schneider@vlnvax.DEC (03/05/85)
Does anyone have information on attaching a timer to one's
cassette deck? I have a Nak BX-1 and would like information regarding
types of timers available (electronic is almost essential), potential
hazards to the tape deck, cost of the unit, etc. I'd like to know as much
as possible so if anyone uses one, let me know. Please respond by mail.
I'm never sure I see everything that is posted.
Daniel Schneider
{...decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vlnvax!schneiderabc@brl-tgr.ARPA (Brint Cooper ) (03/07/85)
I'd appreciate it if any responses to the referenced request were also posted to this group. Thanks. Brint
cliff@unmvax.UUCP (03/07/85)
> Does anyone have information on attaching a timer to one's > cassette deck? I have a Nak BX-1 and would like information regarding > types of timers available (electronic is almost essential), potential > hazards to the tape deck, cost of the unit, etc. I'd like to know as much > as possible so if anyone uses one, let me know. Please respond by mail. > I'm never sure I see everything that is posted. I have my entire stereo wired through a power strip that is plugged into a "BX-10 appliance module", you know those little gizmos you can get at Radio Shack (or through DAK) that allow you to use a remote control, or a telephone, or a timer (or a rs232 interface through heathkit). I too have a Nak BX-1 and I run mine on timer mode this way quite frequently (It is nice to wake up to Jerry and friends...). Since my Hafler 220 is clever about abrupt power changes I don't have to worry about speaker damage when everything is turned on or off at the same time. Too bad my VCR doesn't have a mode for timer *playback* or I could program it so I could go to sleep listening to the first set of a Grateful Dead concert and be awakened by the second set (VCR goes into my Nak DMP-100...). --Cliff
sjc@angband.UUCP (Steve Correll) (03/08/85)
A frequent problem with plugging a tape recorder into a timer which
switches the 120VAC power on and off is that you must leave the
recorder in the "play" state and rely on the power to start and stop
it. If the recorder's mechanism uses rubber pucks or pinch-rollers,
they may become dented from remaining engaged in a single position for
hours at a time, and subsequently cause wow or flutter.
Not being familiar with the Nakamichi BX-1 mentioned in the original
posting, I don't know whether this warning applies. I vaguely recall
that some Technics models sense a power-on pulse electronically and
switch their mechanisms from "stop" to "play" mode if a cassette is
present, then back to "stop" mode when they reach the end of the tape.
If your deck uses electrons rather than levers to communicate between
the front panel and the mechanism, and you're handy with electricity,
and you're not averse to messing around inside the deck, you could
leave the deck powered on and use the timer to control a relay which
presses the "play" and "stop" buttons electronically.
--
--Steve Correll
sjc@s1-b.ARPA, ...!decvax!decwrl!mordor!sjc, or ...!ucbvax!dual!mordor!sjcrlm@lanl.ARPA (03/14/85)
> > Does anyone have information on attaching a timer to one's > cassette deck? I have a Nak BX-1 and would like information regarding > types of timers available (electronic is almost essential), potential > hazards to the tape deck, cost of the unit, etc. I'd like to know as much > as possible so if anyone uses one, let me know. Please respond by mail. > I'm never sure I see everything that is posted. > > Daniel Schneider > {...decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vlnvax!schneider For about $25 I purchased a timer from Radio Shack (it's brand name is something like Micronta). I find it works very well, and has a battery back-up to maintain time through short power outages (it did loose several minutes during our 20 hour outage in December). I have my tuner plugged into it, and my tape deck plugged into the switched outlet on the back of the tuner. The only disadvantage I have found is that if the stereo is on, powered through the timer, it goes off in the event of a brief power fluctuation (which is not infrequent in our area). Of course this would really be a problem only if it happened while recording a radio program when I wasn't at home, but that hasn't happened yet. There are more expensive timers available, but this one seems to do all that I need. As far as the effect on your deck goes, that depends upon the type of deck you have. The newer decks are all electronic and must have a timer switch (so that it automatically goes into record or playback mode when the timer switches the stereo on). This will cause no harm to your deck, and the deck is designed to work that way. If your deck is all electronic and has no such switch you are out of luck. (Be sure to remember to turn the switch to 'off' when not using the timer or you might accidentally over-record a tape.) If your record and playback switches are mechanical then you can cause deforming of the pinch rollers if you leave the deck in record or playback position for an extended period of time. I hope this is of some help. I'm really glad I got my timer, both for recording radio programs I don't want to miss when I'm away, and for turning on the news in the morning.