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-
- ---The History of the HEX---
-
- The Handicapped Educational Exchange was developed under a grant from the
- Dept. of Education to serve the handicapped community. The first grant, in
- 1979, served to fund the development of a smaller system which was first
- placed into operation in the early part of 1980. It employed a 6800-based
- microcomputer, handled only one caller at a time, and served through the start
- of 1983. It was developed by Robert Bruninga of AMRAD, the Amateur Radio Re-
- search & Development Corporation, which was the grantee for this project.
-
- The hardware for the second system (HEX2) was bought under the second year
- of the grant. The system was designed and built by Richard Barth, an AMRAD
- member and a consultant in microcomputer applications to deaf communications.
-
- It employed a 6809, had a larger data storage capacity and greater speed, and
- could handle several users at the same time. It was connected to two phone
- lines. It began running part time for tests in March of 1983, and started
- operational service in April of that year.
-
- The current system operates on an XT clone with 640K of RAM and a 30 meg
- hard disk. The software was written in the C programming language by Richard
- Barth. It accepts calls from Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf
- (TDD/TTYs) and at 300 baud ASCII using a Model CM-4 modem by Phone- TTY Inc. of
- Hackensack NJ. A separate line will operate at 300 and 1200 baud once softwa-
- re debugging is complete, using an Everex modem.
-
- Design, construction and operation of the HEX are unfunded, the costs being
- shared by AMRAD and the system operator. AMRAD, the Amateur Radio R&D Corp.,
- is described in a separate INFO file.
-
-
- ______________________________________________________________________________
-
- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TTDs or TTYs :
-
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE DEAF
-
- There are over 3000 Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf in use in the
- greater Washington D.C. area and estimates range as high as 25,000 nationally.
-
- The deaf have been using these devices for over fifteen years, to communicate
- among themselves and more recently, with a growing number of organizations
- with TTY numbers to allow phone access to deaf users. See the INFO files for
- some numbers. Although originally the majority of devices were surplus
- "teletype" machines donated by the phone company and the military, these
- mechanical printers are rapidly being replaced by more modern devices offering
- special features as well as reductions in size and weight. A portable device
- about the size of a calculator is available for under $200.
-
- The following shows the differences between the modems used. The owner of
- a computer can rather easily modify his software to convert between the ASCII
- code used in microcomputers and the code used by the deaf TTY. Often, it is
- harder to get a modem which is compatible both with a computer and with the
- TTY. The usual procedure is to convert an ASCII (Bell-103 compatible) modem
- or build a TTY modem from scratch.
-
- There are several differences between protocols used by ASCII terminals
- and by the TTY. The following attempts to clarify these.
-
-
- ASCII DATA DEAF TDD
- FEATURE COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS
- ------- ------------------ --------------
-
- CODE ASCII Baudot
-
- SPEED 110/300 baud 45.45 baud
-
- MODE full/half-duplex 2 way simplex
-
- MODEM Bell 103 ORIG/ANS Weitbrecht
-
- MARK ORIG 1270 Hz 1400 Hz
- ANS 2225 Hz
-
- SPACE ORIG 1070 Hz 1800 Hz
-
- ANS 2025 Hz
-
-
- In the Weitbrecht modem, tones are only transmitted for the duration of the
- character so the line is available for transmission in either direction. In
- practice the mark tone is retained for as much as a half second before being
- squelched.
-
- Notice also that the mark is high for the Bell 103 and is the low tone for
- the Weitbrecht. This means that in converting a a Bell 103 modem to TTY use,
- the data will be inverted from RS-232 and the mark hold circuitry will need
- to be inverted.
-
- Line supervision is also different in these modems. In -103 protocol, the
- presence of the tone carriers gives positive indication of the status of each
- end of the link. In the Weitbrecht case, however, the absence of tones except
- while characters are being transmitted results in there being no positive way
- to test the status of the other end of the communications link. To aid the
- deaf, a lamp is provided on most Weitbrecht modems which varies in intensity
- proportional to signals on the line so that the ringing and busy signals are
- recognizable.
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________________
-
- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THE SPONSOR OF HEX BBS :
-
- ---AMRAD---
-
- The Amateur Radio Research and Development Corporation (AMRAD) is a group
- of radio amateurs and computer experimenters based in the Washington D.C.
- area. Many of its members are professionals in the engineering, communications
- , and computer fields.
-
- The group meets the first Monday of each month in the Patrick Henry Library
- in Vienna, Virginia. Meetings begin at 7:30 and continue through 9:00 PM. A
- speaker on some technical subject of interest is heard at each meeting;
- interpreters are provided upon request for deaf persons attending.
