Weather Underground NWS Streaming Project

[wuhu_software]

Sounds good to me.

Thanks for pointing me to that site.

Nice job mainting the listings roanokevalleyweather.com!

http://www.roanokevalleyweather.com/noaawxradio.htm

With some people hearing hums on some streams and some people not hearing the hum I am asking that a few of you listen to my stream to see if there is a noticeable hum on my stream. I don't hear one but I guess that doesn't mean there might not be one. Thanks.

Lonnie

http://pulliamjr.com/NOAA_RADIO.htm

[anchorageweather]

With some people hearing hums on some streams and some people not hearing the hum I am asking that a few of you listen to my stream to see if there is a noticeable hum on my stream. I don't hear one but I guess that doesn't mean there might not be one. Thanks.

Lonnie

http://pulliamjr.com/NOAA_RADIO.htm

No hum..  just the regular background noise you would expect from a "weather radio".  It doesn't sound any different to me than listening to the radio itself.

[racenet]

With some people hearing hums on some streams and some people not hearing the hum I am asking that a few of you listen to my stream to see if there is a noticeable hum on my stream. I don't hear one but I guess that doesn't mean there might not be one. Thanks.

Lonnie

http://pulliamjr.com/NOAA_RADIO.htm

Lonnie,

Just took a listen and hear no hum what so ever.


Bob

[katlon]

Thanks guys.

Lonnie

[ncpilot]

The second file does seem to be hum free, but mine doesn't seem objectionable...

Listening at work running sound through Monsoon MH-500 speaker system...

I've got no problem trying to improve the sound quality, just a little crunched for time this time of year...

If we could agree on a specific time, I can plug in a portable CD player, and play some music to see if it has the hum, at least that would help narrow down the problem... then people "out there" could listen...

I can also use a battery in the radio for a period of time, although I think it will suck it dry very fast... I am using a cheap "multi" AC adaptor to power the radio, but I've had it plugged into 2 different outlets, and reversed the orientation, apparently to no effect... (uh, is that a bad sign that the AC adaptor doesn't have a polarized plug??   )

I can try listening on my HT system again, this time with both my 10" transmission line subwoofers running, powered by their own 250W amp........     , AND, sit on my couch which has 4 transducers attached, powered by a plate amp.... I'll report back on the hum...

LOL........ just messing around...

ncpilot,

This is really odd. If I reduce the bass on my system, the hum is much less. Maybe your home stereo audio system is somehow filtering out the hum.

Just as a test, here are a couple wav files to play. The first is your stream, the second is another NC stream. Let me know if you hear a difference.

http://home.comcast.net/~Brighton-Mi/NWSNC.wav

http://home.comcast.net/~Brighton-Mi/NWSNC2.wav

Thanks.

[racenet]

If we could agree on a specific time, I can plug in a portable CD player, and play some music to see if it has the hum, at least that would help narrow down the problem... then people "out there" could listen...

Do we get to pick the tunes?    

[W3DRM]

...I am using a cheap "multi" AC adaptor to power the radio, but I've had it plugged into 2 different outlets, and reversed the orientation, apparently to no effect... (uh, is that a bad sign that the AC adaptor doesn't have a polarized plug??   )

Yes, you definitely have a noticeable hum in your audio feed.

No, not having a polarized plug is not an indication of anything other than that's the way it was designed. But, I'll bet that your problem is your AC adaptor. If you were to look at its output with an oscilloscope you'd probably see lots of AC riding the DC voltage. Cheap adaptors are cheap because they don't have sufficient filtering in them to elminate the AC portion of the DC. That AC then gets induced into the circuitry of the radio due to poor filtering in the radio also. My recommendation is to get another AC adaptor to see what happens. If that doesn't work, get another radio and use only the AC adaptor that comes with it. I'm assumming the adaptor you are currently using did not come with the radio - correct?

EDIT - If your radio is drawing more current than the AC adaptor is rated for, that could also cause a hum.

[ncpilot]

quick, quick, listen now!!!!!

Ok, stuck a battery in, and the hum went away. Sorry, no music will be broadcast tonight. Looks to be the AC adaptor...

Considering the cost of a decent adaptor, I should probably just put it towards a better weather radio...

I might be able to dig up a few other adaptors around the house...

I'm sure the battery will die a quick death, so I'll go back to the adaptor for now, and try to fix something by the end of the week...

[kray1000]

Pssst.... hey guys...

We're on the air!  (http://www.wunderground.com)





 

[ncpilot]

Went back to the cheap Emerson radio, plugged into an outlet with the built-in cord. Sounds like a bit of hum still.

Two different radios, both on AC adaptor, induce hum--sounds like a common thread... something leaking into my audio input cable?

[capeweather]

nc, do you have your radio near a ups or any electronic device that is emitting emi. try taking your radio to a different part of the house and see if that works out better. i have a situation where emi leaks into my radio and will cause a slight hum. i finally have it in a position where it is minimal but still there.

[carterlake]

quick, quick, listen now!!!!!

Ok, stuck a battery in, and the hum went away. Sorry, no music will be broadcast tonight. Looks to be the AC adaptor...

Considering the cost of a decent adaptor, I should probably just put it towards a better weather radio...

I might be able to dig up a few other adaptors around the house...

I'm sure the battery will die a quick death, so I'll go back to the adaptor for now, and try to fix something by the end of the week...

