Glad to hear that the Wunderground folks actually got back to you on this problem!
As I mentioned before, they have been having problems with their webcam section for a very long time, but it seems to only effect specific PWS uploads at any given time, so most often, not everyone is seeing the issues you described at the same time, but eventually I think pretty much everyone will experience it if they run a page there long enough.
I would love to get a StarDot some day but that will be a while. I have already put lot into this whole weather adventure and need to back off for a bit.
Fortunately, I didn't have to pay for the camera myself. I was approached by a third party who was impressed enough with my weather station website and my NWS affiliation that they offered to supply the camera if I would host it and operate it on my system. Kind of a dream come true for any PWS operator and who wouldn't jump at the chance! It hasn't been a total free ride for me though, as I have had to do a lot of consulting and overseeing of the location choice, lining up a contractor for the installation, reconfiguring the internet equipment at the lakefront home hosting the camera and finally, researching exactly what lens and other accessories we would need for the camera.
It has taken a lot longer to get this all pulled together than I ever expected it would, but I think we are getting close to finally getting this thing online. Hopefully by the middle of March it will be online for public access. I will most definitely post a little announcement about the addition once it officially goes online, and be happy to field any questions about operating the StarDot from a remote location.
This will be the first HD camera at Bass Lake, so even our local rag is planning to cover the launch.
Its a lot of fun though and something I have been dreaming of for a long time. It also fills a gap here in the valley where there isn't really a good reliable source. The airport is 18 miles from town and sees very different conditions much of the time. I'm surprised they don't set up an official station closer to the population.
This was exactly my situation here too. Although we had a few privately owned stations, none of them were sited in a good location for accurate data and once word got around that my station was operating, the locals all arrived via word of mouth. I didn't solicit the NWS either. They found me via my WebCam page and after monitoring my data for a few weeks, asked if I would mind if they used my station data for their Bass Lake/Crane Valley feed both in their forecast system and on their radio broadcast.
After I got over the initial shock of the request, it took me all of a couple of milliseconds to say yes! LOL!
Your local NWS office might be interested in your feed too! They may not know you are operating, so it wouldn't hurt to give them a call and let them know you are there and willing to become their official reporting station for your area. What do you have to lose?
