UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Karen O · 5th Jul 2020, 3:29 pm

I've noticed something that is probably a US phenomenon: addition of a current loop interface to something like a Mark 8 (an early switches and LEDs machine) to enable it to drive a teletype. Add some memory and you could be running BASIC on said machine.

I can't see that expansion path ever working in the UK. Who in the 1970s owned a teletype? Or any kind of terminal for that matter?

No, a BASIC-capable machine for the UK market just had to have a built-in keyboard and VDU, and that meant a big cost jump.

So who were buying the systems with current loop interfaces on them?

5th Jul 2020, 3:29 pm	#364
Karen O Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 787	Re: Recreating the Bywood Scrumpi I've noticed something that is probably a US phenomenon: addition of a current loop interface to something like a Mark 8 (an early switches and LEDs machine) to enable it to drive a teletype. Add some memory and you could be running BASIC on said machine. I can't see that expansion path ever working in the UK. Who in the 1970s owned a teletype? Or any kind of terminal for that matter? No, a BASIC-capable machine for the UK market just had to have a built-in keyboard and VDU, and that meant a big cost jump. So who were buying the systems with current loop interfaces on them?