Author Topic: Wunderground NOAA Radio Streams ??? (Read 12322 times)

Cutty Sark Sailor · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2017, 06:40:58 PM »

I've tried several times to generate interest in a NOAA Radio page... standby.

cospringswx · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2017, 06:52:14 PM »

Quote from: Jáchym on February 04, 2017, 06:00:58 PM

And I would say that if even you did not get a reply, things are really bad at WU end, because I know that several times when I tried contacting them (back when I was still so naive thinking things might get better), they never got back to me only after you stepped in

That is a damn shame. They should respond no matter who you are. That's bad service.

cospringswx · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2017, 06:52:43 PM »

Quote from: Cutty Sark Sailor on February 04, 2017, 06:40:58 PM

I've tried several times to generate interest in a NOAA Radio page... standby.

I'm interested.

Jáchym · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2017, 07:09:47 PM »

Quote from: cospringswx on February 04, 2017, 06:52:14 PM

Quote from: Jáchym on February 04, 2017, 06:00:58 PM
And I would say that if even you did not get a reply, things are really bad at WU end, because I know that several times when I tried contacting them (back when I was still so naive thinking things might get better), they never got back to me only after you stepped in

That is a damn shame. They should respond no matter who you are. That's bad service.

Last year I noticed a fundamental error in the Czech translation. The problem was with the translation of the phrase "rapid fire" - the word "fire" in Czech means only fire - nothing else. And the problem was that stations that use the Rapid fire feature have this written below their name on maps etc. And the person translating it probably had no idea what "rapid fire" really means so the translation in Czech meant literally "rapidly spreading forest fire"...

And now imagine you did not now English and did not know WU, and you saw many stations showing "rapidly spreading forest fire"....

I emailed them several times, used FB, Twitter... not only did they not correct it, they did not even reply to me, not a single time. I also offered help with other translations, which werent as bad, but also incorrect or inaccurate. Nothing...

Then I posted about this here and Ken stepped in and the next day "rapid fire" in Czech was no longer "rapidly spreading forest fire"....

SLOweather · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2017, 08:32:32 PM »

I've always tried to keep things like this as much as possible "in house".

Way back before "Wonder(if it works)ground" thought about NOAA streaming, I ran a scanner set to the local NOAA frequency, plugged into a Windows computer running WinAmp with the Shoutcast DNAS plugin, streaming to my Linux server running a Shoutcast server.

When I do similar things now, about the only thing that has changed is that I use the free version of RadioFeed from proscan.org instead of WinAmp. During fire season I usually stream one or more scanners, not so much for the general public, but for a few friends and me. The technology is sufficiently advanced now that things I dreamed about not to long ago are now commonplace, like streaming to my cell phone.

Shoucast is cool in that, once you figure out how to run one server, you just copy and paste that folder, make a couple of edits to the config file and run it and it's up.

If you have a Linux server, you might be able to do the same.

[nostalgia mode] Back in the 90s the hot setup was forwarding my email to my (gasp) alphanumeric PAGER so I could see what emails were coming in.

How far we've come...[/nostalgia mode]

Mark / Ohio · « **Reply #30 on:** February 04, 2017, 08:47:50 PM »

Don't these other options all require the server running from your home computer? Reason I ask is I'm on phone line DSL internet and the IP changes. So if a hole through the firewall and router/DSLmodem is required I still will have to reconfigure my webpage link whenever my internet connection IP address changes correct? Or am I trying to make this too complicated?

(I currently use ScannerCast as the feed to WU which as I have read does have server ability built into it though I have never used it that way.)

saratogaWX · « **Reply #31 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:12:12 PM »

Quote from: Mark / Ohio on February 04, 2017, 08:47:50 PM

Don't these other options all require the server running from your home computer? Reason I ask is I'm on phone line DSL internet and the IP changes. So if a hole through the firewall and router/DSLmodem is required I still will have to reconfigure my webpage link whenever my internet connection IP address changes correct? Or am I trying to make this too complicated?

(I currently use ScannerCast as the feed to WU which as I have read does have server ability built into it though I have never used it that way.)

Yes, the local provided stream is generated on your home weather system, and you need a port 88 TCP 'hole' punched through your firewall so that folks can connect. I use a DynDns registration to map to my current home IP address and use that DNS entry in my script.
I've set the stream to 32Kb (max) and since I have 6MBps upload on my Comcast cable, I'm not too worried about extra bandwidth just yet. On DSL, you may have much less upload BW available, so it would be good to limit the streams should you choose to provide them locally. Having a free (single) DynDns registration would allow you to keep the webpage the same despite changes in your IP address (assuming you run the DynDns client on your system).

Mark / Ohio · « **Reply #32 on:** February 04, 2017, 10:44:39 PM »

Quote from: saratogaWX on February 04, 2017, 10:12:12 PM

... On DSL, you may have much less upload BW available, so it would be good to limit the streams should you choose to provide them locally. Having a free (single) DynDns registration would allow you to keep the webpage the same despite changes in your IP address (assuming you run the DynDns client on your system).

