would be unusual to find a complete model 67, the majority of which had the transmitter head removed so that the machine reverted to a standard 7P keyboard perforator. 71 This is a multiple head punched tape reader with three independent message transmitting heads which was introduced in 1951. It is based on an American design and provides a single current output, not the standard changeover contact found in other Creed machines. It was usually used in message relay stations so that two other messages could be loaded whilst the first was being transmitted. A governed motor is normally fitted, which will permit operation at 45.45 or 50 Bauds. As a tape reader it is physically rather large. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference number "Automatic Transmitter No. 3". 72 This is a multiple head punched tape reader with three independent number transmitting heads to identify the messages being sent by the model 71 tape reader. In all other respects it is very similar to the model 71. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference number "Automatic Transmitter No. 4". 74 This is a
multiple head punched tape reader and is a combination of the models 71 and 72, providing
one number transmitting head and two message transmitting heads. In all other respects it
is very similar to the model 71. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference
number "Automatic Transmitter No. 5". 85 This is a printing reperforator, introduced in 1948, similar to the model 7 page printing teleprinter, but fitted with a perforating unit fitted in place of the paper platen. The perforator is designed to produce "chadless" tape, which means that the holes in the tape are not punched cleanly, but the chads are still attached to the tape by means of a small flap. The text is then printed directly on top of the tape. This style of tape may be read by any of the standard range of punched tape readers. The same range of motors as fitted to the model 7 are also fitted to this machine. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference number "Printing Reperforator No. 1". The receive only version of this machine, the model 85R, was allocated the Post Office reference number "Printing Reperforator No. 2". 86 This is a printing reperforator, similar in most respects to the model 85, but using 7/8" wide tape instead of the standard 11/16" wide tape, and printing the text below the clean punched holes. This tape may be read using the 6S/6 series of tape readers, which are fitted with an adjustable width tape gate. The same range of motors as fitted to the model 7 are also fitted to this machine. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference number "Printing Reperforator No. 1D". The receive only version of this machine, the model 86R, was allocated the Post Office reference number "Printing Reperforator No. 2D". 92 This is an
electromagnetically operated punched paper tape reader, introduced in 1957, which operates
at speeds up to 20 characters per second with a parallel output. It was designed for use
with some of the early electronic computers, and may be found in versions for 5, 6, 7 or 8
unit tape, with drive voltages from 12 volts to 100 volts DC. It is not generally used for
communications purposes but with suitable drive electronics it can be put to good use. The
mark 1 and mark 2 versions caused very high tape wear, which was corrected in the mark 3
version by redesigning the tape sensing mechanism. 750 This page printing teleprinter is a very rare development of the model 75, and uses separate transmit and receive camshafts in a similar manner to other Creed teleprinters. Visually, it is slightly larger than the model 75 in order to accommodate the two camshafts. Very little information is available for this machine, and any intending purchaser should ask for a demonstration of the machine in operation. 2300 This semi-electronic page printing teleprinter, introduced in 1974, was intended as a general replacement for the entirely mechanical model 444 in the Telex and private wire services. However, due to the variety of options available, it eventually became uneconomic to manufacture, and was overtaken by the emerging electronic teleprinters. The timing is crystal controlled, and was normally adjustable for 50, 75 and 100 Bauds. By changing the crystal, operation at 45.45 Bauds is possible. The electronic section contains a number of non standard integrated circuits and, if a serious problem develops, it may prove very difficult to cure. The machine was normally fitted with a 3000 rpm synchronous motor to drive the rotating print head. Characters were printed "on the fly" by a type hammer located behind the paper, without stopping the actual rotation of the print head. This machine was allocated the Post Office reference number "Teleprinter No. 23". Creed Machine Suffixes A Normally means
that the machine transmits a 7.5 unit character and receives in a 7.0 unit cycle; 66 wpm
at 50 Bauds. This was the early transmit and receive configuration, and is not often
