Topics

46

News and Updates / Almanac Data

« on: October 06, 2009, 05:28:47 AM »

Well.. I've created somewhat of a fix to the inaccurate almanac data that has been experienced globally with the emulator. Sunrise/Sunset is calculated within the emulator by lat/long coordinates, it is not grabbed from an outside source, because of that, you must allow for VB6's primitive calculation system for some deviation, which is pretty darn close! For the moon dates, VB6 cannot calculate this (unless someone can shed some light).. So this data is grabbed from my XL, passed to the config server, then passed onto the emulator. please let me know if there are any other problems. the only other one i *might* forsee is the switch from DST to STD time. i will deal situation with that when it happens.
enjoy!

47

Local Forecast / Chris Geith - Island of a Thousand Dreams

« on: August 30, 2009, 03:50:01 AM »

Incase nobody has been paying attention, it is a big announcement by Chris:

Huge deal in the works with Grammy nominated music company IMI Music in Nashville. A new online CD project entitled "Island Of A Thousand Dreams" will be released in a few weeks. It's a collection of some of my most popular Weather Channel music ....

The dream is almost ready ...



Follow him on facebook as a fan:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Chris-Geith/80220099606

48

Contributions / Contest: Weather Star XL Graphics

« on: August 18, 2009, 08:41:17 AM »

Please note, this contest is for anyone who has a good hand and eye at graphics design.
Heres how the contest goes:
Congrats! You have been hired to create a new background and animation sequences for the legacy Weather Star XL platform, more notibly, the Local Forecast presentation! Its up to you and your imagination to create captivating graphics that anyone tuning into the channel will see when its time for the Local On The 8's!

When designing graphics, you may use the current on-air graphics, or you can use a collaboration of your own personal ideas. There is only two limitations to your project: You may not change the location where the product text and graphics are displayed, and you can not create products in which the XL does not support. This limitation is intact to keep the product content's uniform from canidate to canidate to select a winner.

The contest winner (by poll vote) will be able to see their graphics in-action on our live XL stream!

If you are interested in working on a project like this, drop a reply to show your interest!

Good Luck!

49

Latest Release Information / Emulator Release - June 2009

« on: June 20, 2009, 04:19:17 PM »

This is simply a required maintence release. The update is to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the emulator as with the current development. The January release (and its update) of the emulator expired May 20th. To continue using the emulator, follow these steps.
-Login to CINE: http://copper.yi.org:21863
-Go to downloads and keys
-If you do not have the emulator installed on your computer (or now wish to use a new computer), install the main emulator release.
-Download the "June Update" archive, and extract it to: C:\wsxl
-Run the SetAffiliate program to set your ID. (This is required or else the emulator will crash on start!)
-Run the emulator itself. (Key dialog will appear to 'Get a Key')

Enjoy!

Side note:
The XL export function is infact built into this emulator release, however it is not enabled in this public build. If you would like to take advantage of the export function, contact me through PM.

Also, Alot of people are looking for a better and streamlined method to signup to use the emulator than to message Martin directly. I will create a form that you may fill out to fulfill that request, and once approved, you will have an established login. This will speed up the signup process by 100^24 fold.

Leave questions, comments, etc about this release in this thread, no signup requests!

50

Latest Release Information / Emulator Release - March 2009

« on: March 21, 2009, 04:51:11 AM »

I am going to keep this short and sweet..

This is simply a required maintence release. The update is to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the emulator as with the current development. The January release (and its update) of the emulator expired March 20th. To continue using the emulator, follow these steps.
-Login to CINE: http://copper.yi.org:21863
-Go to downloads and keys
-If you do not have the emulator installed on your computer (or now wish to use a new computer), install the main emulator release.
-Download the "March Update" archive, and extract it to: C:\wsxl
-Run the SetAffiliate program to set your ID. (This is required or else the emulator will crash on start!)
-Run the emulator itself. (Key dialog will appear to 'Get a Key')

Enjoy!

Side note:
The XL export function is infact built into this emulator release, however it is not enabled in this public build. If you would like to take advantage of the export function, contact me through PM.

