WXforum.net
Web Weather => Weather Website PHP/AJAX scripting => Topic started by: Feilding Weather on May 24, 2018, 10:28:42 AM
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Poking around in the forums tonight and discover that we are all about to lose our free
API access to Wunderground. According to the forums many Private weather stations are
already abandoning the WU ship as they are not keen on providing data for a company (IBM)
that plan to sell the data for profit.
Reading more into the forums, monthly API data packages will start at around $800 per month.
WUnderground no longer replying to emails, forum posts or support tickets and their contact telephone numbers have been disconnected.. Sucks for paid or paying API members!
Read the official announcement here: https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi/topics/weather-underground-api-changes (https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi/topics/weather-underground-api-changes)
What do you all think?
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It's very sad they're pulling their free API access to contributing stations to Wunderground.
I'm working on a replacement script for WU-forecast.php that uses DarkSky.net and another that uses Aerisweather.com APIs (free for Developer access).
I'll let y'all know how its going.
Here's an in-progress sample using DarkSky (attached)
Best regards,
Ken
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it seems their current paid api plans might change too?
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Yes, it seems they're quoting a $850 US/month 'all access' plan. Won't be for hobbyists I fear (or many software developers either).
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WOW! Guess some saw this coming.
Ken I'm thinking my website doesn't use or need API key. Most information is coming from NWS directly like forecast even my satellite/radar images. Only thing I can think of is my timelapse using my own supplied WU data.
Am I missing something?
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but what about people already on a paid api plan
they cant exactly start charging you 850$ a month with out your permission surely
so will that mean all smaller plans will stop?
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Brian, it's unknown about what they'll do with the existing API plans/keys.
Their announcement in the API forum has created a lot of negative comments with no 'official' responses:
https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi
e.g https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi/topics/weather-underground-api-changes
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And I see some are threatening to stop sending data to CWOP also. Stopping data to WU alone won't work because they can still grab CWOP data for locations and sell it, so both places need to be stopped if goal is keep WU from selling our data.
This could impact realtime models like RAP which uses CWOP data to fill in the gaps between NWS stations.
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from one of those links:
Enhanced Current Conditions – This package includes one of the highest-resolution weather observation networks that is available in the field based on over 200,000 personal weather stations in addition to traditional sources.
so they are quoting the personal weather station data as their data source to then on sell as paid api
but those pws are starting to stop send data in protest
so they are cutting off their nose despite their face
(and yes you would need to stop sending CWOP data too)
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As long as WU lets me use their data and radar images for 7 different spots on my web page free of charge, why should I care if they sell my data?
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As long as WU lets me use their data and radar images for 7 different spots on my web page free of charge, why should I care if they sell my data?
Did you miss the part where its no longer gonna be free? Around $800 month even if you send them your weather station data...Ken's working on a replacement for WU maps radar etc. now.
I've never used much of WU stuff so unaffected, haven't decided if I'll cut my data off or not.
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I wonder if us boycotting WU and CWOP will really make a difference. I may be wrong, but do most PWS stations (Accurite, Davis, etc.,) come with software pre-focused on sending data to WU and a few other places. I would think the majority of PWS stations do not have personal websites such as most of us here on the forum and simply enjoy having "their" data presented on WU's nice website...they're probably tickled to tell friends about their weather station being on WU. So, they don't need access to the WU products...they're just happy to see their data online. Depending on how many of these WU-dependent PWS owners there are WU may very well have enough data input to tell all of us to "take a hike". I don't think they're too concerned with actual accuracy as they are with numbers to show their advertisers and investors. Losing a few independent weather stations/websites (like us) that report to them won't harm them too much, I would think. In doing so they take away some independent competition that was using "their" products. It's a money-move for them, always has been. I just think they're seeing us as a thorn in the side and that it's time to scrap us to clean up their "image".
I've been neutral during their pangs and problems. I always figured I'd keep sending my data to them as long as they were there in an attempt to give them data to use in overcoming issues that we thought were plaguing them. My neutrality has shifted slightly negative at this point and I will be watching. The first verified denial of a product for use on my website (which I'm not sure what is, other than a radar image on my front page which updates every *30* minutes :?) and my data will no longer be going to them. I'm not the sharpest blade in the drawer, but I know how to uncheck that little button beside Weatherunderground's name. ;)
Looking at things, I'm sad to say that I will most likely be unchecking that button. No tears for WU, but I do wish them and all the lemmings well......nothing personal towards the lemmings, of course!. :lol:
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I'm in a wait and see mode also.
Ken takes it serious enough however and is working on alternative should they go through with announcement to charge everyone for API keys.
Websites using API key are there enough to hurt them if they stop sending data? Doubtful.. Really we are a small minority.
