Hello From Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

[Shackle]

Hi All,

Thanks for allowing me to join the forum. I collect Telecom Australia era communications equipment, and especially like to have things I can make use of in some capacity or another. I currently have a home PABX, Pager and Mini GSM BTS.

I was recently given the opportunity to purchase and retrieve a Sagem TX-20 from a prominent local department store which is closing down. The owner luckily identified that some of the old machinery was worth preserving, and was happy to sell it to me cheaply. I found a local company that could make ribbons and was able to get the machine working again pretty well.

I've used a currnet loop converter to read signals sent from the Telex machine with no issues, but have reached the end of my software abilities. I'd love some guidance from this group on what modules to buy and what to do next, so it can take up a position in my home office and send or receive a few emails!

Excited to be a part of the group!

Thanks,

Nick

[VK1DSH]

Hi Nick,

Nice to see another subscriber in Australia!

Look at the hardware page on the main website ( https://www.i-telex.net/hardware/ ) and that gives you a good description of what hardware is required to connect to i-telex. I recently purchased the transformer and power supply, the Ethernet and TW39 cards and installed them in a card frame. You will also need an interface between the TW39 card and your machine and there are various ways of doing that. The technical requirements are given on the i-telex Wiki ( https://wiki.telexforum.de/index.php?ti ... n_(Teil_2) ) and some designs have been described on the forum in recent times. I can send you the details I what I did if that is useful. You will also need to configure your internet router and unless you have a fixed IP address you, will need some type of Dynamic DNS service. None of it is especially complicated to setup, again I can give you the details of what I did if that is helpful to you.

I currently have a Kleinschmidt TT-4 teleprinter and use that with the above hardware on the i-telex network (though I'm offline for a little while because of an annoying machine problem, hopefully not too long...) I think you will find i-telex as fascinating as I have.

Regards
Dale
Canberra, ACT
i-telex: 570418

[VK1DSH]

One more thing I forgot to add, there are other Australian i-telex subscribers as well, Richard on the Queensland Gold coast and Bambi in Brisbane are very active. So you will have some teletype company!

[bambi]

Hello Nick:

Thank you for your message. Currently there are five I-TELEX operators in Australia - it could be great if you decide to be No. 6 *smiles*. (Currently Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide)

I also have a SAGEM TX-20. What color scheme is yours? It came in blue, gray and brown I think. Sadly mine is brown. One of the first things I did was to place a LED strip under the lid to illuminate the printer.

Excellent work on sourcing the ribbons - perhaps you could share that information?

These terminals back in the day were really made to be used like email - prepare the message and send it.
So as I am sure you have discovered, typing 'live' makes for challenging reading as the print head is in the way, and it is not oscillating as the mechanical machines do.

Henning and the other members here will be able to get you sorted with an I-TELEX setup I am sure.
-byes- bambi in Brisbane

[Shackle]

Hello Nick,

welcome to the forum.
Your TX20 is directly connectable to the i-Telex system with double current TW39 card, which is available
now also.
No need to build a FSG (remote control unit) as for single current mechanical machines.

Have fun!

[Shackle]

Thanks for that!

Mine is also brown with the Telecom Service stickers still on it. It's in pretty good condition all over, just missing the document holder arm. Everything in the building I got it out of was brown, come to think of it!

They're called "Dial-A-Ribbon" and have an eBay store, or can be contacted at 0487 878 848. They work out of Hunter's Hotel in Queenstown Tas, where I often find myself for work.

[bambi]

Hello Nick: Thank you for that information. Did you receive any manuals etc. with your unit?
I ask as I have most of them already scanned and I could make those available if you require.
One thing I DID do was to replace the leaked NiMH battery. I presume this is to store the call numbers back in the day.
Mine had leaked on the backboard quite extensively.
-byes- bambi

[Shackle]

Thanks for that! Mine hasn't leaked, but it's a good idea to replace it regardless!

I got the users manual with the unit, and found the others online, but I appreciate the offer. It's one of those things, I focused heavily on getting it working and then thought, "it'd be nice to plug this into something!"

Oh, and one last interesting thing about the machine. Pressing "Here IS" types out "Morris AA58750"

[Shackle]

Oh, and one last interesting thing about the machine. Pressing "Here IS" types out "Morris AA58750"

Great that the historical original answerback is still installed. It's common to keep it original if still installed.

So, you already know your future i-Telex number: 58750