A bit OT, but I know that there are several here who have worked in the
comms environment for some years !

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology? I've just revived one that the previous owner had left
the batteries in for years and corrosion was rampant. I was quite surprised
how much electronics was inside hence the question. I've been using a
different RS232 signal patch / monitor for years that has no electronics in
it at all.

Nice unit but it's also be nice to know a bit more about it. (I've a
Tektonix 834 for analysing more complex issues, but this Interfaker must
have more capabilites than at first meet the eye.)

Andrew

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

I thought it was just a 25pin to 25pin breakout with the usual LEDs, DIP
switches and jumper wires? My Componodex Miniscope seems to have been
trampled by an elephant ...

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

I thought it was just a 25pin to 25pin breakout with the usual LEDs, DIP
switches and jumper wires? My Componodex Miniscope seems to have been
trampled by an elephant ...


Yes so did I - it has quite a few ic's - possibly they are just buffers to
avoid loading - not easy to see what they are due to the sandwich
construction. The Interfaker 3 took a 9 volt battery, and this Interfaker 4
takes three AA cells giving 4.5 v so another possibility is it has a charge
pump inverter to generate +- 9 volts. Nicely made kit.

Andrew

Trampled? Perhaps you had it connected to a phone line while making a trunk
call?
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...
Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

I thought it was just a 25pin to 25pin breakout with the usual LEDs, DIP
switches and jumper wires? My Componodex Miniscope seems to have been
trampled by an elephant ...

On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:01:10 -0000, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
news:B_Wdnabq1pkQrULJnZ2dnUVZ8kSdnZ2d@brightview. co.uk...

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

I thought it was just a 25pin to 25pin breakout with the usual LEDs, DIP
switches and jumper wires? My Componodex Miniscope seems to have been
trampled by an elephant ...


Yes so did I - it has quite a few ic's - possibly they are just buffers to
avoid loading - not easy to see what they are due to the sandwich
construction. The Interfaker 3 took a 9 volt battery, and this Interfaker 4
takes three AA cells giving 4.5 v so another possibility is it has a charge
pump inverter to generate +- 9 volts. Nicely made kit.


Maybe it's got the intelligence to auto join up two "randomly"
connected RS232 devices rather than leaving it to the operator to work
out what I recall was sometimes a bit of a black art?

--
AnthonyL

On 14/02/2015 19:14, AnthonyL wrote:
On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:01:10 -0000, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

I thought it was just a 25pin to 25pin breakout with the usual LEDs, DIP
switches and jumper wires? My Componodex Miniscope seems to have been
trampled by an elephant ...


Yes so did I - it has quite a few ic's - possibly they are just buffers to
avoid loading - not easy to see what they are due to the sandwich
construction. The Interfaker 3 took a 9 volt battery, and this Interfaker 4
takes three AA cells giving 4.5 v so another possibility is it has a charge
pump inverter to generate +- 9 volts. Nicely made kit.


Maybe it's got the intelligence to auto join up two "randomly"
connected RS232 devices rather than leaving it to the operator to work
out what I recall was sometimes a bit of a black art?

I have a feeling I have used one a long time ago... I don't think they
were particularly smart. Probably just had the ability to generate their
own RS232 voltage levels (using a Max232 or similar device), and perhaps
using battery power to illuminated the LEDs rather than line power.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"John Rumm" wrote in message
...

On 14/02/2015 19:14, AnthonyL wrote:
On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:01:10 -0000, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

SNIP

Maybe it's got the intelligence to auto join up two "randomly"
connected RS232 devices rather than leaving it to the operator to work
out what I recall was sometimes a bit of a black art?

I have a feeling I have used one a long time ago... I don't think they were
particularly smart. Probably just had the ability to generate their own
RS232 voltage levels (using a Max232 or similar device), and perhaps using
battery power to illuminated the LEDs rather than line power.


I think that you are right John - no intelligence as such just power
generation and buffering. I used to use one and others of a similar ilk back
in the 70's and early 80's but only as a temporary patch panel and monitor
to prove handshaking and making up a final cable to the same spec. I think
that the Interfaker was the one others tried to copy at a lower price as
they were stupidly expensive even then.


Andrew

On 15/02/2015 08:08, Andrew Mawson wrote:
"John Rumm" wrote in message
...

On 14/02/2015 19:14, AnthonyL wrote:
On Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:01:10 -0000, "Andrew Mawson"
wrote:

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
o.uk...

Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology?

SNIP

Maybe it's got the intelligence to auto join up two "randomly"
connected RS232 devices rather than leaving it to the operator to work
out what I recall was sometimes a bit of a black art?

