Weather Underground NWS Streaming Project

[wuhu_software]

The Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com) is launching a new service that will allow users to listen to National Weather Service radio broadcasts.

We are attempting to build a network of individuals who will volunteer to upload their local NWS feed to the Weather Underground audio servers.

If you are interest in learning more you can click here:

http://home.comcast.net/~wuhu_software/Oddcast/Oddcast.htm

[capeweather]

I have interest but have one question though. Will wunderground act as a buffer for the listeners or will the listeners be pulling the audio directly from my PC? Also, can the software that you provide also be used as a local source instead of just uploading to WU? I'd like to have an all in one instead of having to use 2 different applications to provide the audio.

[wuhu_software]

WU will act as the buffer. They will automatically re-broadcast your stream to any number of listeners on demand. They will be able to handle many more listeners than you can provide on a typical broadband connection.

The outcast software will monitor the audio source. I am not sure if outcast can provide local streaming capability or not. I believe they have an open source server that you could use if you wish to stream directly from your PC.

If you wish to provide the stream via other web pages, you can simply use the direct link to your stream at WU.

For instance my stream is:

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/BrightonMi/Detroit.mp3.m3u

Thanks.

I have interest but have one question though. Will wunderground act as a buffer for the listeners or will the listeners be pulling the audio directly from my PC? Also, can the software that you provide also be used as a local source instead of just uploading to WU? I'd like to have an all in one instead of having to use 2 different applications to provide the audio.

[capeweather]

Great! I like the idea. Now...How do I get registered?  

[wuhu_software]

Firstly you need a WU account. They will provide free no ads accounts for those who stream in the future. For now you can just use a free account if you do not already have one.

The next thing you need is a WU Photo ID. Once logged in to WU, click the 'My Photos' link to create one if you have not already done so.

Once you have the Photo ID, you only need to download, install, and configure the oddcast client. See http://www.oddsock.org/tools/oddcastv3/ for the software download. The stand alone version is recommended.

See the project page for configuration information details:

http://home.comcast.net/~wuhu_software/Oddcast/Oddcast.htm

Great! I like the idea. Now...How do I get registered?  

[capeweather]

I'm already a member and can't seem to find the link for a photo ID. The link I went to was the one I'm posting below and could not locate it. Is there something that I'm missing?

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/myphotos.html

[wuhu_software]

I'm already a member and can't seem to find the link for a photo ID. The link I went to was the one I'm posting below and could not locate it. Is there something that I'm missing?

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/myphotos.html

Try this:

Once you have created an account and are logged in to the Weather Underground, click the 'My Photos' link at the left side of the screen. You should see your handle listed where MyHandle is your Weather Underground Handle (MYHandles's WunderPhotos)

[capeweather]

Still can't find it. I created a WU account a long time ago to upload my data that I'm still using today. Is there some other type of account that I need to create? Also, there was nothing posted as MYHandles Wunderphotos. Any other ideas or something that I should look for?

[capeweather]

I even googled this...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=MYHandles%27s+WunderPhotos&btnG=Google+Search

[wuhu_software]

Still can't find it. I created a WU account a long time ago to upload my data that I'm still using today. Is there some other type of account that I need to create? Also, there was nothing posted as MYHandles Wunderphotos. Any other ideas or something that I should look for?

When you go to the WU web page, and log in, you should see a link at the left side of the screen, 'My Photos'.

After you click that link, it should say somewhere on the screen SoAndSo's WunderPhotos where SoAndSo is your Photo ID.

If you do not have a Photo ID, try uploading a picture, it should prompt you to create one at that point.

New WU users create a handle when they register. If you have an older account, the handle must be created.

Let me know if can find/create your handle.

Thanks.

[capeweather]

Maybe I have been overlooking things. I just uploaded a screenshot to my server and also a photo to wunderground. Take a look. Does my screen match yours when you log on? I never got questioned about uploading a photo accept that is was pending approval.

www.capeweather.com/desktop.gif

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/imagesearch.html?handle=capeweather&handlebox=1&submit=go

[wuhu_software]

Maybe I have been overlooking things. I just uploaded a screenshot to my server and also a photo to wunderground. Take a look. Does my screen match yours when you log on? I never got questioned about uploading a photo accept that is was pending approval.

www.capeweather.com/desktop.gif

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/imagesearch.html?handle=capeweather&handlebox=1&submit=go

I am not positive, but it appears that your handle is:

capeweather

It is listed right there in the URL you posted.

