Topics

61

News and Updates / Cfg'n Server Software Upgrade Announcement

« on: November 27, 2008, 08:57:49 AM »

Attention Users:
In the next day, to accomodate the additon of new features into the emulator and to make the configuration setup more of a breeze, the configuration site: http://copper.yi.org:21863 will be temporarly inaccessible. The site is currently still available for the current version of the emulator, however once I begin working on the changes, the site will become inaccessible for user configuration changes until the next release of the emulator. This means, if you wish to change anything on your emulator experience, please do so now. When the site becomes available again for emulator changes, any updates built into an active configuration will require your current version of the emulator to be updated to the next release. The current copy will continue to run until the deadline of Dec 20th, at which point if you wish to continue using the emulator, you must upgrade.

Side Note: If anyone is graphically or creatively inclined, I would like your help in creating theme packs! Currently the only theme packs that exist are Neighborhood (from the original XL) and Halloween (which I created). I would like to have a theme pack available for Christmas atleast

If you have any questions, comments or last minute suggestions to add into the emulator, this would be the thread to do that.

Thanks!

62

News and Updates / Planned updates for December

« on: November 25, 2008, 07:21:48 PM »

Please know that I am still diligently working on this project.. I have on and off for the last 5 years, the latest and greatest updates are.....

-Extended Radar Loops
 -Local, Regional, Satellite/Radar
  .Initally downloads begining 6 frames from past half hour, will build up to play a total of 24 frames.
  .Instead of downloading every 15 minutes all 6 frames, 1 frame is downloaded every 5 minutes and added to the loop.
  .The loop is played 7 times before advancing to the next frame instead of using the traditional frame timer to advance the page. this is because the loop can be a different length at any given time.

-Improved "No Data" (Local Data Temporarly Unavailable) frame
 -The frame was originally made with the incorrect font and with a burnt in logo
  .The logo is now dynamically created for this frame.

-UpNext Package Selection
 -Frame was originally a Visual Basic frame (picture box) with text on it. This frame is now dynamically created.
  .Noted changes are drop shadow on text and your logo will appear.
  .Independent reordering of packages.
   .-Will allow for only packages used to be configured, instead of all.

-Package Elements Update on Time Schedule
 -Instead of re-downloading all components on the title screen every 15-20 minutes, The following will happen:
  -On Up Next Frame (choosen because of frequency):
   .-Every 5 minutes, Local, Regional, Satellite/Radar Map each downloads 1 frame and added to loop.
  -On Title Frame:
   .-Every 15 minutes, Traffic data and map frame are updated
   .-Every 30 minutes, NWS data update
   .-Every 60 minutes, every product with a graphical map is updated (not doppler).
   ..-Includes Satellite loop (because this is an hourly product).

A few internal restructuring methods were setup to shave off some start up time and also minimize the amount of time needed at title screen on an update.
There are other things planned that still need to be worked on and considered, the above is noted as completed.
There is not an announced date yet when this update will be available, however some changes are signficant to require the emulator to be reinstalled because of added compoents.
A deadline is Dec 20th, that is when all the current keys issued will expire. I hope to have a new method to distribute keys by then too.

View my online stream to see the above changes in action: http://copper.yi.org/wsl/stream.html

63

News and Updates / Update #1 since release: Radar/Satellite

« on: November 05, 2008, 05:50:52 AM »

Well.. I am hoping for more feedback on the whole Radar/Satellite map.. so i've decided to include it in the Local Forecast lineup. It is located in place of Local Doppler after Regional Doppler.
The original discussion is here: https://twctodayforums.com/forums/index.php/topic,1626.0.html

The emulator will auto-update on start up to download necessary components.. The only problem I can see is Vista users will need to run "Manual Update" as Administrator.

Feedback!!

64

General Emulator Discussion / Animated Satellite/Radar Map Idea

« on: November 04, 2008, 11:14:51 PM »

Would any of you like to see this image appear in the "Local Forecast" package?
If so, would it replace any existing maps ?
How should the map cut appear, Local/Regional/National?
Thanks for your input!

65

Help and Support / Configuring the emulator troubles

« on: November 01, 2008, 07:21:35 AM »

I've noticed a number of users attempting to configure the emulator, but getting snagged along the way with some configuration problems.. I cant stress enough that you should not rush while configuring the emulator on the site. Even if you are not using all the packages that are inside the emulator, all elements must be correct. The emulator relies on all packages being correctly configured. I working on a plan to change that dependancy, to only require packages used to be configured. Just in the mean time, all packages need to be correct. A major problem I have noticed is that the coastal waters forecast zone is not properly set up. This *must* be a coastal zone, not a county zone! If you are not using the coastal waters forecast, just use the example zone of "anz451". This is also case-sensative!!

I enjoy everyone wishing to try out and use the emulator. Expect there to be bugs, although as I say, most problems are with configuring the emulator and not the emulator itself. Alot of the internal bugs of the emulator have already been corrected.

