PM
Peter McCollum
Mon, Jan 19, 2026 3:17 AM
A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
(days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
"Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
N.M.).
I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
Thanks for any comments!
Pete
A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
(days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
"Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
N.M.).
I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
Thanks for any comments!
Pete
PM
Peter McCollum
Tue, Jan 27, 2026 9:17 PM
Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
(digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
a switch - the slowest rate is 10 minutes to send a complete 100-bit
frame.
Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
conditions.
Pete
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum saipan1959@gmail.com wrote:
A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
(days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
"Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
N.M.).
I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
Thanks for any comments!
Pete
Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
(digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
a switch - the slowest rate is *10 minutes* to send a complete 100-bit
frame.
Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
conditions.
Pete
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum <saipan1959@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
> It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
> (days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
> chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
> It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
> "Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
> N.M.).
> I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
> By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
> Thanks for any comments!
>
> Pete
V
vilgotch1@gmail.com
Wed, Jan 28, 2026 6:19 AM
I have a very similar device model 3000-201 made by the now defunct Datachron in Anaheim CA which might even be the same as Datatron with a slightly different name. I’m using it to display the IRIG-B time code generated by a microcontroller which translates the NMEA code from a GPS receiver. The logic is all DTL on several large PCBs that are stacked on top of each other. The DTL DIP chips are surface mounted with their leads bent out from the body and soldered onto traces on top of the boards so replacing them with socketed TTL is easy. The power supply was unregulated when I got it which might have led to failure of quite a few of the DTL chips, most of which were replaceable with LSTTL although the flip flops are a bit different and needed some workarounds. I’m in Australia with 230 volt mains and I managed to fit a modern low dropout regulator into it as the +5 volt rail ran a bit high. Regrettably there is no 230 volt primary option so it runs with a stepdown transformer.
I think the slow and reverse code feature is to allow tapes or other media to be searched slowly in either direction at reduced speed. I’ve kept the circuitry for that in mine but will never need it. The DTL circuitry is not always reliable and does need resetting from time to time but I do love the nixie glow.
Morris
I have a very similar device model 3000-201 made by the now defunct Datachron in Anaheim CA which might even be the same as Datatron with a slightly different name. I’m using it to display the IRIG-B time code generated by a microcontroller which translates the NMEA code from a GPS receiver. The logic is all DTL on several large PCBs that are stacked on top of each other. The DTL DIP chips are surface mounted with their leads bent out from the body and soldered onto traces on top of the boards so replacing them with socketed TTL is easy. The power supply was unregulated when I got it which might have led to failure of quite a few of the DTL chips, most of which were replaceable with LSTTL although the flip flops are a bit different and needed some workarounds. I’m in Australia with 230 volt mains and I managed to fit a modern low dropout regulator into it as the +5 volt rail ran a bit high. Regrettably there is no 230 volt primary option so it runs with a stepdown transformer.
I think the slow and reverse code feature is to allow tapes or other media to be searched slowly in either direction at reduced speed. I’ve kept the circuitry for that in mine but will never need it. The DTL circuitry is not always reliable and does need resetting from time to time but I do love the nixie glow.
Morris
PM
Peter McCollum
Wed, Jan 28, 2026 3:42 PM
Hi Morris, thanks for your comments! The things you described about
your Datachron matches my Datatron as well.
By chance, do you have any documentation that you can share?
Here's some additional details on mine:
- Datatron is from Santa Ana, which is basically the same L.A.
neighborhood as Anaheim. So it seems likely the companies were the
same.
- Four of the PCBs are (as you say) stacked on top of each other. Each
has an edge connector that mates with a right-angle connector
arrangement, which allows the boards to be un-stacked vertically
(there would be no way to remove them sideways).
