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Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
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While trying to get the HV oscillator working I noticed that only 5V was going into the voltage regulator IC... which at least needs 9.5 to run.
Since the entire thing runs on 4 C batteries I figured there must be a booster of some sort in there. It wasn't in any of the boxes, but the tape recorder looked like it had been modified.
Well look at that, a crystal oscillator and logic ICs. All Cmos, made by RCA. It still oscillates since there's a 1Mhz clipped sine on the crystal. This might be a 1Hz clock, which would explain the 1Hz beeps that are recorded on the tape...
These ICs... were expensive. This tape recorder, a stereo, remote controlled cassette desk came out in 1969. Also, very expensive. There's no way a grad student could afford to buy any of this, nor would they put the effort into etching these very nice PCBs. Or for that matter, folding, riveting and *welding* sheet aluminum.
I'm pretty certain this thing is a los alamos prototype.
Still have no idea how to get this HV oscillator going though. One mosfet, one BJT, no inductor and a 1.2Gohms feedback resistor into the mosfet gate. The hell is this.
Edit: Yep, 1Hz clock. I think these beeps just raised the awesome factor by about 200.
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