-
- AMRAD operates a bulletin board on (703) 734-1387 which runs 24 hours a day
- and deals with general hobby-oriented subjects. The operator is Terry Fox,
- WB4JFI. The HEX, also run by AMRAD, is operated by Richard Barth, W3HWN. AMRAD
- operates a radio repeater on 147.81/21 MHz, which is available to any licensed
- radio amateur. The chief maintainer of the repeater is Jeff Brennan, WB4WLW. It
- carries both voice and digital traffic. Another AMRAD repeater is operated by
- Sandy Sanders, WB5MMB on 147.585 MHz and operates simplex, carrying packetized
- data only.
-
- AMRAD is involved in a number of technical experiments, which currently
- include packet switching of computer data and spread spectrum communications in
- the amateur bands. Plans are underway, in cooperation with AMSAT, to develop
- international packet switching networks via amateur satellite.
-
- Dues for AMRAD are $15.00 a year, and include a monthly newsletter which
- provides a summary of work in progress and serves to tie together members
- throughout the world.
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________________
-
- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> USING COMPUTERS AS TDDS:
-
- ---COMPUTER TDDs---
-
- It is possible to use a home computer as a TDD. This requires programming to
- convert the ASCII code used by the computer to the Baudot code used by the TDD,
- and vice versa. It is usually necessary to add a special modem, unique to the
- TDD, that is named after its developer, Robert Weitbrecht. A description of
- this modem, and the characteristics of the TDD, are in INFO file T.
-
- John W. Spalding of Atlanta, Georgia has developed programs for the Radio
- Shack Color Computer which permit it to serve as a TDD without the need for a
- special modem. This design is a major breakthrough since unavailability of
- these modems has been a problem for those trying to make a computer talk to a
- TDD. Mr. Spalding has placed his creations in the public domain, making them
- available without charge to anyone who wants them. He has sent HEX the source
- code; you may read it by downloading TDD54.ZIP and TDD56.ZIP from file area
- two.
-
- All CoCo software is in assembly language for the 6809. They are source
- only; machine code is not included. If you want a paper copy including machine
- language, send a stamped self addressed business envelope to:
-
- Handicapped Educational Exchange
- 11523 Charlton Drive
- Silver Spring MD 20902
-
- Machine code for TDD3.5 is available from HEX on cassette tape and for TDD4.3
- in a 2716 EPROM. The EPROM must be mounted in a ROM pack to be inserted in the
- side of the CoCo. An empty ROM pack is available for $9.95 from Spectrum
- Projects, P.O. BOX 21272, Woodhaven NY 11421 or call (718) 441-2807. Other
- sources for these ROM packs may also be available. When you have received your
- ROM pack, contact HEX for information on getting an EPROM.
-
- Mr. Spalding has also written TDD software for the IBM-PC that, like his
- CoCo software, does not require a modem. This is also in the public domain and
- will be provided gratis to anyone who sends HEX a blank, 5 1/2 inch floppy disk
- and return postage. A users' manual covering design and use of both the PC and
- CoCo software comes with the code.
-
- While neither the CoCo nor the IBM-PC TDDs requires a modem, it is necessary
- to couple the computers to the phone line. Mr. Spalding's way of doing this is
- with a Radio Shack telephone amplifier. Design details on this are available
- from HEX, if you're willing to modify the amplifier according to instructions.
- If you prefer to get your equipment ready to plug in, the modified amplifier is
- available from John Steele, 2100 North New Road, Waco TX 76707. It plugs into,
- and can be used with, either the CoCo or IBM-PC using the Spalding software.
-
- Mark Becker has developed a program for the Altair 680b using the 6800
- microprocessor which is intended to be used for radio teletype. It provides
- conversion between ASCII and Baudot, and can be adapted to permit other
- 6800-series machines to work as TDDs. It is also in the public domain, and is
- in INFO file C3.
-
- Conversions for the Apple, TRS-80 model I, Atari 400, Pet, Smoke Signal
- Chieftain 6800 and 6809 machines were done by various members of AMRAD, the
- group which sponsors the HEX. Design information and software for these are in
- the public domain and can be obtained for the price of reproduction and mailing
- (roughly 12 cents a page) from AMRAD's Corresponding Secretary, Howard F.
- Cunningham. He may be reached at:
-
- AMRAD
- P.O. Drawer 6148
- McLean VA 22106-6148
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________________
-
- >>>>>>>> PURPOSE OF HANDICAPPED EDUCATION EXCHANGE ( HEX BBS ) :
-
- ---The Purpose of HEX---
-
- The Handicapped Educational Exchange (HEX) computer system was developed
- under a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education.