- On the rear of the chassis is a more conventional type of 5-slot
backplane, with modules that are removeable from the back, under a
panel. The top two slots are for output amplifiers (4 amps each, plus
a spare marked as a 'failsafe'). The top slot provides 4 copies of the
IRIG-A output, while the 2nd slot does 4 IRIG-B outputs. In mine, 5 of
the 8 output amps didn't work - a PNP transistor made by CDC was bad
in each case - I replaced them with 2N3906's. The 3rd slot slot is
IRIG-A logic, the 4th slot is IRIG-B logic. The 5th slot has a logic
module marked "Slow Code".
- Of the many BNC's on the back panel, I've identified the function of
all but two.
- The P.S. has the unregulated "5V" rail, plus regulated (and
adjustable) +16 and -16 volts, plus the HV for the Nixies.
- There is an assembly marked "filter" (front panel switch),
consisting of two PCBs. I don't know exactly what it does, but some
settings work better than others with my MCU-generated IRIG-B test
signal.
I'd be interested to hear if what I described above is all a match
with yours. I'm happy to share any further details on mine, if you are
interested.
Pete
On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 3:06 AM Morris Odell via time-nuts
time-nuts@lists.febo.com wrote:
I have a very similar device model 3000-201 made by the now defunct Datachron in Anaheim CA which might even be the same as Datatron with a slightly different name. I’m using it to display the IRIG-B time code generated by a microcontroller which translates the NMEA code from a GPS receiver. The logic is all DTL on several large PCBs that are stacked on top of each other. The DTL DIP chips are surface mounted with their leads bent out from the body and soldered onto traces on top of the boards so replacing them with socketed TTL is easy. The power supply was unregulated when I got it which might have led to failure of quite a few of the DTL chips, most of which were replaceable with LSTTL although the flip flops are a bit different and needed some workarounds. I’m in Australia with 230 volt mains and I managed to fit a modern low dropout regulator into it as the +5 volt rail ran a bit high. Regrettably there is no 230 volt primary option so it runs with a stepdown transformer.
I think the slow and reverse code feature is to allow tapes or other media to be searched slowly in either direction at reduced speed. I’ve kept the circuitry for that in mine but will never need it. The DTL circuitry is not always reliable and does need resetting from time to time but I do love the nixie glow.
Morris
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
Hi Morris, thanks for your comments! The things you described about
your Datachron matches my Datatron as well.
By chance, do you have any documentation that you can share?
Here's some additional details on mine:
- Datatron is from Santa Ana, which is basically the same L.A.
neighborhood as Anaheim. So it seems likely the companies were the
same.
- Four of the PCBs are (as you say) stacked on top of each other. Each
has an edge connector that mates with a right-angle connector
arrangement, which allows the boards to be un-stacked vertically
(there would be no way to remove them sideways).
- On the rear of the chassis is a more conventional type of 5-slot
backplane, with modules that are removeable from the back, under a
panel. The top two slots are for output amplifiers (4 amps each, plus
a spare marked as a 'failsafe'). The top slot provides 4 copies of the
IRIG-A output, while the 2nd slot does 4 IRIG-B outputs. In mine, 5 of
the 8 output amps didn't work - a PNP transistor made by CDC was bad
in each case - I replaced them with 2N3906's. The 3rd slot slot is
IRIG-A logic, the 4th slot is IRIG-B logic. The 5th slot has a logic
module marked "Slow Code".
- Of the many BNC's on the back panel, I've identified the function of
all but two.
- The P.S. has the unregulated "5V" rail, plus regulated (and
adjustable) +16 and -16 volts, plus the HV for the Nixies.
- There is an assembly marked "filter" (front panel switch),
consisting of two PCBs. I don't know exactly what it does, but some
settings work better than others with my MCU-generated IRIG-B test
signal.
I'd be interested to hear if what I described above is all a match
with yours. I'm happy to share any further details on mine, if you are
interested.