There are a few forecast offices in this country which follow an irregular format than the prescribed "directives" by the NWS, and the configuration server can pick up on that while configuring the emulator. As for the Extended Forecast/Boating Forecast, one of the forecast offices in Flordia follows an irregular format. I would also assume there are other forecast offices that follow this irregular format. The proper format used by the emulator is the "Tabular State Forecast" (SFT). Please don't become frustrated, there is always something that Martin and I can do for you to make this work!

I know not all "preffered" cities are in the Regional Weather Roundup (RWR) for the Current Conditions/Regional Observations. I may change or mingle this with Airport codes (those metar things) so you can pick exactly which location you would like.

If you are having a difficult time configuring the emulator on your own, drop your user name in a post below, and I will check out what the problem is and note what the issue is and correct the problem for you, and make sure the emulator will run properly.

B

66

General Emulator Discussion / Foot Note for Another Project -- Jr!

« on: October 30, 2008, 07:50:53 AM »

I'd figure I would also spill the beans on another project that I decided that I would invest the time (and money) into. While the Weatherscan emulator is my flagship emulator that I've spent and still spend time working on, I stumbled onto something interesting a few weeks ago. Because I also work on electronics in my spare time, I've ordered many parts from an online retailer called Jameco, so in the mail i receive their catalog. So I flip through the catalog and find something interesting on November 2008's page 125. The item is called "XBOB-NC Video Text Module". The unit is basically a on-screen text generator, so I went to the company's website Decade Engineering www.decadenet.com and did a little research of my own on the device. What I found out is that I could almost seemlessly integrate it into a Weatherstar Jr emulator.. in a more of a real hardware sense. So I bought the XBOB-4 off their website for about $250 and I tinkered around with it the other day and i think it would work out just perfectly for displaying text weather data overtop any composite video source, be it blue background or something else you push through it. The fonts builtin to the device are very sharp and not only that, you can make your own fonts using their free XBOB-4 Conscriptor program to use on the device! It interfaces over your serial port so theres no crazy or funky wires going all over the place, just data/video in/video out/power ! So how about them apples??

67

General Discussion / How about those Phillies ??

« on: October 30, 2008, 05:38:48 AM »

Hehe.. I had to do it!!
Just to note, people were crazy in my area, loitering in the streets, setting off fireworks, honking horns without a care and flocking to Dicks Sporting Goods to get gear!

Go Phillies

68

Latest Release Information / Emulator Release- Public Beta 1

« on: October 30, 2008, 04:16:39 AM »

READ THIS FULLY!!!

First, I will preface this and say that Windows Vista has got to be the most uncooperative operating system, not only because of security but because of legacy compatibility!

Anyway, with that out of the way, I would like to invite you to download a copy of the emulator and try it for yourself! If you find that you enjoy the emulator, with the assistance of Martin and I, you can customize the emulator to your local area and select which packages you wish to view.

Although much consideration has been put into this program to run on older-style computers, the rendering time/transition effects depend on how fast your computer can crunch those routines and produce output.

Incase you are not familiar with this project, to customize the emulator to your local area, you must establish a login and password with the configuration server, and then you may configure the emulator to your likening. Martin will assist you with this task because I am generally working while alot of fans populate this site.
To demonstrate the emulator's function, you may use Martin's or my ID until you establish a login, then you may configure the emulator to your local area.

To download the emulator setup file, visit this link: http://copper.yi.org/wsl/setup.exe

After you install the program, a set of 3 icons are created on your desktop and also in your Program's (from the start menu). Each are to: Set the affilate ID, Manually Update the program(in the event i change how the emulator functions on startup, this will download the executible automatically), and the Core program file.

NOTE!! Windows Vista!! NOTE!!
To run this program, you MUST run this as "administrator" by right-clicking on the icon and selecting "Run as Administrator", or else you will experience major trauma!!

To locally configure the emulator for the first time, open the "Set Affiliate" program (Vista note above). To demonstrate the emulator, you may use either: "Martin" or "brian" (without quotes) to test-drive the emulator, I live in Philly Metro area, home of the Phillies World Series Champs. Martin lives in Norfolk, Virgina, home of the cargo ships (just kidding!)

To run the emulator for the first time, run "Weatherscan Local XL" (Vista note above). A box will appear mentioning that this program is copy-controlled. That means we want to know who is using this program!
A temporary 3-day key is provided here:
Name: Trial
Key: 0J3F98-6TXEY5-GX6Q66-NJT5TW

If you would like to use this emulator for your local area, please contact either Martin or I .. (try Martin first) and we will assist you on that task! After your 3-day trial expires using the program, contact either one of us to recieve a key which will allow you to continue using the program.

Please note how you like the program, or if you have any problems! We are looking for feedback. This is the first time this emulator has been released out from beta onto the public.

Happy Emulating!