[GreenKeys] RSS feed reader for Baudot teletypes now available

[John Nagle]

My RSS feed reader for Baudot teletypes is now on SourceForge at:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/baudotrss/

The source code has been uploaded and is under Subversion control.
For now, this is in a form for developers.  It works, but there
is not, as yet, an easy-to-use download and run package.  You have
to get the source from SVN Browse.

Below is the README.txt file.

				John Nagle


RSS reader for Baudot Teletype machines

Simulates a classic "news ticker", printing current news and weather on old 
Baudot teletype machines. Useful for museum-type demonstration systems.

Supported hardware: Teletype Models 12, 15, 19, 28.

John Nagle
Animats
April, 2009
License: GPL/LGPL.


This is a Python program for driving classic Baudot teletype machines such as
the Model 15 or Model 28.  It's usable with both KSR machines (with a keyboard)
or RO machines (no keyboard).

The program connects to RSS feeds and prints them on the Teletype as they are 
updated. By default, it connects to the Reuters "Top Stories" feed, which prints 
about five lines per news story.  So this is a useful demo program to leave 
running to drive a Teletype in a museum situation.  A new story appears about 
once an hour.  If you want more typing time, find a more active feed.

System requirements:
	Computer:		Intel 32-bit, with hardware serial port.
				(USB to serial converters will usually not
				work at 45.45 baud.)
	Operating system	Windows 2000/XP.
				(Should work on Vista and Win7, not tested.)		
	Python system:		2.6
	Required packages:	win32api
				pyserial
				feedparser
	Baudot teletype:	Model 15, 19 or 28 in proper working condition.
				Communications font, not weather font.
				Default baud rate is 45.45 baud.
				The program will work with or without
				unshift-on-space.
				The program assumes automatic LF on CR.
				If all the lines are typing on top of each
				other, add the "--lf" flag
				on the command line.
				If a power relay is attached to the RTS line
				from the serial port, the Teletype motor will
				be turned on and off at the appropriate times.
						
	For information on interfacing a current-loop Teletype to a PC, see
		http://www.animats.com/nagle/aetheric/connecting.html			

System configuration issues:
     If you're running this on a machine with a keyboard, it's useful
to configure your operating system to turn off the input and output FIFO for the 
serial port. Otherwise, there's a 4 character time delay built into the serial 
port, and at 45.45 baud, that's a full second. This makes interactive typing 
very painful.

Installation:
     As yet, there is no installer.  Download the source ".py" and ".bat" files.

Running the program:

Usage: userinterface.py [options] [feedurls]

Options:
   -h, --help            show this help message and exit
   -v, --verbose         Verbose mode
   -k, --keyboard        Keyboard present
   -c COMMAND, --cmd=COMMAND
                         Initial command
   -m, --markread        Mark all stories as read
   -b BAUD, --baud=BAUD  Baud rate
   -p PORT, --port=PORT  Port number (0=COM1)
   -l, --lf              Send LF at end of line
   -a OHDONTFORGETKEY, --ohdontforgetkey=OHDONTFORGETKEY
                         API key for OhDontForget messaging

If "--keyboard" is specified, the Teletype (not the computer) will prompt:

"Type N for news, U for news updates, W for weather, S to send:"

"News" reads the specified RSS feeds, printing any new items as they come in.

"News updates" is the same as "News", but discards all old news first.
So it will print "Waiting for news..." and wait.

"Send" refers to a limited capability for sending SMS messages from the Teletype
keyboard.  This requires requesting an API key from "ohdontforget.com".
We're looking for a better (two way) SMS solution.

"Weather" is currently the weather for San Francisco, CA.
This can be changed in the code at the line

	s = weatherreport.getweatherreport("ca","san_francisco")

Only state/city combinations supported by NOAA will work.

When the Teletype is prompting for a command, after 30 seconds, it
will print "OFF" and turn off the motor.  Sending a BREAK will wake
it up again. Sending a BREAK when other printing is going on will
stop whatever is happening and prompt for a command.

There is no interactive interface or GUI on the computer.  This program
is normally run in the background.  It will run forever until killed.