51

Local Forecast / Carter Taylor ??

« on: March 15, 2009, 06:37:02 AM »

in chazz's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX8pFN9UuFA

the ending audio segment which is located at 1:20-1:30, chazz notes the artist as "Carter Taylor" and the track is "Lovin You More" .. is this accurate? I have never heard of this artist before, nor can turn up a result when i search for this artist. i am attempting to obtain this track, however i am having quite difficulty. any help would be most appreciated!
thanks!

52

Local Forecast / David Lanz

« on: March 07, 2009, 04:30:59 AM »

I am attempting to figure out all the tracks that TWC played by David Lanz.
Currently, I have Seguaro (Desert Vision) and Improvisation on a Theme (Solstice). Was Christofori's Dream ever played?
Thanks Guys!

53

General Emulator Discussion / March 1st Winter Storm Invitation

« on: March 01, 2009, 05:39:51 PM »

i would like to invite anyone who is interested in viewing my WSL stream to click the link in my signature. my emulator is centered around willow grove, pa (philadelphia metropolitan area).. our forecast for the winter storm is projected to be approx. 8 - 14 inches of snow total by monday.. if anyone else has WSL coverage from a different location, i would encourage dropping your link here for others to watch!

54

News and Updates / New Additions for March Release

« on: February 24, 2009, 09:24:17 AM »

a new feature ive added into the emulator is the ability to export the data downloaded into the emulator, im using this function to export data from the emulator to my star unit for uptake. i figure that if anyone is also making an emulator or something, and you dont know how to code that function of your emulator, just tap into these files, and you will have the the current conditions, the regional observation conditions, 36hr forecast, and extended forecast.  if you can tap into the files that the emulator uses while its running, your in good shape.

here is an example dump to showcase this function:

Code: [Select]

cc001_city:Willow Grove
cc001_icon:sunny
cc001_temp:20
cc001_humi:50
cc001_wind:NW9
cc001_gust:18
cc001_dewp:4
cc001_pres:30.35R

lo001_city:Philadelphia
lo001_icon:mosunny
lo001_temp:22
lo001_wind:NW16

lo002_city:Mount Pocono
lo002_icon:lgtsnow
lo002_temp:12
lo002_wind:NW26

lo003_city:Willow Grove
lo003_icon:sunny
lo003_temp:20
lo003_wind:NW9

lo004_city:Mount Holly
lo004_icon:sunny
lo004_temp:22
lo004_wind:NW12

lo005_city:Dover
lo005_icon:sunny
lo005_temp:23
lo005_wind:NW15

lo006_city:Reading
lo006_icon:sunny
lo006_temp:19
lo006_wind:NW16

lo007_city:North Phila
lo007_icon:sunny
lo007_temp:21
lo007_wind:NW10

lo008_city:Allentown
lo008_icon:sunny
lo008_temp:19
lo008_wind:NW8

36f001:Today:Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
3f6002:Tonight:Mostly clear. Lows around 18. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
36f003:Wednesday:Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.


55

News and Updates / Weather Star XL Emulator Idea

« on: February 18, 2009, 08:56:20 AM »

well.. im always busy working on something.. while the poll is in progress for an addition to the weatherscan emulator, i figured i would theorize on how to create a weather star xl emulator will full motion. this project is not one of those "powerpoint" or "after effects" projects, it is a programming language project. while i have no problem with powerpoint or after effects, i try to use tools that are accessible to me. LFMusicFan has seemed to sponsor my activities and allowed me to use his background sequences. this project will conquer the "still icon" with no motion handicap and "still background" with no transition. the emulator, much like the real XL will render a set of image files into a mini-movie, then play the mini-movies back at their required time slots.

here is a small example of what i put together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Smp2l16Is

comments are welcome (and encouraged)!!

56

General Emulator Discussion / Satellite Feed Ideas for XL Emulator

« on: February 17, 2009, 09:26:54 AM »

Alright guys, an idea was thrown at me awhile ago, and I figured that I *might* bite on it. However, I need YOUR opinion. Although my emulator is geared to have the likeness of the XL, the emulator is powerful enough to support other designs than what you know and currently expect.

