Paper Tape Reader (Manual operation), Vintage Reader for S-100 computers For Sale
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Paper Tape Reader (Manual operation), Vintage Reader for S-100 computers:
$250.00
NOTE: This is a presale item. I will be making a limited run, because of requests. If there is enough interest, in first 10 days, I will have boards ready to ship within the 30 days required by . Only the first 10 will be sold at this discounted price. Please understand that this item cannot ship until boards are received and assembled. I expect around 2 weeks but certainly guaranteed ready to ship within \'s 30 day period. This listing will only run 5 days.
This is another of my retro designs. It is a Paper Tape Reader, which I have dubbed TR-01.This tape reader works by pulling the tape across the photo transistors. The design was intended to have a retro look, like some of the older designs, and uses the parallel interface on vintage computers. As the holes pass over thephoto transistor, they will turn on the appropriate data bits, which are transmitted to a computer. You can use thisto transfer programs to a computer using the integrated parallel interface.
Works with any vintage computer that has parallel interface. You can also connect to Arduino and upload via USB.The TR-01 has hardware handshake to signal Data Ready,to your vintage or modern computer, and has an Acknowlege signal to clear the Data Ready. There is also a status bit that hasoptional use, and is driven by the program running on a PC (software not included to transfer data). In addition to thecomputer interface,there are also 9 LEDs to display the data and Ready bit. There are 8 red led\'s for data, green LED for the READYbit, a power LED and a status LED. These allow demonstration, without connecting to a computer.
This is the perfect accessory to demonstrate early mass storage using your Altair, IMSAI or SOL Computer. The video demonstrates theoperation of the reader by reading a few demonstration tape.
Video of working board
Early computers used this method for program entry. But readers are hard to come by, as are programs.
I have designed a matching light source to go with this (SEE VIDEO). It consists of a daughter board that sits slightly abovethe photo-transistors. This light source provides a very reliable and well channeled light to the photo transistors.This integrated light board is very low-profile adding less than 1/4\" to the height.
The boards have been professionally manufactured and I will alsoprovide the schematic for this, to the winner. You should have a lot of fun with this reader.
Note: I got a nice comment from one person who felt the price was too high. I would tend to agree, IF I was making 10,000 of these and having them assembled off-shore. But I\'m not, I am making only 10 of these, to keep my cost manageable, and that runs the cost up.
What may not be obvious in the listing is:
* There are 3 circuit boards, to make the the tape move freely and not grab the diodes. 3 boards cost more in small quantity
* There are 18 tiny diodes that cost $70 alone, in small quantities
* There is cost in other misc parts and ICs
* And it takes a couple hours to assemble and test, to make sure absolutely reliable.With individual diodes and not an array, this would be a risky and costly step to try and Tape Reader (with integrated light source)
I will be happy to answer any questions you have, prior to ordering. You may pick this up, in person, if you are local.
