WXforum.net
Web Weather => Useful Links => Topic started by: Harryca on March 03, 2008, 06:56:34 PM
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This looks like it could be a pretty useful tool. The person that developed it is a ham and it is free to anyone (hams and non-hams).
WXSpots, a new tool in the tool chest for Skywarn operations and weather enthusiasts is now available! WXSpots is a free, Internet based system designed to quickly disseminate observed reports of severe weather to all connected users.
WXSpots is a tool in the tool chest for those interested in severe weather observations. By its very nature of dependence on the Internet, WXSpots can't provide data from a severely affected area. That is where Amateur Radio shines brightest! On the other hand, WXSpots can quickly communicate data from those observers just outside it. It also provides the means to help monitor local severe weather as it unfolds with many more observers able to communicate what they are seeing.
WXSpots features include:
- The ability to disseminate observations quickly and efficiently anywhere.
- The ability to add the eyes of Skywarn enthusiasts who aren't Amateur Radio Operators.
- The ability to instantly create message groups with other connected users on the fly.
- The ability to monitor observations from all users, or only display observations for your state or county.
- An automated, historical record of recent observations.
- The ability to keep tabs on current observations without necessarily being near a radio.
To learn more, please visit www.wxspots.com, and be sure to read through the FAQ page while you are there!
Harry
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I'm still using this little app. It has had quite a few changes since this first post was made though. You can now add your own imagery, have it automatically collect data from your PWS, and with the combination of the free WXWarn program, have it automatically keep you alert of the latest watches, warnings, advisories, forecasts, etc.
I keep my WXSpots opened daily.
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Been using it for about 2 years good program
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Is there any interest out there to get this going again? Over the past few years, interest has dwindled down and now there's only about 12 - 20 people logged on at any given minute. I remember the days when there was around 100 online at one time. It was fun....real time chatting with fellow weather enthusiasts, ground reports, etc. Sure, it's not directly tied into the NWS, but I did know of a few offices that were using it.
If we can pick up activity again, I'm sure a few offices would begin using it again. I stepped away from it myself because the wxspots server was acting up, but all has been stable for a few months now. I'm back on it, and if my laptop is powered up, I'm logged onto it. The biggest thing I see right now is folks log in, make a report and log out, but there's no harm in staying logged in at all times. That helps pick up interest.
Any interest or opinions???
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I recently took over the server for WxSpots and have been pushing it on the WxSpots email groups as well as Facebook page. During the past 24 hours, we've increased the number online to 24-28 during the day. Some of the older members are coming back. My goal is to get back closer to 100 by severe weather season. Its has happened before and can happen again. I'd also like to get more Skywarn spotters involved.
A big thing is once you're logged in, stay logged in. When you step away, just click "minimize to taskbar" instead of exiting. This way the numbers can keep growing. The more online, the more useful it becomes. I'd like to get back to the point when NWS offices used to monitor WxSpots for observations. Not to mention you can connect your weather station to it which is always fun.
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We did real good with the last winter event in the southeastern U.S. We almost touched 50 online, and may have since I wasn't watching the entire time. We've been up to an average of about 32 online at any given moment so severe weather season is looking promising.
If you haven't tried out WxSpots, give it a go. It can get pretty fun conversing with others during active weather. If you have a personal weather station, ask how to get it connected to WxSpots. Also, like our group on Facebook.
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Hi,
I have downloaded, but not sure if I can use it from Canada?
Paul
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You sure can Paul. We have someone over in the UK. Where it says State, I believe you can put in Can. or something. We had a couple members from Canada 2 years ago but can't remember exactly how they had it set up.
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I recently took over the server for WxSpots and have been pushing it on the WxSpots email groups as well as Facebook page. During the past 24 hours, we've increased the number online to 24-28 during the day. Some of the older members are coming back. My goal is to get back closer to 100 by severe weather season. Its has happened before and can happen again. I'd also like to get more Skywarn spotters involved.
A big thing is once you're logged in, stay logged in. When you step away, just click "minimize to taskbar" instead of exiting. This way the numbers can keep growing. The more online, the more useful it becomes. I'd like to get back to the point when NWS offices used to monitor WxSpots for observations. Not to mention you can connect your weather station to it which is always fun.
