On Wed, Apr 29, 2020, 12:22 AM steven--- via cctech <cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> Bill said > > Hi - COVID project.... I have been attempting to read some old Honeywell > > DDP-516 papertapes using the OP-80A or Teletype reader but it's > inefficient > > and I don't want to damage the tapes. Does anyone have a reliable > > papertape reader for sale, or recommend one currently out there on Ebay, > > > I have an EECO MT-82 (manual on bitsavers), and it's ok but pulls the tape > through in short > sharp bursts rather than a continuous smooth action, even on the lowest > baud rate. > I have the serial version, there is a separate I/O board for serial and > parallel. For > some reason the right-hand spindle always runs, perhaps the driver > transistor logic has some > problem. I don't use the spindles anyway as I have no reels (I am > designing 3D printed ones) > but the spindle speed is way too fast for old tapes anyway, I think. > > > With the OP-80A you could try rigging up a small motor to pull the tapes > through at slow > speed, say a LEGO Technic M size motor driving LEGO tires through a simple > gearbox. And build > up some sort of tape guide from LEGO as well. > > Steve > Thanks. I have been playing with it today. When I read tapes using a 486 pc DOS 6.22, Dunfield's ptr program...I see the light blink as I carefully pull a test tape through the OP-80A but when I read the output in a hex editor all I see are C4 or 04 or whatever. No data. Trying variations. I may switch to sol80 tomorrow or even an altair with PIO, but then I run into issues capturing the data. Bill >
