Messages

1396

Hurricane Central / Re: Predictions for 2010 Atlantic hurricane season retirements

« on: October 19, 2010, 09:10:57 AM »

The only one that may have a slight chance is Alex, and that really never hit the US (it made direct landfall in Mexico).

A storm doesn't have to affect the United States in order for it to be retired.  Any country affected by a tropical cyclone can submit a name to be retired.

1397

Everything Else Classic TWC / Re: Videos of 2 Simultaneous local forecasts from 2 different locations

« on: October 18, 2010, 08:18:53 PM »

Wow, that brings me back.  Once upon a time I had every single WeatherStar III flavor committed to memory.  And this was actually a bigger feat then, since there was no "local on the 8's" back then... the local forecast came on at different times depending on the time of day. 

1398

The Game Room / Re: Stupid Questions

« on: October 18, 2010, 04:05:32 PM »

Am i the drink nazi?

Heil, spritzer!

Is there such a thing as too partly sunny?

1399

The Game Room / Re: Stupid Questions

« on: October 17, 2010, 04:42:37 PM »

Apple 4eva, if you're going to use my statement in your signature, does that mean I get paid royalties? 

(Seriously, though, I don't mind at all.)

1400

The Game Room / Re: Stupid Questions

« on: October 17, 2010, 04:41:53 PM »

Is the WeatherStar I still being used?

I hope not!  Actually, the WeatherStar I caused so much RF interference that it was quickly changed to the WeatherStar II, which itself didn't last long before the more advanced WeatherStar III was developed.  Since the WeatherStar III was given the kibosh by the FCC for not being able to sound a warning tone at the beginning of every repeat of a weather warning, I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that there's a functioning WeatherStar I anywhere.  In fact, I doubt there was a functioning WeatherStar I in use anywhere by the time the 1980s ended, if even that late.

1401

Local Forecast / Re: HD Satellite Star Update?

« on: October 17, 2010, 04:40:00 PM »

Hmm i just noticed but where did the fact of national STARs pushing out from TWC come from? I thought the only two national STARs were at DirecTVs/Dishs headends 

Prior to the late 1980s (I believe 1987), viewers without a local WeatherStar, or with a malfunctioning unit, simply saw a black screen (or the briefly-used background animations) and heard the local forecast music whenever a local forecast was playing.  In 1987, a primitive scrolling "Travel Cities Forecast" was used that eventually evolved into the same format used by the WeatherStar III and, when it was released, the WeatherStar 4000, including the switch from text-only to graphical forecasts.  In the mid 1990s, this was changed when a series of maps (national and regional radars, satellites, and forecast maps, along with forecasts for selected cities) began, and this has changed several times since, though not in the past few years.

1402

General Discussion / Re: R.I.P. Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010)

« on: October 17, 2010, 04:04:19 PM »

Never heard of her.

  Do you have any familiarity with 1950s television at all? 

1403

Local Forecast / Re: HD Satellite Star Update?

« on: October 17, 2010, 04:03:37 PM »

The biggest and most welcome change of all would be the introduction of the HD Intellistar in more markets. 

As for the national Stars, it's actually been a while since any modifications have been made.  I remember in the 1990s it seemed like changes were being made on a yearly basis, once they started using maps instead of the never-ending "Travel Cities Forecast."

1404

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: October 15, 2010, 07:49:41 PM »

if only the LDL would be on during commercials also, that would be a sight to see.

It's happened on occasion, ever since the LDLs first appeared in the 1980s, but, of course, this is only as the result of human error or a technical glitch.  The only exceptions are, naturally, the scrolling weather advisories.

1405

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: October 13, 2010, 12:21:57 AM »

Why aren't they using the video wall anymore?

1406

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: October 12, 2010, 09:25:34 PM »

Now that most of you mention it, the absence of the video wall is taking longer than expected. They should have fixed it by now.

I think it's because of several reasons.

First, the video wall, like many other kinds of video displays, has grown dimmer over time.  It requires a very bright display to overcome the effects of the bright studio lighting and still be picked up by the camera.

Second, a video display will never appear quite as sharp on camera as directly-generated computer graphics, such as the chroma key wall.  Crudely speaking, think of copying one videotape to another.  The second generation is going to be somewhat worse in quality than the first.  That's the general idea here.  Instead of looking at the video wall directly with your eyes, the image from the video wall has to be captured by a camera, converted to an electrical signal, sent to the broadcast equipment, transmitted via satellite and cable, reproduced on your TV screen, and only then seen by your eyes.

Third, I'm sure the budget does come into play here, as refurbishing the video wall can't be cheap.

1407

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Paula

« on: October 11, 2010, 05:04:03 PM »

It looks like this storm is going to be causing some problems for quite a few people for a while.

1408

Local Forecast / Re: XL current conditions question

« on: October 10, 2010, 09:01:57 PM »

I know of this.. i dont know if i can talk about it..

Such a tease   I think it would be ok but up to you

Shh... are you sure we're even allowed to discuss the existence on the-network-that-must-not-be-named at all?

1409

Local Forecast / Re: XL current conditions question

« on: October 10, 2010, 04:10:54 PM »

I know of this.. i dont know if i can talk about it..

Why wouldn't you be able to discuss something that is broadcast to the general public?

1410

Local Forecast / Re: XL current conditions question

« on: October 10, 2010, 04:10:18 PM »

Hey,

I always wondered how the XL displayed the current conditions. I've watched plenty of XL videos but I havent seen any with more uncommon conditions such as sleet, rain/snow, etc. I guess i'm asking what the conditions displayed were. Like did it display "rain/snow" or "rain and snow" etc. I dont know if you guys would know about this but just thought i'd ask just in case. Thanks

Years ago when we had the first version of the XL here (this was a good decade ago), it said "Rain/Snow".  Today, I have no idea.