Scott, Good to see you revive WXSpots. I believe it is a useful program. Another way to generate interest is to ad a banner on your website which is what I did years ago. You can see it here on my tornado/severe t-storm warnings page located at http://ucweather.org/stormauto.php I used the banner that Scott D. had on the WXSpots website however, I don't find it anymore.
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Thanks Harry. Good to hear from you. I have a banner on the bottom of my forums at gulfcoastwx.com, but need to add one to my pws site as well.
We do have a Facebook page as well :)
Hopefully as severe weather season takes off, we'll continue getting more and more active.
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Oh okay, yeah, you have the same one I do. With your permission, I would like to add a text link to your forums page from my tornado/severe t-storms warning page and my hurricane page located at http://ucweather.org/hurricaneauto.php as well. That should help get the word out.
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Most definitely. Thanks for the link.
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Looks like a good chance to put WXSpots to use this weekend.
From NWS:
Heavy rain and thunderstorms possible across Texas and Gulf Coast
A slow moving front along the Gulf Coast will be the focus for rainfall across a wide span of the South this weekend. Abundant moisture from the Gulf will allow periods of heavy rainfall from Texas to the Deep South. Flash Flood Watches are in effect for parts of this region.
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Hey, I'd just like to add that I would certainly be interested in joining! 8-)
Just from checking out the site, it looks like a great gig! Would it just be for the Gulf area though or for severe wx across the nation?
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I am reporting on WXSpots
Lots of flooding activity in LA
Paul
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Hey, I'd just like to add that I would certainly be interested in joining! 8-)
Just from checking out the site, it looks like a great gig! Would it just be for the Gulf area though or for severe wx across the nation?
It doesn't matter where you are (USA, Canada, UK, etc.). It's for everybody (HAM's and non-HAM's). You don't have to be a member of Skywarn although it helps in knowing what to report.
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I haven't been able to connect for the past 2 days. Is it from my end?
Paul
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OK now I can't connect, it gives me a "socket disconnected message" My end or the site?
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OK now I can't connect, it gives me a "socket disconnected message" My end or the site?
It's not you, it's the WXSpots server. Unfortunately, WXSpots will not be working any longer. The following is an email I received via the WXSpots mailing list:
Unfortunately, the time has come to pull the plug on WXSpots.
Scott Davis developed WXSpots eight years ago, but after a number of years, he could no longer devote the time necessary to continue to promote it. I, Scott Guidry, took it over and brought usage up, but not to the level we were hoping for that justifies the time and expense necessary for continuing maintenance of the WX Spots server and related activities. Therefore, after consultation with Scott Davis, we have sadly decided the best course is to take the WXSpots server off line now. After this most recent outage, we were going to put it off until August 1st, however we cannot get the server operational again to last until then. The WXSpots system will no longer function as of today.
This will not have any impact on WXWarn. WXWarn works independently of WXSpots and will continue to function normally. If you do use WXWarn, and have it set up to automatically open WXSpots, please uncheck that option in the menu.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who's taken part in the WXSpots community over the past many years. We are sad to see it go. Again, thank everyone for sharing their observations, storm reports, and just plain old weather chats. We were able to make some long distance friendships through WXSpots, and had some good times through the years. Hopefully those will continue through other forms of social media.
Until next time,
Scott Guidry
Administrator - Gulf Coast Weather
NWS Hammond/Ponchatoula COOP Member and Advanced Storm Spotter
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Thanks, sucks, but Thanks!
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Thanks Scott and Scott for your time and effort to continue this for as long as you have.
Best regards,
Paul
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Thanks for all you have done to keep WxSpots floating during all of this time Scott. Hate to hear that the plug is being pulled, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for everything you have done. 8-)
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Sorry I didn't mean to come off poorly, I am disappointed as I had just gotten to where I was automated, I also would like to say, Thanks, it was a very interesting program.
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FYI, Scott Guidry decided to revive the server so WXSpots is back up and running again.
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Thank you. Took a little while to get the program reinstalled and remember how to add CoCoRaHS report on the list but think I've got it...
Paul
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Hello Paul,
Yep got it up and running again! Glad to see it back! Hope all is well with you.
Al :-)
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Glad to see you all back again. I did miss it while it was gone. WxSpots is running on a simple Dell laptop without a back up battery. So every time I lose commercial power, the server will go down. Each time I have an ISP issue, the server will go down. Every time there is some sort of virus or Windows update which forces a reboot, the server will go down.
