[DECtalk] connecting Dectalk Express to computer

Sun Mar 24 13:00:29 EDT 2019

Hi Blake and others,

I daily use DECtalk Express with my Windows 7 computer and an USB to RS-232 converter, and it works just fine.

I’ve also experimented with upgrading and downgrading the unit multible times using a Windows 3.1 virtualm machine booted into DOS, and it works fine.

If you use the NVDA-addon with the unit, you’ll need to go into the addon’s configuration file and type the right COM-port, that the DECtalk it connected to.

Best regards:

Aksel Christoffersen

Fra: Dectalk [mailto:dectalk-bounces at bluegrasspals.com] På vegne af Jayson Smith
Sendt: 24. marts 2019 17:48
Til: DECtalk; Blake Roberts
Emne: Re: [DECtalk] connecting Dectalk Express to computer

Hi,

Yes, you'll need a USB to Serial adaptor. Some probably work better than others, but I don't have any experience with them so you'll need help from someone who's actually been there and done that.

As for where to buy the DECtalk Express itself, my only suggestion is eBay. I don't know of any companies who are actually still selling DECtalk Express units. Keep in mind that even if you get a unit with the imho awful Force Computers 4.6.1 firmware, it can be downgraded to 4.2CD or whatever it is, AFAIK the last version of the DECtalk Express firmware released by Digital.

Jayson

On 3/24/2019 9:23 AM, Blake Roberts wrote:

Hello everyone,
One of my dreams in life is to acquire a Dectalk Express. If I am able in the future to buy one somewhere, how would I connect it to a modern Windows 10 computer? I am old enough to remember serial and parallel  ports. But I don't understand what cables would be required to connect the device to my computer so that it could communicate with my screen reader. On the software side, I know JAWS has a Dectalk synthesizer option. I recall that years ago, a member of this list created a Dectalk Express add-on for NVDA. How in the world would I connect a Dectalk device from the 80's/90's to my computer?
Blake 

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