I've got a standalone paper-tape punch that I'd like to share between three VDU terminals connected to an Altair running Multi-User BASIC. Does anybody know what is the best way to wire this up? My idea is that 'saving' is done by LISTing a BASIC program to the VDU but diverting the output (or copying the output) to the paper-tape punch (much like an ASR-33 Teletype can punch what is being listed to its printer). I know I can get RS-232 switch boxes and try to be quick enough to divert the signal going from the Altair to the VDU to instead go from the Altair to the paper-tape punch. But is there a device for splitting an RS-232 signal so I don't have to make the manual switch? Ebay has some cables that seem to split an RS-232 signal but they don't look like they have any electronics in them. There are also RS-232 splitter boxes that seem to have electronics in.
Or is there a better way to share this peripheral?
Regards
Gabriel Egan