encountered. Siemens Machines Teletype Machines Note: "Teletype" is a registered trade mark of the Teletype Corporation, and may only be used to describe equipment manufactured by that company. 14 A number of different machines were given this designation, including: a tape printing teleprinter (similar to the Creed model 47), a chadless printing reperforator (similar to the Creed model 85), and non printing reperforator (similar to the Creed model 7TR). All of these machines normally operated at 45.45 Bauds, and were fitted with either a governed motor or a synchronous motor for a 60 Hz mains supply, all of which operated at 115 volts. Gears for the 60 Hz synchronous motors operating on 50 Hz are very difficult to find. 14TD This is a punched paper tape reader providing a single current output. The transmitter does not use a changeover contact, as in the Creed machines, but uses a segmented distributor and rotating brush gear to generate the output signal, hence the name: "Transmitter Distributor". This machine normally operated at 45.45 Bauds, and was fitted with either a governed motor or a synchronous motor for a 60 Hz mains supply, all of which operated at 115 volts. Gears for the 60 Hz synchronous motors operating on 50 Hz are very difficult to find. Some machines may be found with many smaller segments in the distributor. These were intended for cryptographic use. Whilst conversion for normal communications use is possible, it is hardly worth the effort. 15 This was the standard page printing teleprinter, using a stationary platen and a moving type basket and in its day was probably the most widely used teleprinter by Radio Amateurs throughout the World. This machine normally operated at 45.45 Bauds, and was fitted with either a governed motor or a synchronous motor for a 60 Hz mains supply, all of which operated at 115 volts. Gears for the 60 Hz synchronous motors operating on 50 Hz are very difficult to find. Receive only versions were also produced without the keyboard and transmitter mechanism. This teleprinter was also manufactured under licence in Germany by Lorenz, and was known as the LO15. It has metric threads, but is broadly identical to the standard TT15 in all other respects. 19 This is a composite set, and comprises a model 15 page printing teleprinter with a built in keyboard perforator and a model 14TD punched tape reader, all mounted on a special table which also contained the necessary power supplies. A character counter was normally fitted to the perforator so that the carriage return and line feed characters could be inserted at the appropriate point, thereby producing a tape which would be suitable for reception on a page printer, whilst the model 15 was otherwise engaged printing an incoming message from line. 26 This is a small, lightweight, page printing teleprinter, with a stationary paper platen and rotating type head, similar in some respects to the Creed model 75 teleprinter. However, it is not capable of continuous service, and spares for the worn out parts are very difficult to obtain. 28 This is a heavy duty page printing teleprinter which was designed for operation at 45.45, 50 or 75 Bauds, and was fitted with governed or synchronous motors operating from 115 volts 60 Hz. This machine was available as ASR or KSR versions, and with many options, including: automatic carriage return/line feed, a two or three speed gear box, and a built in "stunt box" for character recognition. Several different tape readers and tape punches could be fitted depending upon the final requirements. The model 28 is a very fine machine indeed. 32 This is a modern page printing teleprinter, also available as receive only, ASR or KSR. It may be desk top mounted or supplied on a floor pedestal. It was designed as a light duty low cost machine. 33 This is the ASCII version of the model 32, to which it is very similar in all other respects. This machine was very popular in the early days of home computing as a printout device, a function for which it was also used in the commercial field. It was manufactured for single current signalling and the low voltage RS232 signalling system. RS232 machines may usually be identified by the fitting of a 25 way "D" series plug. The machine may also be found under the name of the Data Dynamics model 390, which is the Teletype model 33 chassis in a larger enclosure, with built in power supplies, a paper tape punch and a paper tape reader. 34 This is a modern page printing teleprinter, also available as receive only, ASR or KSR. It may be desk top mounted or supplied on a floor pedestal. It was designed as a heavy duty machine, and incorporated a "stunt box" similar to the model 28. 35 This is the ASCII version of the model 34, to which it is very similar in all other respects. Signalling Connections Due to the wide variety of equipment which may be encountered, only the standard connections to the Creed machines, which are the ones most likely to be encountered, will be considered. The standard signalling connector for the majority of Creed machines is the 12 pin Multicon (miniature Jones), with the male plug connected to the machine. An additional connector, the Plessey mark 4 circular connector, was also used on the model 75 series of machines so that the power and signalling leads could be disconnected. The pin designations for the 12 way Plessey mark 4 signal connector are given in the (.) brackets. Some early Creed machines used a large 9 pin, round pin, plug for the signals connections. The pin designations for this 9 pin plug are given in the [.] brackets. Pin No. Function
Notes:
Useful References
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Copyright George Hutchison, W7TTY & Bill Bytheway, K7TTY -- November 2011