Dectalk Express synthesizer question

[Michael Whapples]

I know this may not be the answer you were expecting but have you 
considered looking at the GRML (www.grml.org) live CD? I don't know how 
GRML might fit in for what you want from the linux distro, but it comes 
with speakup included and also can be used with software speech on the 
live CD. OK so you would need a working soundcard to use software 
speech, but find a suitable USB sound card and plug that into any PC and 
you know you have a working sound card (the matter might be working out 
which sound card (internal if it exists or external)has been allocated 
as the default card might be another matter). Also when using software 
speech, should the system fail to fully boot you won't have access to 
the boot messages of the live CD, but this is probably rare.

I don't know whether this would be enough for your needs, but it is an 
alternative and potentially a much cheaper alternative (how much would a 
USB sound card cost compared to an hardware speech synthesiser).

Michael Whapples
On 23/12/42 19:59, Cory Martin wrote:
>              Hello listers,
>
>              I am relatively new to Linux and am just beginning my journey in
> to it and am looking at aquiring a hardware synthesizer which will be
> suitable.  In fact my first task is to try and get the System Rescue CD
> distribution talking, as I start a new job as a hardware tech in a week and
> a half or so and really need some kind of hardware diagnostics tool at my
> disposal.  As this is compiled with Speakup included I thought it would be
> perfect, except that it doesn't support the Keynote Gold SA speech
> synthesizer which is what I have.  So now I'm looking for a nice cheap used
> Dectalk Express synthesizer and am fortunate enough to have found one on an
> online auction.  The synthesizer is being sold by some bulk electronics
> dealer who I believe aquires used items and pushes them back out as online
> auctions, however my problem is that the Dectalk Express I'm buying comes
> iwth nothing except itself.  No cables, no adaptor, no disks, no manual,
> nothing, and its not even garanteed to be working, so obviously its quite a
> risk.  However paying $50 including shipping is far preferable to be then
> spending hundreds for another Dectalk even if I could find one, however I am
> wondering if anyone can tell me what I need?  I read somewhere that the
> Serial cable for the Dectalk is proprietary thus I would run in to a real
> snag finding one, can anyone confirm this?  Or does it use just your
> standard 9-pin male/female or 25-pin male/female serial connector?  Also the
> adapter...can anyone tell me if 12 volts, 400-500 MA regulated current
> sounds right?  Can anyone tell me what type of connector size it uses or if
> the center is positive or negative?  I'm assuming that the center is
> posative.  I realize this is off topic from Speakup directly however I
> really need help and figured that someone on this list would likely still be
> using a Dectalk Express and would be technical enough to be able to answer
> my questions.  Also if anyone has the manual and could forward it to me off
> list that would be awesome as I can't find it online anywhere it seems.  I
> really would appreciate a speedy reply as I pretty much have a day and a
> half before this item is no longer available and I need to decide by them if
> I should snag it or if I would be banging my head against the wall by the
> week's end trying to find appropriate cables and such for it.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Cory
>
>
>
>