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Baudot and ASCII encryptor
- wanted item
The TST-9669 was a universal encryption/decryption system for
telex
signals (Baudot)
and computer data (ASCII),
developed and produced
by Tele Security Timmann (TST) in Tützing (Germany)
around 1982/83.
It was suitable for a wide variety of security solutions.
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The image on the right shows a typical TST-9669 unit in a
military-grade green enclosure, similar to that of the earlier
TST-4043
encryption unit. All connectors are at the front. The device
is powered directly from the 220V mains. The other connectors
are for the telex converter, a telex machine, a computer,
a telephone line (or radio) and the key loader.
The TST-9669 can be used both off-line and on-line and is
operated via the connected terminal (computer or telex).
Crypto keys are loaded by means of the dedicated TST-0706
(with TST-0502 key card)
or can be entered manually via the terminal.
The device is suitable for Latin-based languages
as well as Arabic.
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The TST-9669 was in fact so universal, that it was also used
as part of other cipher machines, such as the
TST-4043 data encryptor.
Furthermore, it was made available as an OEM board to third
party developers. One of the first applications was inside the
Siemens T-1000 teleprinter.
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Due to its small size, the 9669 board could be installed instead
of the line interface, rather than mounting it to the bottom
of the T-1000 as some other manufactuers did.
All configuration and key loading was done via the keyboard
of the T-1000 through the built-in user interface.
The image on the right shows a typical 9669 OEM board.
At the left of the PCB are the typical 25-way D-type connector
and the 4 LEDs. The board is built around a military-grade
NSC 8000 microprocessor (Z-80 compatible) with external RAM and an
EPROM containing the firmware.
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The cryptographic keys are retained in battery-backed static RAM
that can be wiped instantly when security is compromised.
In order to protect the design, the text was removed from some
of the ICs, as can be seen in the image above.
This was common practice in the early 1980s.
In the early 1990s, the NSC 8000 microprocessor was replaced
by the much cheaper Zilog Z-80.
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At the right side of the board is an expansion connector that
allows a small daughter card to be mounted on top.
For customers who wanted to use the encryptor for online
applications, it was possible to add a versatile modem
with built-in Forward Error Correction (FEC).
The image on the right shows the optional TST-082 daughter
card that could be mounted on top of the OEM version of the
9669. It has a fully equipped 300 baud HF-modem with FEC.
The card shown here was a smaller replacement for the earlier
design, and has a dedicated FEC chip.
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The TST-9669 and the OEM version of the 9669 board, were
very successfull and greatly boosted sales throughout the 1980s.
They were first shown to the public on the Military Electronics
Defence Expo (MEDE) in 1983 and became an instant success
with world-wide customers.
The OEM-version of the 9669 was later also used in the
TST-3550 Mark II,
where the basic 9669 board was mounted in a separate shell that
was bolted to the bottom of the TRS-80 Model 102 host computer.
In the early 1990, the TRS-80 replaced the original TI Silent 700
computer.
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The TST-9667 [3] is a variant of the TST-9669, which has similar
specifications, but different connectors. It connects directly
to a PC, a telex machine and a radio, but requires an external
modem for connecting it to a telephone line.
This was done to
circumvent the time-consuming approval procedures in certain countries.
By using an (already approved) external modem, no explicit approval
was needed for the TST-9667.
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Brochure kindly supplied by Helmuth (Jim) Meyer [1].
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© Copyright 2009-2013, Paul Reuvers & Marc Simons. Last changed: Monday, 12 August 2013 - 08:13 CET
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