161 lines
7.2 KiB
Plaintext
161 lines
7.2 KiB
Plaintext
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The MeEkO Box!!
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Welcome to the Meeko Box! Designed by Meeko 1994.
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-------------------------------------------------
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Once you have built this you will wonder how you ever managed to go without
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it! This is a multi purpose box. These are the features...
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1.> It is able to record telephone conversations with excellent quality.
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2.> It is able to play a source directly into the phone line.
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3.> It can keep the phone line open.
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4.> You can box without using a phone, and headphones!! Only your modem,
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and a monitor / HiFi if you wish!!!
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The following are needed for the box:-
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------------------------------------
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1 x 600 ohm - 600 ohm Isolating Transformer (from RS catalogue (217-826))
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1 x 680 ohm resistor (approximately)
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1 x D.P.D.T Switch
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1 x S.P.D.T Switch
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1 x S.P.S.T Switch
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1 x Telephone Extension Lead (with socket and plug - ie. from Tandy's)
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1 x Stereo Phono Lead
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Some wire, soldering skills, and patience!!
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Look at the accompanying files (IFF, GIF, and PCX versions supplied) for
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the wiring diagram.
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Notes on schematics:-
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-------------------
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Only 2 wires of the telephone are connected out of the 4 present. The third
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is used as the Earth, and the fourth is not connected. You must wire either
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of the two wires which operate the line (the red, or the white, if a
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telephone extension lead from Tandy's is used,) from the socket of the box
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to the common pin of the S.P.D.T Switch (usually the middle one.) Then, a
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wire must be taken from either of the other pins to the "F" Terminal of the
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Transformer. Then, either the red, or white wire of the plug (which goes
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from the box to the wall socket) according to the wire connected to the
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"F" Terminal must be connected to the "S" Terminal. (ie. If you connected
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the red wire of the box socket to the "F" Terminal, you must connect the
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red wire of the plug lead to the "S" Teminal.) A link wire must then be
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taken from the remaining pin of the S.P.D.T Switch to the "S" Terminal.
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Then, a 680 ohm resistor must be connected from the red wire (of the plug
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line) to a pin of a S.P.S.T Switch. Then, a link wire must be taken from
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the other pin to the white wire.
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On the Seconary Line of the Transformer, two link wires must be taken off,
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each to one of the common pins of the D.P.D.T Switch. Then, the phono
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lead must be connected as shown in the diagram. If you have followed these
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simple instructions correctly, you are now the owner of a Meeko Box!
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The extension lead you buy must be cut, so that the wires from the socket
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part are free, and also the wires from the plug end are free. The socket (a
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little plastic box) can then be mounted inside a box.
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Instructions of Use:-
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-------------------
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Either a phone or modem (or both, through a socket doubler) can be
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connected to the socket of the box. Then, the box is plugged into the wall
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socket. The S.P.D.T Switch can then be used to turn the box on or off (it
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is completely transparent when off.) The D.P.D.T Switch is used to select
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between Playing into the phone line, and recording from it. The S.P.S.T
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Switch is simply used to keep the line open or closed (explained later.)
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When playing into the phone line, it is best to take the output from the
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HiFi, or Monitor's headphone socket, so the volume level can be adjusted,
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rather than from a fixed output of the Video out socket of the HiFi (or
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whatever).
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The line quality will drop slightly when recording, and you will hear your
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voice in your ear at a higher level than you are used to. This is simply to
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stop yourself from talking too loudly; (your voice would then be recorded
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at a higher level than the other person's.)
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When using the box to play into the phone line, the quality does not drop
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at all. This is the best usage of the box! You can then box using this,
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rather than headphones, or your HiFi speaker!! You must either dial the
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0800 890 XXX number on your phone, or through your modem terminal (ATDT
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0800890XXX). Then, once you are connected to the international exchange,
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just use your BBing software to play into the HiFi, or Monitor, or
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whatever, and then into the phone line. (Best through headphone output.)
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You will then have to experiment to get the volume at the correct level.
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This will be much lower than if headphones were used, as it is much more
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efficient, and there is much less distortion.
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So, once you have got on the intenational exchange, (after the click - hey
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this is no boxing lesson!) You must send the usual break tone, and when you
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hear the kickback (harder through the modem speaker), just dial as usual!
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The call will connect!! You don't even need ATX1!! If you want to make
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another call after, you must use the switch which keeps the line open.
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(Note the resistor is there to stop the line from shorting - it is
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approximately the same resistance as a phone or modem offers.) Once the
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line is open, you can hang the modem, and then type ATX1D. Then box again!!
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Just by sending the seize tones, and the dial string! Once the other
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party's modem/phone is ringing, flick the switch back. (Note you can leave
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the switch closed, but the line quality may drop, so it is not advised.
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Also, you may find that you will forget, and when you come to hang up, and
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go out, you are still connected to the other party's line!!!!!) When boxing
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using the phone for voice calls, the switch to open the line is not used.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
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The box has been tested on an A1200, with Rox Box, NComm 3.02, a Sportster
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14.4K FAX Modem (UK model), and a Pioneer N92T HiFi system.
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This is the first version of the box, and an amplifier stage could be used
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at the secondary line of the transformer, and a potentiometer could be
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used as a record level selector. A filter could also be used to improve
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the record quality. Look out for later improvements to the box. If you have
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any suggestions for improvement or otherwise, you can reach me (Meeko) on
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most of the UK BBS's, and the main US BBS's.
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Note it is possible to sample your voice using a microphone into your
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computer, and change the effect in real time (to robot, or echo mode, for
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example) and then play this into the phone line!! This really confuses
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people! If you find any more uses for this box, then do let me know!
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The switch for keeping the line open can also be used as a privacy switch,
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if your phone does not have one. (Just turn it on, and hang up your phone -
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the other party will still be connected - this is only usefull if you have
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phoned them, not if they have phoned you.)
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HaVe PhUn EvErYoNe!!!!
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________________________
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| |\/| |_ |_ |/ | | |
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| | | |__ |__ |\ |__| |
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|________________________|
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Hi-ReS UK
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Greetz go to the following d00dz:-
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Blackthorn, Sync, THC, Harl, Tranzic, Mini Master, Sonny, Zealot, Scojack,
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Phantasm, Z-N0TE, Art, AmericA, Mr. Happy, Pink Floyd, Swinger, James,
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and all other peeps I have missed!
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Oh, and not forgetting the lovely BT, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, and all of
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the other "excellent" telecommunications companies!!!!
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