# Connecting to a Retro BBS using a Teletype (2024-05-05)

**URL:** <https://pluralist.net/t/connecting-to-a-retro-bbs-using-a-teletype-2024-05-05/150>\
**Category:** breadcrumbs\
**Created:** [May 5, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://pluralist.net/t/connecting-to-a-retro-bbs-using-a-teletype-2024-05-05/150 "2024-05-05T18:20:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![delyan](https://pluralist.net/user_avatar/pluralist.net/delyan/32/245_2.png) [@delyan](https://pluralist.net/u/delyan)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://pluralist.net/t/connecting-to-a-retro-bbs-using-a-teletype-2024-05-05/150/1 "2024-05-05T18:20:59Z")

</div>

[Joshua Stein](https://jcs.org/) never disappoints with his posts on retro tech, which he restores to a pristine condition (or gives new life via new software, such as [running a BBS on a Macintosh Plus](https://jcs.org/2022/07/15/kludge)).

Back in October 2022 jcs posted [this blog](https://jcs.org/2022/10/02/whisper_writer) ([video](https://jcsorg.b-cdn.net/videos/2022-10-02.mp4)) on using a **3M Whisper Writer 1000** to connect to the [Kludge BBS](https://klud.ge/).

I love how when first powered up, the printer identifies itself:  
 ![image](https://pluralist.net/uploads/default/original/1X/00e57e43b63886a4354b76739420fdfb8f646089.png)

It seems like a great way to connect to BBSes via (an albeit slow 300 baud) modem. Here is Kludge:

 ![image](https://pluralist.net/uploads/default/original/1X/345921396e5a6ecd8b8fec091de1a56063054b8c.jpeg)

Reading Joshua’s post lead us to search [X](https://twitter.com/search) for other folks working on restoring similar Whisper Writer 1000 Teleprinters.

That’s how we discovered Connor Taffe’s struggle ([tweet](https://twitter.com/cptaffe/status/1301522726243495936)) to connect his printer to [the Level 29 BBS](https://bbs.fozztexx.com/) ([x](https://twitter.com/Level29_BBS)).

 ![image](https://pluralist.net/uploads/default/original/1X/e357216255b46d0caef574adf35d930647ffc544.jpeg)

The use of the 3M Whisper Writer reminds us of [Drew DeVault’s use of EPSON LX-350 printer](https://drewdevault.com/2019/10/30/Line-printer-shell-hack.html) to create a modern teletype!

 ![image](https://pluralist.net/uploads/default/original/1X/29f82dee8afda22097ac58dc69adc27d32b1f5ee.jpeg)

We here, at the Pluralist Network, are quite fond of dot matrix printers and this particular human-machine interface:

- [Links on teletypes & editors + ASR33 TTY w/ EPSON dot matrix (2024-01-08)](https://pluralist.net/t/links-on-teletypes-editors-asr33-tty-w-epson-dot-matrix-2024-01-08/20)
- [Ed is the standard text editor (2024-01-02)](https://pluralist.net/t/ed-is-the-standard-text-editor-2024-01-02/9)