That would be my next issue is bandwidth. My upload is pretty weak. I cannot imagine anywhere near as many consecutive connections compared to being on WU but the county EMA has a link in their app to me on WU and notified me once when my stream went down. If they were to update their app with a direct link to me then I'm probably going to have a problem.

Below is my typical speed test results. I do have Spectrum high speed cable and also U-Verse available through ATT. Wondering if it would be worth the trouble to do until I get on a hotter connection at some point in the future. Edit: Also still just using the Acer Aspire One netbook for weather duty so not a lot of hp. left there for server work either.

SLOweather · « **Reply #33 on:** February 04, 2017, 11:37:55 PM »

Hey, Mark! I was just over on mytractorforum cruising the weather board.

There are three parts to this lashup.

Th radio connects to the mic or line in of a computer that is running a program to encode the audio and send it to a computer or server running a broadcast server software.

In the simple case, the broadcast program can be on the same computer as the encoder. But generally they are separate and the broadcast program is on a web server out on the Internet.

So the encoder sends one stream to the server, where it is multiplied into as many outgoing stream as desired. The number of outgoing streams and all that is set in a config file on the server.

The serving software buffers the incoming audio and then sends it out when some other user computer connects to it. At low bit rates, the buffer delay from coming out of the radio to coming out of the listener speakers can be as much as a couple of minutes.

My RadioFeed source is set to 48 kbps which is well with the limits of a DSL line. As far as dynamic IP addresses, you can always use a dynamic DNS service if necessary.

And, if you wanna get tricky and you have 2 radios, you can set up a stereo source and stream one on each channel. Double the pleasure, double the fun...

On the one hand, I'm lucky to have my own physical server in a local colo facility to play with for things like this, so I dunno if a hosted shared server would work. If you have shell access it should work.

OTOH, the machine I built cost quite a bit, and the monthly rack/bandwidth is far from the free or low cost hosting most are looking for.

OTOOH (On The Other Other Hand), I'm also my own tech support, which is both a blessing and a curse.

Chris

Quote from: Mark / Ohio on February 04, 2017, 08:47:50 PM

Don't these other options all require the server running from your home computer? Reason I ask is I'm on phone line DSL internet and the IP changes. So if a hole through the firewall and router/DSLmodem is required I still will have to reconfigure my webpage link whenever my internet connection IP address changes correct? Or am I trying to make this too complicated?

(I currently use ScannerCast as the feed to WU which as I have read does have server ability built into it though I have never used it that way.)

Cutty Sark Sailor · « **Reply #34 on:** February 04, 2017, 11:52:24 PM »

Using Broadwave, I use 24 min-56max stereo mp3 ...that's enough, and BW only used when accessed, otherwise Idle .. if need to, put a time-out on we page player.. I do that on my video streams, so it breaks connection if someone 'camps out'. Using y combiner mono out of radio to stereo in so streams as L+R ... nothing more irritating to me than just one channel out of one speaker...

Mark / Ohio · « **Reply #35 on:** February 05, 2017, 01:24:56 AM »

Quote from: SLOweather on February 04, 2017, 11:37:55 PM

...On the one hand, I'm lucky to have my own physical server in a local colo facility to play with for things like this, so I dunno if a hosted shared server would work. If you have shell access it should work.

OTOH, the machine I built cost quite a bit, and the monthly rack/bandwidth is far from the free or low cost hosting most are looking for.

OTOOH (On The Other Other Hand), I'm also my own tech support, which is both a blessing and a curse.

Chris....

I'm currently on ICDsoft business plan. Looks like I would have to step up to the $300/ month first class plan for that kind of server access and usage. I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon..

So it looks like if I do it, it's going to have to be a home bound setup.

I was not aware of the DynDNS service until Ken mentioned it. That does solve one main issue I was worried about.

Bunty · « **Reply #36 on:** February 05, 2017, 02:56:46 AM »

I'm still hoping WU will come through on this. Rapid Fire Flash, which was down for a while, is now working again. Hopefully, that is a sign for more good things to come.

Before WU NOAA streaming went down, I'd commonly have 1 to 3 listeners. But it would go up to around 50 during weather warnings. Broadwave charges a rather hefty fee for unlimited listeners.

Jáchym · « **Reply #37 on:** February 05, 2017, 08:10:50 AM »

Quote

Rapid Fire Flash

Are you suggesting they still use Flash on some parts of their website?!

Mark / Ohio · « **Reply #38 on:** February 06, 2017, 01:42:50 AM »

I have NOAA radio back on my website again.

Turns out that ScannerCast that I've used for several years to upload to WU has also been serving it out on my LAN and I did not even know it.

I found if I used Firefox and punched in the local IP of my weather computer and port 8000 (xxx.xxx.x.xx:8000) I had radio playing on all my other connected devices. So I forwarded the port on my DSL modem/router which was easy enough but could not get the radio to play. Verified port 8000 was open and forwarded but still no go. Turns out I found a post on the net where someone made the comment about some routers having a "loopback" protection to keep one computer on the LAN from trying to look at another computer on the LAN via an external route. So I turned off wifi on my iPhone and went to using straight LTE data and viola! I heard my radio!

