[GreenKeys] ASCII replacing Baudot

[Dan Provost]

I worked for NWS-River Forecast Center in Ohio in the mid 70s to mid 80s.  We had three 28s (1 asr and 2 RO).  We also had 2 TWX dialup M33s. We had 5 NWS Forecast Offices in the Ohio Valley and we sent them individualized daily river forecasts.  Each office also had baudot loops in their state which we did not have access to those circuits.  Our mainframe generated 8 bit ASCII paper tape that we sent to each office via TWX.  Their TWX machines each had a reperf so they could retransmit our forecasts to other ascii machines. Now here’s where it got interesting…For the baudot circuits we generated an 8 bit baudot tape.  Bits 1-5 were the baudot character.  Bit 6 was always ON (punched) and bit 7 and 8 were anleays off (unpunched).  We (and the other offices) had a little bronze box that was the width of 8 level tape.  A razor blade was positioned at bit 6.  We would take each paper tape and feed it manually through the box which would slice off bit 6,7 and 8). The results was a 5 bit baudot tape that would be sent on the 28s.  We transmitted the 8 level ”baudot” tape by TWX to each office.  Since it was ascii and not baudot the paper copy on the TWX was garbled and the carriage would sit at the end of the line printing garbage but the reperf was punching the correct baudot character that would also get stripped manually and each office would then relay on their baudot circuits.  I have no idea how many feet of paper tape we generated per day but it was a huge pile.  At the beginning of each tape was the NWS office code that we could read through the punches just holding it up to the light. (Ie.  CLE for Cleveland, SDF for Louisville, etc)  So we knew what office TWX number to dial for them to receive their tape.  
Eventually the mainframe was connected to the various circuits and the forecasts were transmitted automatically eliminating the whole paper tape method.  When I left in 84-85 we still had one 28’asr and 1 TWX that were hardly ever used.  

A few days ago someone asked how to wrap the paper tapes in your hand.  All I remember is there was kind of a figure 8 motion between your thumb and one finger but I cant remember the exact motion.   Hell I even forget where I leave my car keys.

Hope that helps. 

Dan Provost 



> On Dec 10, 2024, at 4:18 PM, E. <hanyou at xsmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> From what I understood during the transition, there’s a bunch of merchant ships that still use teletype and receive weather bulletins from NOAA, over the air & onto them (makes sense when you think how rough the seas can be with those big ships and how nearly indestructible heavy metal can be).  I think transmitters along the coasts were still going to keep transmitting Baudot via software translation - again, if I remember right - due to continued use.
> 
> 
>> On Dec 10, 2024, at 7:56 AM, John Spigel <w1an.dxusa at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> The US Weather service started replacing all Baudot with ASCII in 2016 says NOAA. Although difficult to believe anyone would be creating maps with the weather typeset until then. It would be interesting to hear more of the story. Where would these older machines, 28s presumably or 32s have been active? News stations, outposts in AK? Pacific islands. or overseas? Any weather service list members?
>> 
>> https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/national-weather-service-will-stop-using-all-caps-in-its-forecasts
>> 
>> 73, John W1AN
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