last update 4/12/2021

NOTES: A860-0056-T020
I found this post that touches on how one might do what I am trying to do:
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/cnc-machining/drip-feed-fanuc-6mb-226479/

I purchased a FANUC A860-0056-T020 and a DOSTEK 440A BTR and got a copy of the DOSTEK software that goes with it.  This seems to be the right combo of tools to use to read tapes with the FANUC send the data through the DOSTEK 440A and into the RS232 port of a laptop running DOSTEK's software (or some other software) to dump tapes and archive them.  See note below.

Here are photos of what I have:
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/FANUC/

It appears that the FANUC A860 is just a component within a larger FANUC system, there is no manual for the reader alone (?) at least that I can find.  So, I am not confident how to power the FANUC A860.  The only thing I found is this manual that references it as part of a larger system here (see page 322):
http://cncmanual.com/download/1646/


Are these the correct DOSTEK 440A jumper switch settings for the intended use as a gateway between the reader and the serial port of a computer?
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/FANUC/DOSTEK-440a-BTR.jpg
"Eugene" sent in this link for the 440A:
http://www.memex.ca/wp-content/uploads/old/M110545-Dostek-440A-BTR-User-Guide.pdf


How to power the FANUC A860?  
Here is where I believe one applies power to the FANUC, I was told it's AC not DC power
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/FANUC/FANUC%20A20B-0004_pwr-connect1.jpg

Unknown...Will the DOSTEK draw 5V from the FANUC cable or should I power separately, there is a 5V port on the DOSTEK I can use.


NOTE on softare:
"..NCLink is free, works great, easy to configure and you can edit the programs right in it if necessary. I don't know that you can run RS232 direct to USB, there may be some adapter for all I know. I use an older laptop that has a serial port on it (DB9), so I found adapters to go from DB25 and DB9 to RJ45 (ethernet cable), this way I configure the adapter to each machine and leave it there (a lot of machines have different pin out requirements) and then you can just plug your laptop into the adapter using a Cat6 cable and adapter to the DB9 port.

Be warned, depending upon baud rate, large programs (like 100,000 lines, a couple mb in size) can take a long time if your baud rate is slow (mine is 9600). I've spent 45 minutes downloading a long program to find out the CAM software left off a tool number, and you can't edit the program in the machine because it's too large for the available memory and you have to dump it, edit in NC Link and then upload again....pita. .."