So I updated my webpage with a Dyndns host and so far seems to work. I'm still undecided how many connections I should limit to ScannerCast. I have it set to 20 right now. Guess I'll see how many consecutive connections it shows over the next week and see if things come to a crawl.

Meanwhile ScannerCast is set to still try to make connection with WU. At least this way my personal website is operational again with a working live radio link. WU will have to worry about their app with the dead link on it.

http://kig86noaaradio.dyndns-ip.com:8000/

On a side note I'm not sure if all browsers will play it like Firefox and Edge or if I'll need to figure out some sort of a "player" for visitors. So far IE wanted to download it rather then playing.

hankster · « **Reply #39 on:** February 06, 2017, 07:53:27 AM »

Plays OK on OSX and Chrome and Safari.

chappelledpc · « **Reply #40 on:** February 06, 2017, 12:54:14 PM »

Thinking about setting up Raspberry pi to stream NOAA Radio for my site. Curious if anyone else set a pi up to stream audio from an external source like a weather radio?

Thanks,

Doug

ke7nwl · « **Reply #41 on:** February 06, 2017, 05:01:42 PM »

My workaround for the Weather Underground situation is to run my own Icecast2 server, and simply change the URL and password that my computer streams to. So instead of http://audioplayer.wunderground.com:8000/KE7NWL/Spokane.mp3.m3u it's now http://wxradio.grimtech.net:8000/KE7NWL/Spokane.mp3.m3u. I'm going to let it run for awhile and see how much bandwidth it uses, but if I have the resources, I may open my Icecast2 server up to other weather radio streamers. I'm interested in Cutty Sark Sailor's NOAA radio page too.

Quote from: chappelledpc on February 06, 2017, 12:54:14 PM

Thinking about setting up Raspberry pi to stream NOAA Radio for my site. Curious if anyone else set a pi up to stream audio from an external source like a weather radio?

Yes Doug, I run a similar setup on a low-power linux computer. I wrote a blog article, and also made a video about it. http://grimtech.net/noaa-wxl86-radio-stream/

chappelledpc · « **Reply #42 on:** February 07, 2017, 02:44:00 PM »

Thank you so much for the reply with all the info. I've got a new pi, USB audio dongle and new radio (with a headphone jack. Old one didn't have one.) ordered. They should all be here later this week. So I'll be having fun this weekend if my head doesn't get too sore http://www.wxforum.net/Smileys/default/eusa_wall.gif

Thanks again,

Doug

colonieweather · « **Reply #43 on:** February 07, 2017, 07:26:47 PM »

Reply I received from William:

Hello,

We're currently unable to provide the weather radio feed due to an unknown technical problem. We're investigating and will restore if possible. However, with the ever-decreasing listenership, it might no longer be viable.

But I will push for its return.

Thank you,
William
Wunderground Support

tim273 · « **Reply #44 on:** February 07, 2017, 08:11:28 PM »

Quote from: chappelledpc on February 06, 2017, 12:54:14 PM

Thinking about setting up Raspberry pi to stream NOAA Radio for my site. Curious if anyone else set a pi up to stream audio from an external source like a weather radio?

Thanks,

Doug

I to am (was?) using a Raspberry Pi to stream the weather radio, I use darkice and it works quite well.

Tim

Mark / Ohio · « **Reply #45 on:** February 07, 2017, 08:43:02 PM »

Quote from: colonieweather on February 07, 2017, 07:26:47 PM

Reply I received from William:

Hello,

We're currently unable to provide the weather radio feed due to an unknown technical problem. We're investigating and will restore if possible. However, with the ever-decreasing listenership, it might no longer be viable.

But I will push for its return.

Thank you,
William
Wunderground Support

Hmm, I read that as depending on how many or few complaints we receive we might never bother to fix it.

I guess we'll know the answer the next time they update their phone app if the option to listen to NOAA radio is still present or not.

satcop · « **Reply #46 on:** February 07, 2017, 09:08:09 PM »

I got the same reply from WU as well, in fact it was word for word, probably cut and paste.

Quote

We're currently unable to provide the weather radio feed due to an unknown technical problem. We're investigating and will restore if possible. However, with the ever-decreasing listenership, it might no longer be viable.

But I will push for its return.

Looks like setting up an alternative is the way to go.

saratogaWX · « **Reply #47 on:** February 07, 2017, 10:16:03 PM »

Just got the same *exact* message

Maybe William works Tues-Sat

The wunderground WIKI setup instructions say to use audiostream.wunderground.com, and that's what my edcast is using as the target.

Both audiostream.wunderground.com and audioplayer.wunderground.com (used for listening to streams) have no DNS entries at this time. Sigh.

Cutty Sark Sailor · « **Reply #48 on:** February 09, 2017, 03:40:10 PM »

Here's a quick and very dirty test, with stream URLs I could grab quickly from those of you who've posted on this thread...
http://ourspecial.net/NOAANET2/
May take a few moments to connect to your streams...
Mike

Otis · « **Reply #49 on:** February 09, 2017, 06:03:08 PM »

Oh I like this Mike, good work as always. So what's next?

News:

Author Topic: Wunderground NOAA Radio Streams ??? (Read 12322 times)