What I am trying to do is add into the emulator a "satellite feed" kind of emulator for all those who would like to see a simple looping satellite feed, or even add it as a package to their current emulator lineup.

I have pre-selected 4 different designs to pick from, each of which I can work on to add into the emulator, the most popular choice is what I will work on. Along with the best choice, a set of background graphics would need to be created, and (hopefully) donated towards this effort.

The options are as follows:

Opt #1: A late '90s looking satellite forecast, no radar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ3Alfq-080

Opt #2: A forecast using a black 3rd's bar, however icons will be XL icons, uses radar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSqr40DQ0eU

Opt #3: A forecast using no lower 3rd's, maps will show forecast icons, no radar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqM0ifYHf4I&fmt=18

Opt #4: A forecast "national weatherscan" style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itrz4WKq9yI

If there are any other potential satellite feed canidates that I should add into this, please let me know.

Poll runs till the end of Feburary, so may the best forecast win!!

57

Latest Release Information / Emulator Update Release - January 2009

« on: February 04, 2009, 04:47:25 AM »

I have listened to your requests, and I have responded! (kind of)
Alot of people have been asking me to create a cleaner method to close the emulator, heres one:
Press the escape key!

Another thing, the default start up position has been moved from center screen to upper left. However, you CAN move the emulator around now! Use your arrow keys!

If you like the position you moved the emulator to, Press: s
This will save the current emulator position!

If for some reason the emulator is taking up too much screen real estate and you would like to minimize it, Press: n

There is now a Start bar icon to bring the emulator back to the front incase its minimized or burried behind piles of other windows!

Note: These buttons become available AFTER the emulator has downloaded its initial updates and moved onto main title screen.

If you would like this update, follow these instructions:

This is not a mandatory update (like no changes were made to the configuration server to require all users to take this change). To take advantage of this update:
-Login to CINE and goto "Downloads and Keys" from the left.
-Download January Update Pack 1, this is a .zip file
-Manually extract the contents to C:\wsxl

I am packing a new copy of "SetAffil.exe" because this change is an update to the locally stored data, which is simply your Affil ID and the saved screen coordinates.

Run SetAffil.exe, type your Affil ID, Save & Exit.. Now run the emulator and try the new keys after the emulator is finally in its running state.

Enjoy and throw some comments, please!

58

Local Forecast / Weatherscan XL Emulator, January Release

« on: January 27, 2009, 06:00:34 AM »

I just wanted to let everybody here know that the weatherscan emulator is back up and running with this new January 2009 release. A partial update log and release notes/information are available in this thread here: https://twctodayforums.com/forums/index.php/topic,1913.msg82612.html I figured that I would drop a line in here since this is the most viewed forum here and hopes that nobody forgot about the project
Thanks everybody for your support!
cheers!

59

Latest Release Information / Emulator Release - January 2009

« on: January 27, 2009, 05:52:03 AM »

Sorry for the month delay on the promised release. I have been busy with work and other things to release the program in a timely manner, however since there is a great deal of weather out there today, i figure "putting it all together" now would be the most perfect time. There have been a great deal of changes since the last time any of the members have used the emulator, some of these are the following:
-You may re-ordering packages used, with this, you will only need to configure what you are going to use, instead of all objects! The "Up Next..." pages look cleaner because the renderer will dynamically make the frames used.
-Extended play doppler radars, the emulator will collect through continual usage a loop of 24 frames (2 hours). At first start, the emulator begins at 6 frames (half hour) and adds frames as its left running.
-Traffic data will be downloaded by the config server when the emulator is running. If the emulator is not being used for over an hour, traffic data will not be downloaded by the config server, and the emulator will display a "Temporarly Unavailable for 15 minutes" message.
-Semi-Self Provisioning, if you have a login to the config server, that is all you need to download the emulator and recieve the key needed to run the emulator. The key will be encoded when you run the emulator for the first time, or if the past key expired, by selecting "Get My Key" from the emulator's registration panel.