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If I have to pay to use the Maps, I am out
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There you have it... you guys know my attitude towards WU has always been very negative and I knew why...
Those who want to stop sending data to WU should keep in mind that WU will take it from CWOP unless you stop that too.
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Im probably absolutely dumb, but can someone please explain to me what they mean by this:
To improve our services and enhance the relationship with our users, we will no longer provide free weather API keys as part of our program.
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I
To improve our services and enhance the relationship with our users, we will no longer provide free weather API keys as part of our program.
LMAO...Some kind of enhanced relationship...Send us your $$. The cheapest key was $400 a month.
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Did you miss the part where its no longer gonna be free? Around $800 month even if you send them your weather station data...Ken's working on a replacement for WU maps radar etc. now.
I've never used much of WU stuff so unaffected, haven't decided if I'll cut my data off or not.
Yes, I missed that part. Now I don't get why WU would want to lose most of its data base by charging such huge fees.
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Keep in mind that 99% of users will keep on sending data to them and who cares about that 1% like us
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Think you are probably right very small % will actually get hurt. I'm not convinced I'll stop either because I have a remote station I use WU to look at data and I don't use or need API key unless something inside Saratoga script's I'm not aware uses it. I never did care for the WU graphs, satellite images etc. so always looked for alternatives.
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Where does the WU API Key come into play?
I see I have one (in my password vault) but searching the content of all files in my weather website I don't find using it.
I use WU for a number of things; radar maps, WU Station History, record hi/lows. But not forecast, I use NWS for that.
Dennis
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Good question maybe one Ken needs to answer.
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It could be for those of us sharing our data and in return being given permission to use/reprint some of their weather data/maps, may not be affected by this API change at all.
Dennis
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Perhaps we should inundate CWOP with emails asking them to cut-off the WU access to the data. Not sure if that would even be possible but, it might get someones attention.
Am about pull my data feed to WU like many others but really don't want to stop CWOP feeds.
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Good question maybe one Ken needs to answer.
I was wondering about what I use an API key for, too. The only thing I see that I use from them is the radar map...which really isn't that great and I need to find another one, anyhow. But, the simple idea that they will take our free data but will charge us to use *their* data...that doesn't sit well with this redneck. The first squeal I hear that they have actually cut off a pws data contributor from using WU data, my feed to them is done...and most likely my CWOP feed, too. I seriously doubt that they will know or care that I've removed my feed to them...but I will know...and it means something to me.
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Try this GIF for radar.
https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/lite/N0R/BMX_loop.gif
Anyone else just replace BMX with radar site you need.
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Hey, Randy. I think I used that one before, though it was the Mobile or Fort Rucker radar. I'll revisit it again. Thanks for the memory refresher!
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I am still going to send data to them until they won't accept it. If someone can benefit from my data then it is worth the sending. Otherwise, it just sits somewhere doing no good for anyone. IF their API costs, well shucks, I don't need to use it. There are other sources out and about.
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If you aren't using the API as described here:
https://www.wunderground.com/weather/api/d/docs (https://www.wunderground.com/weather/api/d/docs)
you are not affected. In other words, if you are using URLs that currently do not include a WU API key within the URL string, this isn't an issue.
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The WU-forecast.php (both standalone and in the Base-World template) is the only script that requires a WU API key for operation.
It is used for worldwide, multilingual forecasts. I'm looking at replacing it with DarkSky forecasts (also worldwide, multilingual).
The WU-History.php script by Jim McMurry uses WU URLs but no API access is used/required.
The WU-radar script (in Base-USA) uses WU URLs only, no API access is used/required.
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Thanks Ken for clearing that up. Appreciated.
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I'm working on a replacement script for WU-forecast.php that uses DarkSky.net and another that uses Aerisweather.com APIs (free for Developer access).
Ken, have you looked at Apixu (https://www.apixu.com/) - I have been spending most of my time at the home automation site Hubitat (https://hubitat.com/) and the weather related drivers are being re-written to use the services of Apixu.
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Ken,
Thanks for the clarification.
Dennis
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I'm pulling the WU temp records for the day into my ajax file. I had to get an API key for that. But those days are probably over.
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I'm working on a replacement script for WU-forecast.php that uses DarkSky.net and another that uses Aerisweather.com APIs (free for Developer access).
Ken, have you looked at Apixu (https://www.apixu.com/) - I have been spending most of my time at the home automation site Hubitat (https://hubitat.com/) and the weather related drivers are being re-written to use the services of Apixu.
Hi Ray,
Yes, I've been looking at apixu also. I liked darksky a bit better as the translations are built-in. Apixu uses a JSON file with translations, so it's more do-it-yourself.
