[aprssig] US Weather forecast via APRS message

[Martin Nile]

Version 1.4 of WxBot is available at
https://sites.google.com/site/ki6wjp/wxbot.
At the bottom of the screen you can download the perl script.  It isn't
pretty, but
so far seems to be working pretty well.

So far the biggest problem is the program isn't too clever when it is
presented
with something it can't figure out.  It returns the forecast for your
location instead.

This version incorporates several of the changes suggested:
  3 second delay between packets sent to the same station.
  Recognize abbreviations for days of the week.
  Report "current" conditions.
  Transmit BLN0-2 occasionally for those who read bulletins.
--
Martin
KI6WJP




On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 9:11 AM, Max Harper <kg4pid at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I hope you make a version available to us dummies that runs on the
> raspberry pi. That would make a great addition for those of us who use them
> for igates.
>
> Thanks for your hard work.
>
> Max KG4PID
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Martin Nile via aprssig <aprssig at tapr.org>
> *To:* TAPR APRS Mailing List <aprssig at tapr.org>
> *Sent:* Friday, January 22, 2016 10:38 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [aprssig] US Weather forecast via APRS message
>
> Thanks Fred,
>
> Once I get all of the kinks worked out of the program, I'll move it to a
> proper server and rename it to something more easily remembered.  I'm open
> to suggestions.  WXBOT, USAWX, FORCST, WXRPT and others have been suggested.
>
> Looking at the messages that came in overnight, I realized that I can also
> give current conditions.  I'll be adding "now" and "current".  If the
> requested station is an APRS weather station, or a CWOP station I can
> return the most recent report from the station.  Otherwise, I'll use the
> report from the weather service.
>
> --
> Martin
> KI6WJP
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 6:42 AM, Fred Hillhouse Jr <
> fmhillhouse at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Martin,
>
> Very nice! Now to remember it exists and that will be challenging!
>
> Will you be making your work available for others to use?
>
> Thanks for your service!
>
> Best regards,
> Fred N7FMH
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* aprssig [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] *On Behalf Of *Martin
> Nile via aprssig
> *Sent:* Thursday, January 21, 2016 7:03 PM
> *To:* aprssig at tapr.org
> *Subject:* [aprssig] US Weather forecast via APRS message
>
> I am in the process of working on a program which provides a US Weather
> forecast
> via APRS message. I have most of the kinks worked out and it is ready for
> testing
> by a larger group.
>
> Send a single character APRS message to KI6WJP and the program will
> respond with a
> brief forecast for your location.
>
> You can specify "where" and "when" you want the forecast.  If you wish a
> full forecast
> add the word "full" to your "where" and "when".  The full forecast is
> spread across
> multiple APRS message.  The default "brief" forecast usually fits within a
> single
> message.
>
> "where" is any APRS callsign/object, zipcode, grid, or decimal lat/lon as
> long as it is
> located in a place covered by the US National Weather Service.
>
> "when" is any day of the week with optional night.  I.e. Wednesday night
>
> The forecast is derived from the US National Weather Service point
> forecast.
> Usually the forecast is produced within 1 or 2 seconds, but during periods
> of
> heavy activity, the weather service can take 20 or 30 seconds.
>
> The latitude/longitude for the requested object is extracted from
> api.aprs.fi,
> As a result, anything that appears on aprs.fi is valid including
> CWOP stations and AIS ships.
>
> Here are some example forecast requests that can be sent to KI6WJP:
>
> Any message less than 3 characters
>     Returns a brief forecast for the current location of the sending
> station.
> Tomorrow 96067
>     Returns  tomorrow's forecast for Mount Shasta, CA
> Tonight
>     Returns the forecast for tonight at your current location
> Tuesday night full
>     Returns the Tuesday night full forecast at your current location.
> w1aw
>     Returns the current forecast for the location of station W1AW
> usna-1 Sunday
>     Returns the forecast for the Army Navy football game on Sunday.
>     (Assuming usna-1 is at the stadium)
> CN81uh
>     Returns the forecast for the center of maidenhead grid CN81uh
> 36.5786/-118.2920
>     Returns the forecast for the summit of Mount Whitney.
>
> Currently the program is running on a raspberry Pi on a home dsl internet
> connection.
> The program is single threaded and can handle a single forecast request at
> a time.
> Things are still in development and may break at any time.
>
> Obviously for this to work via RF, a transmit capable i-gate is necessary.
>
> Many thanks to Heikki for Ham::APRS::IS, Ham::APRS::FAP and api.aprs.fi
> that made
> this easy.
>
> For more information see: https://sites.google.com/site/ki6wjp/wxbot
>
> --
> Regards
> Martin Nile
> KI6WJP
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
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