- It serves two functions:
-
- 1. It is a clearinghouse for information regarding the use of
- microcomputers, and other modern technology, to aid the handicapped.
- Information provided by users, and gleaned by the operator from technical
- literature and personal correspondence, is entered into the files and made
- available to anyone having an interest in this field. We welcome news of work
- in progress, as well as advertisements for services and devices related to
- the handicapped.
-
- 2. It serves as a demonstration of the use of microcomputers to provide a
- message system for the deaf. While there ate hundreds of computer bulletin
- boards in this country, there are, to my knowledge, only three
- microcomputer-based boards which are capable of being accessed by the deaf
- using a TTY. The HEX serves a number of deaf users, who employ it as a means
- of exchanging messages and information of mutual interest. The technology
- employed in the HEX is readily reproducible by anyone interested in providing
- a similar service for deaf communities elsewhere. Information is available
- from the
- operator.
-
-
- _____________________________________________________________________________
-
- >>>>>>>>>>> ASCII / BAUDOT CODE CONVERSION :
-
- >>> send.c -- from the code for pc-hex tdd-=compatible bbs system.
-
- provides ascii/baudot code conversion
-
- copyright 1990 richard barth, all rights reserved.
-
- questions, comments and suggestions to:
- handicapped educational exchange (hex)
- 11523 charlton drive
- silver spring md 20902
-
- bbs: (301) 593-7033 (tdd and 300 baud ascii)
- 593-7357 (300/1200 baud ascii only, 8n1)
- <<<
-
- /* baudot code constants used for tty communications */
-
- #define ucase 0x20 /* upper case flag */
- #define lcase 0 /* lower case flag */
- #define ushift 0x1b /* upshift character */
- #define dshift 0x1f /* downshift character */
-
- static int shift; /* =ucase if a tty caller is in uppers, else =lcase */
-
- ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
-
- ** these routines convert ascii to baudot and transmit it, and translate a
- received baudot character to ascii.
-
- the uart must be initialized for the correct word structure (5 data bits,
- 1.5 stop bits, no parity, 45.5 baud) by the calling program.
-
- following is a table of ascii characters in the order in which they occur
- in the baudot code. certain baudot characters which do not exist in ascii
- are represented by nulls. the baudot null (all zero) character is normally
- used as a backspace on ttys, and is so represented in this table.
-
- note that while several variations of the baudot code exist, this table
- follows the "military standard" version used by the tty.
- **
-
- TABLE CONTINUED:____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
-
- tatic
- char bdotbl[]= { '\b', 'e', '\n', 'a', ' ', 's', 'i', 'u', /* lower case */
- '\r', 'd', 'r', 'j', 'n', 'f', 'c', 'k',
- 't', 'z', 'l', 'w', 'h', 'y', 'p', 'q',
- 'o', 'b', 'g', 0 , 'm', 'x', 'v', 0 ,
-
- '\b', '3', '\n', '-', ' ', 7 , '8', '7', /* upper case */
- '\r', '$', '4','\'', ',', '!', ':', '(',
- '5', '\"', ')', '2', 0 , '6', '0', '1',
- '9', '?', '&', 0 , '.', '/', ';', 0 };
-
-
- TABLE CONTINUED:____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
-
- baudout(c) /* convert ascii to baudot and send it */
- int c;
- {
- int i;
-
- for (i = 0; i < 64; i++) {
- if (bdotbl[i] == c) { /* if character is found in the table */
- if ((i >= 32) && !shift) { /* if needed, send shift */
- while (com_writ(ushift)==0) /* char and set flag */
- ;
- shift = ucase;
- }
- else if ((i < 32) && shift) {
- while (com_writ(dshift)==0)
- ;
- shift = lcase;
- }
- while (com_writ(i)==0) /* send baudot character */
- ;
- return (i); /* and return its value */
- }
- }
- return (-1); /* if not found, return -1 */
- }
-
- TABLE CONTINUED:____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
-
- b2a(c) /* translate a baudot character to ascii */
- int c;
- {
- c &= 0x1f; /* mask to 5 bits */
- if (c == ushift) { /* process shift characters */
- shift = ucase;
- return (0);
- }
- if (c == dshift) {
- shift = lcase;
- return (0);
- }
- c = (c | shift); /* mark others for proper case */
- return (c = bdotbl[c]); /* convert to ascii and return */
- }
-
- _____________________________________________________________________________
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