Both DarkSky and apixu have 7 day forecasts (no day/night) with min/max temps and rather terse descriptions for the 'forecast' -- like 2 to 5 words. I'm looking to 'flesh that out' with descriptions ala WXSIM for min/max, wind, precip to make the forecast better with the data they provide (and enable the WXSIM plaintext-parser.php technology to enable the multilingual feature for the add-on English phrases).
I've discontinued looking at aerisweather as their free developer key only lasts 2 months, then you have to pay. Darksky and apixu have continuing (low monthly usage) free developer API keys.
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The WU-forecast.php (both standalone and in the Base-World template) is the only script that requires a WU API key for operation.
It is used for worldwide, multilingual forecasts. I'm looking at replacing it with DarkSky forecasts (also worldwide, multilingual).
The WU-History.php script by Jim McMurry uses WU URLs but no API access is used/required.
The WU-radar script (in Base-USA) uses WU URLs only, no API access is used/required.
Great clarification
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Yes, I've been looking at apixu also. I liked darksky a bit better as the translations are built-in. Apixu uses a JSON file with translations, so it's more do-it-yourself.
But, Ken, from what I have read about the 'Dark Sky API (https://darksky.net/dev)' is that one must provide credit card information for the 'Standard | $0.0001 per call | Pay-as-you go' subscription (1,000 calls per day for free) ... or have I missed something about being entirely free... :???:
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Yes, I've been looking at apixu also. I liked darksky a bit better as the translations are built-in. Apixu uses a JSON file with translations, so it's more do-it-yourself.
But, Ken, from what I have read about the 'Dark Sky API (https://darksky.net/dev)' is that one must provide credit card information for the 'Standard | $0.0001 per call | Pay-as-you go' subscription (1,000 calls per day for free) ... or have I missed something about being entirely free... :???:
I didn't have to use a credit card to sign up with DarkSky .. just email address.
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Yes, I've been looking at apixu also. I liked darksky a bit better as the translations are built-in. Apixu uses a JSON file with translations, so it's more do-it-yourself.
But, Ken, from what I have read about the 'Dark Sky API (https://darksky.net/dev)' is that one must provide credit card information for the 'Standard | $0.0001 per call | Pay-as-you go' subscription (1,000 calls per day for free) ... or have I missed something about being entirely free... :???:
I didn't have to use a credit card to sign up with DarkSky .. just email address.
Me neither, only an email-address. But by doing that you only have 1000 free API-calls / month.
This 1000 "seems" adequate for a normal weather-website, even when using a selection box with forecasts for multiple cities, as long as the retrieved JSON is cached. The DarkSky-API supports multiple languages, when calculating the cache-time taking you have to take that also into account.
This is the beta version of my DarkSky script running in a Saratoga template: https://www.weerstation-herent.be/saratoga/wx_lvn_darksky.php
Wim
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Yes, I've been looking at apixu also. I liked darksky a bit better as the translations are built-in. Apixu uses a JSON file with translations, so it's more do-it-yourself.
But, Ken, from what I have read about the 'Dark Sky API (https://darksky.net/dev)' is that one must provide credit card information for the 'Standard | $0.0001 per call | Pay-as-you go' subscription (1,000 calls per day for free) ... or have I missed something about being entirely free... :?
I didn't have to use a credit card to sign up with DarkSky .. just email address.
Me neither, only an email-address. But by doing that you only have 1000 free API-calls / month.
This 100 "seems" adequate for a normal weather-website, even when using a selection box with forecasts for multiple cities, as long as the retrieved JSON is cached. The DarkSky-API supports multiple languages, when calculating the cache-time taking you have to take that also into account.
This is the beta version of my DarkSky script running in a Saratoga template: https://www.weerstation-herent.be/saratoga/wx_lvn_darksky.php (https://www.weerstation-herent.be/saratoga/wx_lvn_darksky.php)
Wim
Great script mate, so this will do translations like to WU-forecast script?
The translations of the forecast- and conditions texts, are done already by DarkSky , they support 40+ languages.
They also have different UOM - sets. So the JSON already contains more or less the data you may need.
When you visit their website at https://darksky.net/ you can choose which language and which UOM's you want to use. Same languages and UOMs as in their API.
Wim
P.S. you can embed their maps https://maps.darksky.net/ also in your own website, if they are advanced enough I do not know.
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Meteotemplate uses Darksky as primary forecast source, no credit card needed and with proper caching you shouldnt run into problems
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FYI,
I cam across another requirement for a WU API...
IPTimelapse when using WU as a data source for adding local weather to images.
Dennis
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If you have your own weather station data on the computer running IPTimeLapse, you can create a text file that IPTimeLapse can read and place that information on the image. I've been using that process for over a year now. It eliminates the WU API requirement and you get more frequent updates to your images.