When you configure outcast, use the handle, capeweather, and the password will be the one used to log in to WU (with your email addr).

Let me know if it works.

[carterlake]

This is all really interesting because I have a little hand-held flashlight/NOAA radio with both a line out and the ability to hook up 12v power.

I'll have to buy a cord for the audio and see if I can get it streaming.

[carterlake]

I didn't have a male to male 3.5 mm adapter so I McGrevored one together.... worked... sounded horrible though.

So, my little $10 flashlight/radio should work!

Cool and I found a 120 to 12v adapter while I was looking for a cord.

Should have something up and running within a day or two.

Wow. And I thought I was going to have to song and dance my spouse to get another radio.

[carterlake]

Wow! that was stupid easy.

Here's the radio I have: Vector Weatherband Radio/Flashlight Combo

I got it on sale for $15-20.

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/CarterLake/CarterLake.mp3.m3u

[anchorageweather]

Wow! that was stupid easy.

Here's the radio I have: Vector Weatherband Radio/Flashlight Combo

I got it on sale for $15-20.

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/CarterLake/CarterLake.mp3.m3u

Im getting a 404 error "file not found" in my player ?!?

[anchorageweather]

Wow! that was stupid easy.

Here's the radio I have: Vector Weatherband Radio/Flashlight Combo

I got it on sale for $15-20.

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/CarterLake/CarterLake.mp3.m3u

Im getting a 404 error "file not found" in my player ?!?

It works if you connect from the wunderground site at:

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/

[carterlake]

Im getting a 404 error "file not found" in my player ?!?

You must have you media configured differently then mine... when I click, it opens a media player and begins playing.

You can also click here:

http://www.carterlake.org/noaaradio.php

(Note: I've been playing with reception so... it may have sounded horrible there for a while. I think I found a sweet spot... wish I could make the audio a bit louder though)

[anchorageweather]

Im getting a 404 error "file not found" in my player ?!?

You must have you media configured differently then mine... when I click, it opens a media player and begins playing.

You can also click here:

http://www.carterlake.org/noaaradio.php

(Note: I've been playing with reception so... it may have sounded horrible there for a while. I think I found a sweet spot... wish I could make the audio a bit louder though)

Seems to be fine now?!? Sound level seems correct also on my system

[ncpilot]

This all looks, or should I say "sounds" interesting...

I haven't downloaded and installed the program yet, and realize it has help built-in... but would like to ask the question here...

Is the audio constantly streaming from my radio->computer->wunderground? i.e., there's no discrete recording period of the broadcast that is saved? Just 100% live streaming?

What kind of cpu load and bandwidth use should I expect to see?

Here's a cheap radio at Walmart:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4891525

Has a headphone jack, don't know if A/C adaptor is included or not...

I'm going to explore this option a bit more...

[capeweather]

Ok, finally got around to finishing this up...I'm on the air now

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/capeweather/capecoral.mp3.m3u

or you can go here...

http://www.capeweather.com/noaa-weather-radio.html

[carterlake]

Is the audio constantly streaming from my radio->computer->wunderground? i.e., there's no discrete recording period of the broadcast that is saved? Just 100% live streaming?

What kind of cpu load and bandwidth use should I expect to see?

Yes, 100% streaming.... to WU's server and they rebroadcast.

CPU load is <1% on my computer. The quality is very very low 16K so low bandwidth.

Since WU re-broadcasts, that is all the bandwidth there is. There could be 200 people listening and your bandwidth stays the same.

Don't forget the male to male 3.5mm adapter. It's another $5 at Wal-Mart.

[wuhu_software]

Ok, finally got around to finishing this up...I'm on the air now

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/capeweather/capecoral.mp3.m3u

or you can go here...

http://www.capeweather.com/noaa-weather-radio.html

Your stream is coming in loud and clear.

Thanks for participating in the project!

[capeweather]

Thanks for sharing this info and for the help mentioned earlier.  

[NoQuitters]

That was easier than I thought!

http://audiostream.wunderground.com/OPwx/OverlandPark.mp3.m3u