Like I said... I just went off the batteries... I get about 3 weeks out of 3 Rayvok "D"s... and the radio has a low battery indicator. I thought about rechargable "D"s but they cost outragous sums of money.

Don't know if this thing would do any good towards reducing hum.

[ncpilot]

That link gave me a few ideas, the major one is to switch outlets where I don't have an X-10 lamp module plugged in... but my audio cord isn't very long...

Easiest step is to use an extension cord to an outlet in another room to see if that stops hum... then go from there...

I think a better radio would help, and can't see spending $15+ on devices to filter noise when I could put that toward a decent radio... (assuming a better radio will filter the gargabe).

Marc

[ncpilot]

nc, do you have your radio near a ups or any electronic device that is emitting emi. try taking your radio to a different part of the house and see if that works out better. i have a situation where emi leaks into my radio and will cause a slight hum. i finally have it in a position where it is minimal but still there.

Dang! I need to move my portable EMI emitter!      Just kidding... spy thoughts crept into my head...

But if you ever were worried about excess EMI: http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

But seriously, the weather radio is close to the computer, which is close to the UPS...

[racenet]

But if you ever were worried about excess EMI: http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

LOL....now that's funny! Drug induced, but funny!

[ncpilot]

Off topic, but I went in for a CT sinus scan a few months back, and knew ahead of time I was going to mess with the technician. So I brought a large piece of aluminum foil in my pocket, and when in the CT room, told the tech that the aliens who implanted my sinus probe told me that an aluminum foil "hat" would protect me from stuff like a CT scan--at which point I pulled the foil out of my pocket and pressed it down over my head..........

She looked at me and said "you didn't just do that!" LOL    

Oh yeah, the docs love me....

Went to my optometrist on Halloween day... cut a ping pong ball in half and painted it up like blood shot eyes. Stuck them in, put sunglasses on, and walked into the office.....

[anchorageweather]

wuhu_software:

Do you plan to add stations that the NWS is currently streaming themselves like:

http://204.2.106.62:8002/listen.pls

I have been considering helping out with an audio stream; however, I'm not sure its needed if my local NWS office is streaming the info already?!?

According to their web site, the Louisville streams will be discontinued on December 16th...
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=noaaweatherradio

Interesting because they've been streaming just fine for over a month.  I recently sent an e-mail to Art Kraus but haven't heard back.  So your services may yet be needed...

Kevin:

Well it looks like you were correct; the NWS in my area stopped broadcasting online over the weekend. Hmmm... guess I should step up now to help out....

[kray1000]

Well it looks like you were correct; the NWS in my area stopped broadcasting online over the weekend. Hmmm... guess I should step up now to help out....

Sure, go ahead and give it a try.  

I haven't heard back officially, but the fact that the Louisville WFO streams were removed from their web pages isn't a good sign that they'll be coming back...

[kray1000]

Kevin:

Well it looks like you were correct; the NWS in my area stopped broadcasting online over the weekend. Hmmm... guess I should step up now to help out....

Unfortunately, the Louisville WFO streams aren't coming back.  The NWS contracted with a private firm to do the streaming and decided not to renew the contract.

anchorageweather... still interested in giving this a try?  

[anchorageweather]

 
Unfortunately, the Louisville WFO streams aren't coming back.  The NWS contracted with a private firm to do the streaming and decided not to renew the contract.

anchorageweather... still interested in giving this a try?  

Yes, I think I am going to give it a shot - probably after i get all of my Christmas decorations down - UGGG

[ncpilot]

I constructed the isolation transformer patch, and upped my bitrate to 24...

wuhu and others, let my know how it sounds now...

Winnabow, NC

I found a major sound difference by upping the bitrate... can't really say if the hum is gone or not...

[katlon]

Before I started streaming the NOAA Weather Radio about a month or so ago I pretty much only had family and friends visiting my web site which was ok with me 'cause it's just a hobby anyway. Now that I have started streaming the weather radio I am seeing an increase in traffic every day. Today was an exciting weather day around Greenville, SC and I saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 hits on my radio page alone. I think it was Carter Lake who casually mentioned different ways of getting your message out to the public and I took it to heart. I sent emails to all the Emergency Prepardness  agencies in the area as welll as all the school districts, newspapers, radio stations and law enforcement departments. I explained that I had started streaming the NOAA Weather Radio broadcast for my area, which by the way, was the first time it had happened in this area, and that I wanted them to be aware that it would be available 24/7 for anyone with an internet connection whether it was at home, work or in the field. It sure paid off today.

[carterlake]

I saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 hits

I've seen something like a 15% increase in local traffic from having my own NOAA stream... lots from WU but a respectable and growing number both from NOAA and Kevin's page (more from Kevin!).

I've considered emailing local emergency management but just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

I imagine this flow will only increase... which means if you are in a populated area with other weather ethuasists, NOW is the time to start streaming.

In fact, I've been thinking of getting the external antenna just to make sure I have the best quality stream possible.

[anchorageweather]

I've decided to jump in and give this a shot.  First problem:  The instuctions from wuhu_software require that I download the lame encoder dll; however, the link that wuhu_software gives for the file has been suspended:

http://esc91.midphase.com/suspended.page/

A google search does not turn up the file.

Does anyone know how I can get lame3.98a6.zip

Seems I'm stuck.

[kray1000]

(post edited)
Until a new version of the instructions is published on WU, I'll post a copy here...
http://www.roanokevalleyweather.com/posted/lame3.98a6.zip