[GreenKeys] Historial archive

[NNN7DXB at aol.com]

David and the Group:

To echo further what Jim C has mentioned about the CommCenter Groups
various Virtual Circuits and feeds:

http://commcenter-8.net

This one handles primarily military-styled narrative (teletype) traffic
in the old torn tape, or TAPE RELAY format called ACP-127. An ACP is an
Allied Communications Publication, which is a standardized NATO commo
reference manual. In the case of ACP-127, it provides formatting 
instructions
for messages being processed thru the (former) worldwide, integrated tape
relay networks.

Tape Relay was a manual or semi-automatic system in a day before computers.
It was the US miltary's backbone message handling system from the 1940s
thru about 1968. Tape Relays were encrypted using KW-26 (Romulus),
KW-7 (Orestes) and other cryptographic systems in their later years (50s
and 60s).

The teletype sounds are from a Model 28 printer operating at 60 wpm (45.5 
opm).

CommCenter-8 (CC-8) features a US Army 1st Signal Brigade Technical
Control Monitor Position on 1SAT at the Major Relay Station in Korat, 
Thailand
during the Vietnam War era. Tech Control would have been operated by
the 442nd Signal Battalion of the 1st Signal Brigade, US Army Strategic
Communications Command (USASTRATCOM), South East Asia. (Today,
the 1st Signal Brigade is located in S. Korea supporting the 8th Army).

http://commcenter-8.net/cc-9

This one is a US Navy/Coast Guard combined Fleet Broadcast emulator
using Radio Teletype as the basic methodology. Again, all simulated. It's
primary purpose is to transmit Naval/Coast Guard/nautical/sea oriented/
NAVTEX and like-type material in any Fleet Broadcast-acceptable format.

Fleet Broadcast is a manual system, generally fed by a Navy Fleet Service
Station that was shore based. Ships at sea were required to copy Fleet
Broadcasts for the geograpic areas in which they were operating.

These broadcasts would have been encrypted using the KWR-37s (Jason)
crytpo systems.

Some messaging formats would have included:

ACP-126, Radio Teletype
ACP-127, Tape Relay (DCSTTYNET)
JANAP 128, AUTODIN (Automatic Digitial Network)
NAVTEX 
WMOGTS (International Weather and Synoptic Data)
AFOS (US Weather)
Non-formatted Press reports

Most Fleet Broadcast traffic went by HF radio

This link is a compromise between RATT (Radio Teletype) and SITOR-B
which is used for NAVTEX transmissions. We preferred to stay with RATT
for nostalgia purposes, since SITOR-B was a modern application. The sound
tracks on CC-9 are a Model 28 teletype and the AFSK tones are from a real
60 wpm radio teletype operation.

None of the teletype functions and sounds are synchronized. One must
remember that they are only emulators or simulators and are neither real
nor perfect teletype machines. Nothing really takes the place of a genuine
piece of iron. The Virtual Circuits on the CommCenter Groups run on Java,
so you will have to make sure that Java is enabled on your system in order
to copy the traffic.

CommCenter-5 is an amalgamation of several Virtual Circuits, none of
which are in true CommCenter format. They are generally feeds in RSS
or SMS formats, and all vary from link to link (depending on source).

CommCenter-5 (CC-5) is not set up for use with Heavy Metal.

These include the following links of potential interest:

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/acp/

60 wpm simulated TTY with real Earthquake Reports traffic from USGS.
Only quakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater are submitted to CC-5
via automatic feed conversion from USGS.

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/weather/combined.html

Combined Weather 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/weather/highseas.html

High Seas Forecasts 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/weather/hurricane.html

Hurricane/Tropical Storms 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/offshore.html

Offshore Forecasts 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/seasurge.html

Sea Surge Forecasts 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/weather/tsunami.html

Tsunami Warnings 100 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/news/news.html

News, English, 60 wpm

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/news/spanish.html

News, Spanish, 60 wpm

There are also three (3) CW (Morse Code) Receive Only links for those who
want to copy or maintain their CW capabilty at 15 wpm:

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/morse/earthquake.html

Earthquake Reports

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/morse/weather.html

High Seas Weather

http://commcenter-5.cellmail.com/morse/tsunami.html

Note that not all links are working all of the time and not all traffic
on all links is necessarily current. We continue to seek out and update
as new links become available. Links often fail, and we strive to keep
them running (which at times becomes difficult!).

Also, the CommCenter Group works in ZULU time. You can set your ZULU
clock here:

http://zulutime.net/

Military traffic was always sent using ZULU time (CUT, formerly GMT and
the 24 hour clock is used.

You can also check ZULU time here:

US Naval Observatory Alternate Master Clock
Tel:     (719) 567-6742
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/

(Very nice and detailed site)

For added realism and for those who may have worked in the CommCenter
environment, consider opening 2, 3 or 4 browers at the same time for
different URLs (links). The cacophony of multiple teletype sounds might
bring back memories of busy terminals, tape relays or fleet service 
stations
once more for your enjoyment and pleasure.

Hope everyone enjoys the circuits; feedback always appreciated!

Dave F
CommCenter Groups