Three Major notes about this release:
1. I have no idea how to clear up this Windows Vista bug with a new installation, you MUST run the program, and "Set Affiliate" program as Administrator (by right-clicking). If anyone knows a way around this or a suggestion, drop that in here or shoot me a message.
2. You MUST uninstall the previous release of the emulator before installing this one, so make sure you save your affilate logo that you enjoy using!
3. If you have previously had the emulator installed before, you must follow these steps

Please check one thing, verify the emulator is running from C:\wsxl\wsxl.exe
if it is infact running from that location, goto start->run and plugin:
C:\wsxl\wsxl.exe unregister
a box will appear, requesting you to press [1] [2] [3] [ OK ]
then try the emulator again like normal.


How to enjoy this release:
1. Make your Package changes on the config server: http://copper.yi.org:21863
2. Make any additional changes, then build your configuration. (Link at the bottom of ' Review Cfg'n' page).
3. Download the emulator from the 'Download and Keys' page.
4. Set your Affilate ID (this is your login to the config server).
5. Run the emulator.

Final note:
If you recieve the Error box complaining about an expired key, select the "No" option to revert to the original default configuration. From there, you can "Get My Key".

If you do not have a login to the config server and would like to use this emulator, please contact Martin or me, and we will help you out!

60

News and Updates / Members Feedback Required for Project's Future!

« on: December 25, 2008, 05:28:23 AM »

Hey All and Merry Christmas!

First of all, before divulging into the core message of this topic, I would like to place some thanks out there. First I would like to thank Martin, my 'operations officer' for this project. Martin is a very enthusiastic member to this project who has actually kept me motivated in continuing to add new and neat features into an ever so classic product originally designed by an unknown visionary at The Weather Channel. Martin, who demonstrates great maturity at his age has helped oversee the day to day tasks of helping TWC fanatics with setting up and configuring the emulator. While undertaking that role, he has helped me stay focused on the programming aspect, which to my dismay to say is a very challenging task. I am glad to say that I have accomplished more of my goal in the last few months than I have done in possibly the entire life of the project, although each time period should be treated as equally challenging. He is not only a great asset to this project, but im sure to other TWC fanatic avenues as well.

Another person I would like to thank is Lee (LMolineux), whom (to my memory) I met on TWCC back in 2002, shortly later, I met him in person, and he shares my interest in TWC music, the technical aspect of weather, and my daily involvement in the business and sport of bowling. I have had good and bad times in my life, and thankfully hes been a consistent friend throughout the time. I also am more than greatful that he has elected me to be his best man in his wedding, to which im still somewhat speechless.

Other people who I would like to thank are my family and the people who I work with, who are my second family. Who (both) not only put up with my fixation with leaving the television on a single channel, but also share/understand my serious but somewhat sarcastic and comical personality.

Ultimately, I would like to thank YOU for reading and sharing your interest in this project! Without you, I would throw the shovel in and call it a day.

And yeah, Dave Schwartz, an original man that could never be replaced.

Anyway, onto the primary subject..
I created this topic to gain your feedback on the the overall feeling you have on the emulator, I would like you to score/elaborate on the following, using the most words you can:
-Initial Installation (How hard was it to get running?)
-Configuration (Is this easy/hard method to configure the emulator, using the cfg'n site?)
-Packages Available (Do they cater to your needs?)
-Technical Support (Do Martin and I help you in a timely manner, are we able to solve your problems?)
-Discouraging Factor (Does something about this program not want you to undertake setting it up or frustrate you?)
-Reusage Value (After your initial experience, how likely are you use the program again?)
-Personal Value (The most important, is this emulator worth or a waste of your time?)

After not seeing posts on the project's forums for quite some time, I am attempting to determine the future of this project. If there is anything I can do to revitalize the project, your feedback is most helpful! I need your feedback, sooner than later is most appreciated, although at your earliest convience is the best!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy/Safe New Year!!
Brian