TWC Today Forums
Classics - The Weather Channel from 1982-1999 => Local Forecast => Topic started by: curtjr4 on April 16, 2010, 05:55:50 PM
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Hello everyone...
I was wondering if anyone has saw (even in a picture) what the STAR I/II/III unit looked like. I can find no pictures anywhere and want to know what it looks like. I have been wondering this for a long time, so a responce is appreciated :thumbsup:
-Curt
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I moved this topic to the Classic section as you're asking about STAR units from that era. I saw in person what the WeatherSTAR III showed on TV during the early 1990s, and there are a couple YT videos out there showing emulations of the first two WeatherSTARs. However, I've never seen anything on how those actual STAR units look.
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A little bigger than a Jr and a bit smaller than a 4000? :P
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I don't have any pictures of one, but I'd assume it was close to the case size as the 4000, probably the same width (for rack mounting). FYI: the STARs I, II and III all had 3 MHz Intel 8085 processor chips, while the 4000 had an 8 MHz Motorola 68010 processor.
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I know that you only mentioned the I/II/III, but here is the Jr. B)
Where did you get this picture?
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Who gave you permission to use my picture?
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I know that you only mentioned the I/II/III, but here is the Jr. B)
I have 2 things to say.
- I have a Jr. I don't need to know what it looks like. I thought you already knew that I own one.
- Don't use Henrys picture without his permission. I mean, just saying ;)
Anyways,
I only know what the back of the I/II/III looks like. It has tons of terminal strips on it like the 4000 does.
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#1. Nope :bleh:
#2. OK
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Too bad TWC only put this on their support site. This is the back of it with a 39k ohm resistor on the temp terminal to set the temp to 70 degrees. This is the only picture on the back that I can find. Jeez, I wish TWC just took a picture of the front of the 3000 lol. But, heres the back of it with that resistor.
(http://web.archive.org/web/20070702090219/http://support.weather.com/affiliates/faq/images/img00023_small.jpg)
(This picture may take time to load, since it's from the dreaded web archive =\)
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Too bad TWC only put this on their support site. This is the back of it with a 39k ohm resistor on the temp terminal to set the temp to 70 degrees. This is the only picture on the back that I can find. Jeez, I wish TWC just took a picture of the front of the 3000 lol. But, heres the back of it with that resistor.
([url]http://web.archive.org/web/20070702090219/http://support.weather.com/affiliates/faq/images/img00023_small.jpg[/url])
(This picture may take time to load, since it's from the dreaded web archive =\)
Similar to the back of the 4000. I suspect its a bit smaller. The 4000 is quite big.
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Too bad TWC only put this on their support site. This is the back of it with a 39k ohm resistor on the temp terminal to set the temp to 70 degrees. This is the only picture on the back that I can find. Jeez, I wish TWC just took a picture of the front of the 3000 lol. But, heres the back of it with that resistor.
([url]http://web.archive.org/web/20070702090219/http://support.weather.com/affiliates/faq/images/img00023_small.jpg[/url])
(This picture may take time to load, since it's from the dreaded web archive =\)
Similar to the back of the 4000. I suspect its a bit smaller. The 4000 is quite big.
Yep, that's what I am assuming as well :yes:
Anywho, I wish that TWC STAR team would just release one picture, So everyone knew what it looked like :hmm:
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In addition to the usual input/output jacks, they also had a jack for the input of an external radar display.
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Here is a picture of Frank Batten posing with the WeatherStar I.. This came from an article published when he died lastyear. If you are interested in reading the article, it is a good read. Luckely I saved the link!! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News)
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Wow, what a nice picture and a good article! I'm glad you saved that link, Brian.
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In addition to the usual input/output jacks, they also had a jack for the input of an external radar display.
Unless I'm mistaken, the radar input was actually a telephone jack - the unit just dialed up the local NWS office and downloaded their radar display.
I hope I'm right... it's been quite a while since I've read the technical stuff about it.
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Here is a picture of Frank Batten posing with the WeatherStar I.. This came from an article published when he died lastyear. If you are interested in reading the article, it is a good read. Luckely I saved the link!! [url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News[/url] ([url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News[/url])
Wow - time warp! Look really closely and notice the old-fashioned modems you had to stick the telephone handset into... all because AT&T didn't want anything but AT&T telephones plugged directly into the network. The modem bypassed that - technically, it was still the telephone that was directly connected to the network, and the modem was just the middleman between the AT&T phone-and-phone line hookup and the computer. Then, a few years after this picture would have been taken, the government finally decided that any device can be plugged into the phone network so long as it doesn't actually harm the network.
I know... completely off topic. :)
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Here is a picture of Frank Batten posing with the WeatherStar I.. This came from an article published when he died lastyear. If you are interested in reading the article, it is a good read. Luckely I saved the link!! [url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News[/url] ([url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125262012515101121.html?mod=rss_US_News[/url])
Wow - time warp! Look really closely and notice the old-fashioned modems you had to stick the telephone handset into... all because AT&T didn't want anything but AT&T telephones plugged directly into the network. The modem bypassed that - technically, it was still the telephone that was directly connected to the network, and the modem was just the middleman between the AT&T phone-and-phone line hookup and the computer. Then, a few years after this picture would have been taken, the government finally decided that any device can be plugged into the phone network so long as it doesn't actually harm the network.
I know... completely off topic. :)
nice visual observation, i didn't pick up on that until you said something. the acoustic coupler, retro and classy!!