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Author Topic: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!  (Read 13866 times)

Offline cc17926

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #15 on: March 24, 2010, 07:13:40 PM »
i cant remember if i mentioned anything about money.. thats something you need.

Offline WeatherSTAR

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #16 on: March 29, 2014, 07:32:29 PM »
I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering?  :dunno:

Offline Eric

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #17 on: March 30, 2014, 12:15:49 AM »
I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering?  :dunno:

No, The Weather Channel has no way of knowing who receives their signal on what equipment... unless said equipment answers back to them.  Unless said Star is phones home somehow, then, no, they're not going to know.

Offline WeatherSTAR

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #18 on: March 30, 2014, 03:11:29 PM »
I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering?  :dunno:

No, The Weather Channel has no way of knowing who receives their signal on what equipment... unless said equipment answers back to them.  Unless said Star is phones home somehow, then, no, they're not going to know.
Thank you for that relief. I want to connect a WeatherSTAR Jr. (in my possession) to the feed and I almost have everything I need to do so. I say this because I once heard someone say that TWC tracks the STARs, but I didn't believe that.  :clap:

Offline yourweathertoday

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #19 on: March 30, 2014, 05:34:33 PM »
I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering?  :dunno:

No, The Weather Channel has no way of knowing who receives their signal on what equipment... unless said equipment answers back to them.  Unless said Star is phones home somehow, then, no, they're not going to know.
Thank you for that relief. I want to connect a WeatherSTAR Jr. (in my possession) to the feed and I almost have everything I need to do so. I say this because I once heard someone say that TWC tracks the STARs, but I didn't believe that.  :clap:

Isn't the Jr. not even able to receive a signal anymore? Wasn't that the one the FCC knocked out, due to the warning tone issue? Or was that the III? Regardless, the fact that you had to ask about something like that probably means you shouldn't hook it up, or wouldn't get it to work, honestly.

Offline WeatherSTAR

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #20 on: March 30, 2014, 05:44:16 PM »
I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering?  :dunno:

No, The Weather Channel has no way of knowing who receives their signal on what equipment... unless said equipment answers back to them.  Unless said Star is phones home somehow, then, no, they're not going to know.
Besides, I am already "watching" a DigiCipher on Ebay.
Thank you for that relief. I want to connect a WeatherSTAR Jr. (in my possession) to the feed and I almost have everything I need to do so. I say this because I once heard someone say that TWC tracks the STARs, but I didn't believe that.  :clap:

Isn't the Jr. not even able to receive a signal anymore? Wasn't that the one the FCC knocked out, due to the warning tone issue? Or was that the III? Regardless, the fact that you had to ask about something like that probably means you shouldn't hook it up, or wouldn't get it to work, honestly.
It was the III that was discontinued. However, I want to know if I could receive the signal thru a dish network satellite dish. Is there anyway I could do that? Also, I asked because I heard certain rumors of "TWC noticing that" around the forums at some point. I am still thinking of it.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2014, 05:48:11 PM by WeatherSTAR »

Offline curtjr4

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #21 on: April 02, 2014, 07:02:55 PM »
I have a few things to say regarding the past few comments...

1. Satellite Dish - In the Junior's manual, it will tell you all of the requirements for the satellite dish. You need a 6' C-Band satellite dish at the minimum. So no, you can't use a Dish Network dish... you need a BUD.

2. Feed Encryption - I noticed you're fairly confused with how the encryption works on the satellite feed. You said in your YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC5q94V3598) that you purchased a DigiCipher. This will not work. You need a VideoCipher II for this to work properly in your application, but even then you can't get these things authorized anymore. It's just not possible.

3. The STARs do not phone home... the satellite feed is one way communication. Now, as for the newer models possibly utilizing the internet (not sure why they would, but possible) they may phone home. But that is just speculation.

4. Some stuff about the Junior's diagnostic screen... "RLYS" is for relays. When activated (0 to 1), it will close a circuit telling external equipment to perform their tasks. DQ is data quality, and sensors is obviously for the external weather sensors that were available to the operator (never seen a Jr use this).

**Aside from that**

This stuff isn't exactly easy or cheap, either. Yes, this is all old technology... but you really have to know what your doing for the work to actually pay off. And given the analog feed is supposedly kicking the bucket last I've heard this may not be a wise investment.

Offline Mike M

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #22 on: April 02, 2014, 07:17:10 PM »
It was the III that was discontinued. However, I want to know if I could receive the signal thru a dish network satellite dish. Is there anyway I could do that? Also, I asked because I heard certain rumors of "TWC noticing that" around the forums at some point. I am still thinking of it.
The satellite dishes for weatherstars are COMPLETELY different than the satellite dish you use at home for TV. The kind you need is not easy or cheap to obtain. Even the most experienced tech enthusiasts have had little success working with this old equipment, so if you plan to get a 30+ year old piece of proprietary circuitboard fully functioning in the comfort of your own home... good luck. Not trying to be harsh, only telling you the truth and that you'll likely just be wasting your time on this.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2014, 07:19:24 PM by Mike M »

Offline WeatherSTAR

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Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!
« Reply #23 on: April 03, 2014, 06:13:23 PM »
I have a few things to say regarding the past few comments...

1. Satellite Dish - In the Junior's manual, it will tell you all of the requirements for the satellite dish. You need a 6' C-Band satellite dish at the minimum. So no, you can't use a Dish Network dish... you need a BUD.

2. Feed Encryption - I noticed you're fairly confused with how the encryption works on the satellite feed. You said in your YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC5q94V3598) that you purchased a DigiCipher. This will not work. You need a VideoCipher II for this to work properly in your application, but even then you can't get these things authorized anymore. It's just not possible.

3. The STARs do not phone home... the satellite feed is one way communication. Now, as for the newer models possibly utilizing the internet (not sure why they would, but possible) they may phone home. But that is just speculation.

4. Some stuff about the Junior's diagnostic screen... "RLYS" is for relays. When activated (0 to 1), it will close a circuit telling external equipment to perform their tasks. DQ is data quality, and sensors is obviously for the external weather sensors that were available to the operator (never seen a Jr use this).

**Aside from that**

This stuff isn't exactly easy or cheap, either. Yes, this is all old technology... but you really have to know what your doing for the work to actually pay off. And given the analog feed is supposedly kicking the bucket last I've heard this may not be a wise investment.
I have read thru the whole manual many times, but cannot seem to find the page on the satellite. What page would that be on?  :thinking:
And I realised my mistake on the Digicipher already. I will indeed be shipping it back.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2014, 06:15:18 PM by WeatherSTAR »