It was those things that were frustrating because I'm not home at all times so some times, the server may go down during the day and won't be back up until I return home from work in the evening.
So if we can find a way to bring usage back up again, I'll look into a back up power solution, and a way to stop the reboots...even though all options for those are turned off. I may even try to just purchase a cheap PC to run only WxSpots. Right now, the laptop that's running WxSpots is also running Weather Display for my weather station.
Anyway...great to have it back, great to see you all on there, and try to spread the word again. It's an excellent tool if used correctly!
-DW2721
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Scott, I just noticed on the download page that it says "WXSpots no longer exists". You or Scott D. might want to take that out otherwise people might think it is no longer available and not download it.
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Scott, I just noticed on the download page that it says "WXSpots no longer exists". You or Scott D. might want to take that out otherwise people might think it is no longer available and not download it.
Ah, ok...thanks for the heads up. I'll let him know.
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For those using WxSpots and WxWarn, remember, you can customize the text size, font style and column widths to what you like by going to "Settings", "Appearance".
You can also change what images show up in the lower right window by going to "Settings", "Graphical URL Source Links". I have mine only showing my station's information and use WxWarn for all other imagery.
...and of course, you can point WxSpots to look at your PWS data file in the settings area. It'll auto poll it each night around 3am local time, and also as often as you'd like by clicking "Routine Format Report", "Get Your Home WX Station Data".
Mine look like this:
(https://monosnap.com/file/i6xeDBIa33yoIYKwNdJX4bpBW9Mqoc.png)
(https://monosnap.com/file/i7NbnFMVVqXVr8nO2guz7HuIPcMQjR.png)
(https://monosnap.com/file/O4nAcliIKyDNSw4PPUUnkePLsPJYmi.png)
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I haven't been able to connect since yesterday. Is it me, or the server down?
Paul
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I haven't been able to connect since yesterday. Is it me, or the server down?
Paul
Darn, sorry...thought i posted something here. Something happened early yesterday morning and I cannot get the server to reconnect to my ISP after trying all sorts of things. I'm really not sure what's going on, and do not have enough networking experience to troubleshoot further. It sucks because just as I thought we were good with a new backup battery and external fan, this happens.
I emailed Scott D. but he's limited in experience as well. I wish there would be someone reliable, with a nice server who would be willing to take it over so we don't see it die again. But for now, yes, it's down...and not sure how long :(
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Thanks. And sorry, I don't think there is anything I can help you with that.
Paul
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We're live again for now...hopefully we can last longer than 24 hours this time.
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I can't log in and says "User name is not valid" (using the default login user and password and have verified it. Could that be a server issue or will I need to reregister.
Paul
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I can't log in and says "User name is not valid" (using the default login user and password and have verified it. Could that be a server issue or will I need to reregister.
Paul
Yes, I had to completely re-install the application so you may have to re-register. Try registering with the same information you had last time....should work.
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Well that was easy... All I had to do as click the new user button and everything then came up.
Thanks,
Paul
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Ditto. Back up and running here. Thanks, Scott.
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Just wanted to mention, we're still a go here...and I've made some changes over the past few weeks that has lowered connection issues. I know Paul is a constant user, and i thank him for that...love to watch those high wind reports from Canada :)
We'd love to have more users though!
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We're still up and running. WxSpots is a great tool for weather reporting and communicating between other weather lovers. Other than a hiccup here and there from my ISP, the server has been pretty stable for the most part. We'd love to get more users.
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Hi,
Great, just tested and upload worked fine.
Actually, just yesterday I was tempted to remove the shortcut off of my desktop. Glad I didn't as it started immediately.
Paul
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Hi,
Great, just tested and upload worked fine.
Actually, just yesterday I was tempted to remove the shortcut off of my desktop. Glad I didn't as it started immediately.
Paul
When you see that gateway error at the bottom, it's because my ISP is having issues. They've been dealing with a network problem affecting my area. I'm really hoping they've fixed their issue.
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Since we've dedicated a page for WxSpots on my forum, I figured I'd share it here as well. We'd love to get back to the 50 to 100 online like we used to have a few years ago. If you download it or start running it again, keeping it running in the background while you're away is a huge help to increase numbers over time.
http://gulfcoastwx.com/page/wxspots
(https://monosnap.com/file/YZFofAT3uWzmHcZmnPT7W36DOJOgwu.png)