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Project: Twitter Telex
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Schroefje24.png
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Telex Picture.jpg

Twitter Telex

Naam Twitter Telex
Door BugBlue, Stoneshop, eightdot
Status Uitvoer
Madskillz Electronics, Telex protocol, Baudot Code, Programming, Soldering, Mad ideas
Doel / Omschrijving
Connecting the Siemens Fernschreiber Telex to Twitter and paypal
Alle Projecten - Project Toevoegen
File:Telex_Picture.jpg noez

Background

Our telex is a late 1970's model connecting via the telex current loop (which is a 1930's interface with a big magnet inside the telex). Since USB to serial does not talk 50 baud we made a 'soft' version of this implementation using a standard USB-to-Serial adapter. We use a lot of pins (see drawings) except the TX and RX pin, there are just way too fast for our nice telex.

The code is written in python, for no other reason than google giving [pyserial.sourceforge.net/pyserial_api.html pySerial] as first result while searching for "serial set dsr"

Step 1: Find the telex

We just happened to have a telex standing somewhere in the space doing nothing. If this is not the case some radio markets or website might help you.

1Telex.jpg

Found it

Step 2: Test if it works

Check if all the keys work and behave like they should. Also test the internal interfaces, the punch tape writer, punch tape reader etc etc etc.

7Opened.jpg 10Vreemt.jpg

Creative people do creative tests.

Step 3: Build a circuit

For this step you need some knowledge about electronics, optocouplers, voltages, power supplies, resistors and more stuff BugBlue didn't know.

3BuildingCircuit.jpg 13HalfDuplex.jpg

However some smarter people do know this stuff.

Step 4: Build a nice box to house the electronics

Since having 220Volt open on the table is not really on everyones wishlist a nice housing is a big +1

2BuildingInterface.jpg 14InsideBox.jpg

The result of eightdots work

Step 5: Write some code

A little bit of understanding about timings (50 baud, 1 bit is 20ms) and some coding skills do work very well.

Step 6: Test the code (and tweet it)

12TweetViaPictures.jpg

Tweeting pictures is a lame hack, but the code wasn't ready yet. Link to real tweets very soon.

Step 7: Finish and polish it

This needs to be done.

Done

Todo

  • Create PCB and solder components
  • Change software to interface with paypal
  • Order paper and inkt

Later

  • Create coin collector to interface with computer
  • Change software to interface with coin collector
  • Find a nice 'who are you' line
  • Change the 'Here-is' identity to 'Hack42'