Teletype Model 33 ASR

• Some Background:

  • History: ASCII, Unix and the ASR33
  • So, what exactly is a Teletype terminal?
  • About This Project

• Getting Connected:

  • There are lots of options for connecting a Teletype to a computer.
  • I've built some quite simple custom Hardware: electronics to operate the 20mA current-loop, and Firmware: using a Teensy microcontroller for a modern USB connection.
  • Connecting to MacOS and to a Raspberry Pi (with some getty and terminfo Unix archaeology, and a kernel patch for linux)

• Making It Useful:

  • Applications including command-line utilities for the tty user. Includes scripts to print words on papertape, connect to LambdaMoo, print emoji, play zork or Wordle, run state-of-the art language AI, connect to bbs and old mainframes, and more.
  • Using CUPS to make the Teletype appear as a network printer.
  • ASCII Art using the unique features of an antique hard-copy terminal, including overstrike.
  • Paper Tape Art too.

• Photos

Follow along – and dive in please! – here on GitHub, and @33asr on Twitter. And check out my Etsy store!

The contents of this project are published under the MIT license, let me know what you do with it!