Hello folks!
It's good to be back on the list after a... well, I don't know how
long, something like a two or three year hiatus.
At any rate, I'd like to get back into things by asking whether
anyone has good plans for building a 20ma current loop to RS-232
converter. I recently found a Teletype model 33 ASR at a flea market
for $40, along with manuals, and I've nursed it back to health. With
cleaning, degreasing, and a proper lubrication job, it seems to be
working perfectly (well, 99% perfectly) in local mode.
I'd like to get it talking to something that speaks RS-232. I've
found a number of solutions for sale in the $50 range, but I was
hoping to be a cheap bastard and build one myself. I've found a few
schematics for hacks online, but no definitive plans for a reasonably
robust home made solution.
Yes, I suppose I could try to design my own. My horrible,
embarrassing secret, though, is that while I'm a good programmer, I
suck at circuit design. Never really got it. I can follow a
schematic and solder my way to happy results, but don't ask me to
design a light switch. I'll get it wrong.
I've scoured the logs here, but I haven't found what I'm looking
for. Anyone know where I should look? Otherwise, I guess I'll just
have to give BlackBox my $50 and swallow my pride!
-Seth