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I just bought a TRS-80 PC-1 pocket computer with a tape deck interface.

The tape deck has 2 standard 1/4" Mono jacks (input [speaker] and output [mic]) and 1 smaller one labeled "Remote".

None of the tape recorders that I have have a 'remote' input, can I still record/playback data tapes on them, or do I need to buy a specialized recorder?

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how is this off topic? – Nate Koppenhaver Nov 14 '11 at 16:59
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Haven't a clue, other than the topic doesn't interest some people. It's clearly about computer hardware. – DanH Nov 14 '11 at 17:15
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meta question about this close – Nate Koppenhaver Nov 14 '11 at 19:57
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closed as off topic by slhck, Daniel Beck, Sathya♦ Nov 14 '11 at 7:45

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

1 Answer

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I'm about 95% sure that the old "Trash 80" was designed to work with an ordinary audio cassette recorder. But likely it needs to be able to control the motor to stop/start between data blocks.

One of your tape recorders may have a "remote" switch contact incorporated into the microphone jack, such that a simple adapter cable would make everything work.

(If the microphone that came with the recorder has a switch on it, and the plug is a 3- wire plug (tip, ring, and sleeve) then it should be adaptable.)

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So you mean to splice the 'remote' tip to the 'mic' ring? – Nate Koppenhaver Nov 13 '11 at 19:35
Basically. Ideally one would do a little buzzing out with an ohmmeter first, but I'd say that you'd have 75-90% chance that "remote" tip to "mic" ring would work. – DanH Nov 14 '11 at 3:49
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