I have a feeling I have used one a long time ago... I don't think they
were particularly smart. Probably just had the ability to generate
their own RS232 voltage levels (using a Max232 or similar device), and
perhaps using battery power to illuminated the LEDs rather than line
power.


I think that you are right John - no intelligence as such just power
generation and buffering. I used to use one and others of a similar ilk
back in the 70's and early 80's but only as a temporary patch panel and
monitor to prove handshaking and making up a final cable to the same
spec. I think that the Interfaker was the one others tried to copy at a
lower price as they were stupidly expensive even then.

Indeed... I still have a couple of RS232 boxes - one with lights,
another with switches and patch wires. Have not used them for years though.

I think the last time I used them was for working out the (very
unorthodox) handshaking used by a HP7475 plotter so I could make a lead
that would drive it.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...

I think that you are right John - no intelligence as such just power
generation and buffering. I used to use one and others of a similar ilk
back in the 70's and early 80's but only as a temporary patch panel and
monitor to prove handshaking and making up a final cable to the same
spec. I think that the Interfaker was the one others tried to copy at a
lower price as they were stupidly expensive even then.

Indeed... I still have a couple of RS232 boxes - one with lights, another
with switches and patch wires. Have not used them for years though.

I think the last time I used them was for working out the (very unorthodox)
handshaking used by a HP7475 plotter so I could make a lead that would
drive it.



I'm still using RS232 to talk to three CNC machines I play with in my home
workshop. (Beaver Partsmaster CNC mill, Traub 5 axis CNC lathe, and a Fanuc
Tapemaster CNC Wirec EDM machine) I even have one with paper tape input (the
Fanuc), and also have a paper tape reader / reperforator which itself has an
RS232 interface.

Old technology rules

Andrew

On 14/02/15 10:44, Andrew Mawson wrote:
A bit OT, but I know that there are several here who have worked in the
comms environment for some years !

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology? I've just revived one that the previous owner had
left the batteries in for years and corrosion was rampant. I was quite
surprised how much electronics was inside hence the question. I've been
using a different RS232 signal patch / monitor for years that has no
electronics in it at all.

Nice unit but it's also be nice to know a bit more about it. (I've a
Tektonix 834 for analysing more complex issues, but this Interfaker must
have more capabilites than at first meet the eye.)

Andrew
That takes me back. I don't remember it being terribly complicated, a
breakout with indicators and the option to pull lines high/low? It's
been a while though.

On Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:00:28 +0000, Andrew Mawson wrote:

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...

I think that you are right John - no intelligence as such just power
generation and buffering. I used to use one and others of a similar
ilk back in the 70's and early 80's but only as a temporary patch
panel and monitor to prove handshaking and making up a final cable to
the same spec. I think that the Interfaker was the one others tried to
copy at a lower price as they were stupidly expensive even then.

Indeed... I still have a couple of RS232 boxes - one with lights,
another with switches and patch wires. Have not used them for years
though.

I think the last time I used them was for working out the (very
unorthodox)
handshaking used by a HP7475 plotter so I could make a lead that would
drive it.



I'm still using RS232 to talk to three CNC machines I play with in my
home workshop. (Beaver Partsmaster CNC mill, Traub 5 axis CNC lathe, and
a Fanuc Tapemaster CNC Wirec EDM machine) I even have one with paper
tape input (the Fanuc), and also have a paper tape reader / reperforator
which itself has an RS232 interface.

Old technology rules

I have three UPS units that are monitored/controlled via RS232. Not to
mention three VAXes and a PDP-11 or three.

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £30a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On 15/02/2015 21:25, Bob Eager wrote:
On Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:00:28 +0000, Andrew Mawson wrote:

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...

I think that you are right John - no intelligence as such just power
generation and buffering. I used to use one and others of a similar
ilk back in the 70's and early 80's but only as a temporary patch
panel and monitor to prove handshaking and making up a final cable to
the same spec. I think that the Interfaker was the one others tried to
copy at a lower price as they were stupidly expensive even then.

Indeed... I still have a couple of RS232 boxes - one with lights,
another with switches and patch wires. Have not used them for years
though.

I think the last time I used them was for working out the (very
unorthodox)
handshaking used by a HP7475 plotter so I could make a lead that would
drive it.



I'm still using RS232 to talk to three CNC machines I play with in my
home workshop. (Beaver Partsmaster CNC mill, Traub 5 axis CNC lathe, and
a Fanuc Tapemaster CNC Wirec EDM machine) I even have one with paper
tape input (the Fanuc), and also have a paper tape reader / reperforator
which itself has an RS232 interface.