Steve
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WOW Steve,
I did not know about that and would much prefer using the info directly from my weather station.
Can you please help me with how to do it? Possibly send me a sample text file.
Dennis
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Steve,
I think I have a handle on the text file.
Thanks again for the idea.
Dennis
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Hey Dennis,
Sorry I missed your request for assistance but glad you figured it out. The text file method is actually more functional than grabbing the data off WU.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Steve
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Hi Steve
I'd appreciate the info on grabbing the data from my weather station for use with IPTimelapse.
Thanks
MikeyM
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Hey MikeyM,
It's actually very easy. Just create a text file with the verbiage you want along with the "pre-parsed" weather conditions. Then have your weather software program parse the text file so that it pulls in the current conditions. Then, in IPTimeLapse, select the checkbox option to read the text file you've created. You might also update the frequency of updates since you're no longer limited by WU. The option is located near the current text option. IPTimeLapse then adds the text to the image. That's it.
Steve
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This tagged text file overlay works so good, I'm so glad Steve suggested it.
Since I was more familiar with WL tag processing I went with it to test, see the attached htx file for an example using Weatherlink tags.
However I am having problems where WD & WL disagree on an important value, time of hi wind. I've brought this to Brian's attention on his forum. In the meantime the time of hi wind shown on my image doesn't match that listed on my home page.
I actually combined using IPTimlapse text with date/time and the weather data from the tag text file. I wanted the timestamp of the photo capture rather than that of the weather data.
You can see an example on my home page (http://www.SandPointWeather.com) and clicking on the webcam image.
I may covert to WD tags so I can include snow data during the winter, but quite frankly, I get lost trying to make my way through the WD settings.
Dennis
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Steve & Dennis - thank you both!
Cheers
:grin:
MikeyM
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Attached are WD samples.
- IPTimelapseText.txt is local (input)
- IPTimelapseTextWD.txt is remote (output)
Not that familiar with WD, I could use some help.
I was able to add the two files in Control Panel > Web Files > Custom Web Files Special File Conversion. And it works fine.
My situation is that IPTimelapse is on another computer with Blue Iris I didn't want these system resource intensive programs bogging down my weather software.
For security reasons, I'm uncomfortable making the WD webfiles folder "shared" so the IPTimelapse computer can access it. Any ideas how I can save the IPTimelapseTextWD.txt file to its own location/folder?
Dennis
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Thanks again as I'm up and running. =D>
Cheers
MikeyM
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So except for the the two images from WU on my main page I don't think I have or ever used anything from WU.
Now looking for a suitable substitution for those two images.
As much as I would like to share my information to help others, I can not and will not send data to a company so they can no only profit by my data but then charge me ??????????????? Something is not right. I can see sending data or contributing to WU for free access but to be charged for that, wow. Heck with them!
Look at all the talent that is shared here and no charge for anything, how do you even start to express your gratitude to everyone here, and for free!!!!
Sorry for my rant, but this is just wrong!!
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As long as WU lets me use their data and radar images for 7 different spots on my web page free of charge, why should I care if they sell my data?
Well example, i want to view your weather data on nt website as metar fir example before, now I should pay first just to look up your wx data of course I need an api for able to see or download ur wx data from wu, thats how we care about it but if we cant affird to pay it we wont able to see ur wx data from wu thats a bad thing for it ur weather station in wu will be useless if others wont able to view ur wx data in which even u contribute for free, only member pay for api only able to view or addrees ur wx data
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Signed.. good idea.
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Signed. Thanks for starting this petition.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
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Signed also and stopped feeding WU, CWOP and APRS who supply QA data to WU.
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Signed, but unsubscribed to any further unwanted emails after they immediately started sending me junk. I already get enough junk email!
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Tried but they complained about my legit email address when I tried to sign up. Huh? Too bad. Also stopped feeding CWOP.
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Hey jgillett,
Did you ever try places like this: https://cleantalk.org/blacklists?record
Plug in your email address and see what comes up -- it might be legit but might also be banned from some sites, lol.
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The petition is nice, but I think they´re going to just have a big laugh at it...
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I would have to agree with you Jachym.
But I signed it anyway, ya no keeping silent does nothing.
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Yes Jachym has a point considering only a few in my area have dropped out from sending but the reality is we don't make that much of a difference this way but for some of us it's the principle.
Andy
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Could we keep our stations "live" on WU but send bogus data? :lol:
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There you have it... you guys know my attitude towards WU has always been very negative and I knew why...
Those who want to stop sending data to WU should keep in mind that WU will take it from CWOP unless you stop that too.
I won't be just stopping the sending of data, I will be requesting all data to be giving to me under GDPR and then requesting my site to be deleted including the accounts.
;)