Pete
On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 3:06 AM Morris Odell via time-nuts
<time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote:
>
> I have a very similar device model 3000-201 made by the now defunct Datachron in Anaheim CA which might even be the same as Datatron with a slightly different name. I’m using it to display the IRIG-B time code generated by a microcontroller which translates the NMEA code from a GPS receiver. The logic is all DTL on several large PCBs that are stacked on top of each other. The DTL DIP chips are surface mounted with their leads bent out from the body and soldered onto traces on top of the boards so replacing them with socketed TTL is easy. The power supply was unregulated when I got it which might have led to failure of quite a few of the DTL chips, most of which were replaceable with LSTTL although the flip flops are a bit different and needed some workarounds. I’m in Australia with 230 volt mains and I managed to fit a modern low dropout regulator into it as the +5 volt rail ran a bit high. Regrettably there is no 230 volt primary option so it runs with a stepdown transformer.
>
> I think the slow and reverse code feature is to allow tapes or other media to be searched slowly in either direction at reduced speed. I’ve kept the circuitry for that in mine but will never need it. The DTL circuitry is not always reliable and does need resetting from time to time but I do love the nixie glow.
>
> Morris
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
T
tensor96
Wed, Jan 28, 2026 9:16 PM
The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder. One channel was dedicated to the time code and the movement of the pen associated with that channel recorded the "pips" corresponding to the time code (BCD?). Usually, this was along one edge of the recording paper and so the time of events on other channels could be determined by aligning where the event or signal lined up with the time code value.
Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed. If there are any empty slots in the unit, not having all the codes may be why.
On Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:39 PM, Peter McCollum via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com wrote:
Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
(digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
a switch - the slowest rate is 10 minutes to send a complete 100-bit
frame.
Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
conditions.
Pete
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum saipan1959@gmail.com wrote:
A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
(days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
"Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
N.M.).
I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
Thanks for any comments!
Pete
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder. One channel was dedicated to the time code and the movement of the pen associated with that channel recorded the "pips" corresponding to the time code (BCD?). Usually, this was along one edge of the recording paper and so the time of events on other channels could be determined by aligning where the event or signal lined up with the time code value.
Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed. If there are any empty slots in the unit, not having all the codes may be why.
On Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:39 PM, Peter McCollum via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
>
> The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
> On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
> outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
> One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
> (digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
> a switch - the slowest rate is 10 minutes to send a complete 100-bit
> frame.
>
> Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
>
> Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
> stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
> output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
> that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
> 2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
> the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
> I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
> reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
>
> The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
> regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
> voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
> With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
> rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
> circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
> I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
> conditions.
>
> Pete
>
> On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum saipan1959@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
> > It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
> > (days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
> > chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
> > It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
> > "Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
> > N.M.).
> > I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
> > By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
> > Thanks for any comments!
> >
> > Pete
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
PM
Peter McCollum
Wed, Jan 28, 2026 10:29 PM
The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder.
Thanks! Just this afternoon I found a mention in a spec sheet for a
somewhat newer model, saying "Multiple Rate Slow Code Output for strip
chart recording".
Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed.
Yes! Mine has a 5-slot backplane with cards for IRIG-A, IRIG-B, "Slow
Code", and two cards that are nothing but output buffers, 4 buffers
per card. So there are four IRIG-A outputs, and four IRIG-B outputs.
Pete
On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 3:06 PM tensor96 via time-nuts
time-nuts@lists.febo.com wrote:
The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder. One channel was dedicated to the time code and the movement of the pen associated with that channel recorded the "pips" corresponding to the time code (BCD?). Usually, this was along one edge of the recording paper and so the time of events on other channels could be determined by aligning where the event or signal lined up with the time code value.
Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed. If there are any empty slots in the unit, not having all the codes may be why.
On Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:39 PM, Peter McCollum via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com wrote:
Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
(digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
a switch - the slowest rate is 10 minutes to send a complete 100-bit
frame.
Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
conditions.
Pete
On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum saipan1959@gmail.com wrote:
A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
(days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
"Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
N.M.).
I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
Thanks for any comments!
Pete
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com
>The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder.