Old technology rules

I have three UPS units that are monitored/controlled via RS232. Not to
mention three VAXes and a PDP-11 or three.

I think I am down to a US Robotics sportster, and that is about it... Oh
and a Wacom tablet that I am still trying to get to play nice with x64
windows.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In article ,
"Andrew Mawson" writes:
A bit OT, but I know that there are several here who have worked in the
comms environment for some years !

Has anyone any technical information on the Interfaker 4 MT25-IV from
Modular Technology? I've just revived one that the previous owner had left
the batteries in for years and corrosion was rampant. I was quite surprised
how much electronics was inside hence the question. I've been using a
different RS232 signal patch / monitor for years that has no electronics in
it at all.

Nice unit but it's also be nice to know a bit more about it. (I've a
Tektonix 834 for analysing more complex issues, but this Interfaker must
have more capabilites than at first meet the eye.)

I used to use them a lot when designing/building X.25 packet switches
at GEC, 30 years ago. They didn't have a long life when constantly being
connected/disconnected from 25-way D-type connectors - the connectors
would fail after around a year's use. I took a couple of dead ones home
and mended them, and still have them somewhere (although I couldn't find
them when having a quick glance around just now). Mine are an earlier
model than yours.

They buffer the signals so they aren't loading the lines. When used with
clocked links (such as X.25), ISTR they also detect clocks on the clock
lines and show them more inteligently than just red and green flashing
too fast to see.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

In article ,
Bob Eager writes:
On Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:00:28 +0000, Andrew Mawson wrote:

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...
Indeed... I still have a couple of RS232 boxes - one with lights,
another with switches and patch wires. Have not used them for years
though.

I think the last time I used them was for working out the (very
unorthodox)
handshaking used by a HP7475 plotter so I could make a lead that would
drive it.



I'm still using RS232 to talk to three CNC machines I play with in my
home workshop. (Beaver Partsmaster CNC mill, Traub 5 axis CNC lathe, and
a Fanuc Tapemaster CNC Wirec EDM machine) I even have one with paper
tape input (the Fanuc), and also have a paper tape reader / reperforator
which itself has an RS232 interface.

Old technology rules

I have three UPS units that are monitored/controlled via RS232. Not to
mention three VAXes and a PDP-11 or three.

Several components of my home automation use RS232 - interfaces
to thermometers and thermostats, aircon, alarm, etc. Also some
RS485 multi-drop.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 14/02/2015 19:14, AnthonyL wrote:
Maybe it's got the intelligence to auto join up two "randomly"
connected RS232 devices rather than leaving it to the operator to work
out what I recall was sometimes a bit of a black art?

Several black artists here on this newsgroup!

The one I used to use had a PP3 battery. Suspect it was an Interfaker II
- but it was a while ago...

Andy

Hello
I would like to know how to remove the batteries out of the interfaced.
I've turned the end using 1/2p coin but cannot get the cover to eject.

Thanks

Bit vague that message.
Angle grinder?
grin.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
wrote in message
...
Hello
I would like to know how to remove the batteries out of the interfaced.
I've turned the end using 1/2p coin but cannot get the cover to eject.

Thanks

wrote:
Hello
I would like to know how to remove the batteries out of the interfaced.
I've turned the end using 1/2p coin but cannot get the cover to eject.

Thanks

The discoloration at the bottom of the hinge, hints at
where the batteries hide. 3xAA battery of some sort.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GCQAA...0N/s-l1600.jpg

Paul

On 01/06/2020 09:57, Paul wrote:
wrote:
Hello
I would like to know how to remove the batteries out of the interfaced.
I've turned the end using 1/2p coin but cannot get the cover to eject.

Thanks

The discoloration at the bottom of the hinge, hints at
where the batteries hide. 3xAA battery of some sort.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GCQAA...0N/s-l1600.jpg

Â*Â* Paul



In that case, the OP should shake it hard in the direction of the hinge?

If the batteries have corroded inside, it may be tricky opening the
battery compartment and even trickier removing the old batteries. If he
only uses it occasionally, it may be sensible to tape an external
battery holder on the outside and bypass teh internal batteries.

I see that someone has one of these on ebay for £150, but there's a mk3
for £8.

Hi I have an Interface 4, how do you remove the old batteries? I can turn the end with a coin but cannot seem to get anywhere.
Thanks

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy...t-1026381-.htm

On 27/08/2020 22:00, P lad wrote:
Hi I have an Interface 4, how do you remove the old batteries? I can
turn the end with a coin but cannot seem to get anywhere.
Thanks

Post a 'photo. I haven't seen one of those in 20 years, but I thought it
took a PP3. eBay photos seem to agree with me.

Andy