--- Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
 
 The PDP-8/L restoration continues.  I have two devices to attach to my -8/L
 for testing - a VT220 (all have 20mA current-loop connectors) and an
 ASR-33. 
 OK, first thing to do is to clean and oil (correctly!) that ASR33. If
 parts are sticking, there's a reason for it, either no oil or old,
 gummed-up oil. Carrying on running it like this will cause wear and/or
 damage. 
 
I have intentionally not run the TTY for more than a few lines just for this
reason.
  Do you have the 3 grey books for the ASR33? Volume 1
of the maintenance
 manual covers lubrication. 
If I do, it's long buried.  What's the synopsis for the area around the print
hammer/type cylinder?  Some letters print OK, some don't.  The ones that don't
do OK for the first one, but as I said, I have to manually press the cylinder
back down to its locking position.
How many types/grades of lubricants are there for a proper lube job on a TTY?
  Reader run is another loop (and it's not part of
the 'standard' loop
 setup). 
Right.  I located the conversion manual in the back of some 11/20 docs - how
to turn a factory-fresh TTY into a DEC-modified ASR-33.
  According to a PDP8/e printset, the pinout of the
8-pin mate-n-lock...
 I seem to remember that's 'standard' on DEC devices. You may well need
 the equiavlent of a null-modem cable to link a VT220 to the card (swap
 (2,3) and (5,7)). 
That's the kind of thing I was looking for.
  A word of warning. THere are several versions of the
COM8116. The
 'standard' one, as used by Radio Shack in the TRS-80 uses a 5.0688MHz
 clock. 
I have the standard one.  We used it in an optional modem eliminator option
for our sync serial boards.  I have the xtals, too.
Thanks for all the good info, Tony.  Now if I could only locate the box of
20mA cables in the attic...
-ethan
=====
Infinet has been sold.  The domain is going away in February.
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