Thanks! Just this afternoon I found a mention in a spec sheet for a
somewhat newer model, saying "Multiple Rate Slow Code Output for strip
chart recording".
>Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed.
Yes! Mine has a 5-slot backplane with cards for IRIG-A, IRIG-B, "Slow
Code", and two cards that are nothing but output buffers, 4 buffers
per card. So there are four IRIG-A outputs, and four IRIG-B outputs.
Pete
On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 3:06 PM tensor96 via time-nuts
<time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote:
>
> The slow code (at least one application with which I am familiar) was to use it to send time to a slow output device. The one I've seen it used on was an old multi-channel pen recorder. One channel was dedicated to the time code and the movement of the pen associated with that channel recorded the "pips" corresponding to the time code (BCD?). Usually, this was along one edge of the recording paper and so the time of events on other channels could be determined by aligning where the event or signal lined up with the time code value.
>
> Also, some of these time code translators/generators had separate cards in them for the different codes. I have an old Datum that had slots for the different time code cards. This way, a customer could purchase only the cards for the time code or codes they needed. If there are any empty slots in the unit, not having all the codes may be why.
>
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 8:39 PM, Peter McCollum via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Update from the "vintage and obsolete HW dept.":
> >
> > The Datatron 3000 Time Code box is almost entirely functional (I think)!
> > On the back panel is about 15 BNCs, marked only with "Jnnn". Most are
> > outputs for things like IRIG-A, IRIG-B, 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz., etc.
> > One output is something they call "Slow Code", which is an unmodulated
> > (digital) time-code stream sent at a low rate that is selectable with
> > a switch - the slowest rate is 10 minutes to send a complete 100-bit
> > frame.
> >
> > Question: What would a very slow frame rate be used for (in 1969)?
> >
> > Today, I used a little MCU board to write code to output an IRIG-B
> > stream with a fixed day/hour/minute/second. Used an audio generator to
> > output a 1 KHz carrier, then used an old CD4066 analog switch chip so
> > that the MCU's stream could modulate the 1 KHz to make the required
> > 2-level signal. It worked great - the Datatron decoded and displayed
> > the time on the Nixies. The box has a "reverse" switch setting, which
> > I gather is for the case of doing a telemetry tape playback in
> > reverse, to see the time-stamps while searching for a specific spot.
> >
> > The power supply in the box has an unexpected "feature" - there is NO
> > regulator on the 5V DC rail! Nothing but a 0.6 ohm series R to limit
> > voltage/current. So the rail changes according to the AC line voltage.
> > With 115 VAC applied, the rail is very close to 5V. At 95 VAC, the
> > rail drops to about 3.8V, but (amazingly) all or most of the logic
> > circuitry still works. Perhaps because nearly all the logic is DTL --
> > I'm thinking that many TTL parts would not function under those
> > conditions.
> >
> > Pete
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:17 PM Peter McCollum saipan1959@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > > A friend gave me a Datatron 3000 Time Code Translator/Generator.
> > > It's a rack-mount box that features 9 Nixie tubes
> > > (days,hours,minutes,seconds), dozens of DTL chips, a few early TTL
> > > chips, a 1 MC ovenized oscillator, etc. Made in 1969.
> > > It handles IRIG A, IRIG B, and probably other variants. A sticker says
> > > "Property of A.E.C., Sandia Corp." (it came from a surplus dealer in
> > > N.M.).
> > > I've found a few docs online that mention using it, but no technical info.
> > > By chance does anyone have a manual (preferably with schematics and such)?
> > > Thanks for any comments!
> > >
> > > Pete
> >
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V
vilgotch1@gmail.com
Thu, Jan 29, 2026 12:56 AM
I have scanned the manual for the Datachron (=Datatron) model 3000 and have uploaded it to BAMA. Hopefully it will appear there before too long.
Morris
I have scanned the manual for the Datachron (=Datatron) model 3000 and have uploaded it to BAMA. Hopefully it will appear there before too long.
Morris
