CCC Weather Station Version 1.0 Freeware For Windows 95 Copyright 1999, Cronan Computer Consultation http://www.cronancomputer.com email: weatherstation@cronancomputer.com To install CCC Weather Station, run setup.exe. To uninstall the program, use the Windows uninstaller from the Windows Control Panel, Add / Remove Programs. CCC Weather Station decodes National Weather Service METAR data over a standard Internet dial-up connection and displays the current conditions any of 1300 US cities in a graphical weather station format. The program also logs each new data stream in a Microsoft Jet database called wx.mdb, which is stored in the program's path. The database is used to determine trends and forecast data. The barometric trend display (rising, falling, steady) is determined by comparing current pressure to last-recorded pressure. If the last recorded pressure is not recent, the trend reading may be inaccurate. The data log doesn't differentiate between cities. If a new city is chosen, it would be wise to archive and clear data log from the Data menu so history and trends are for the same city. An icon is displayed in the Windows tray indicating current conditions. For a quick overview of current conditions, hold cursor over tray icon. Initially the program defaults to KPHL - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for it's current conditions. On the setup screen (File / Setup), choose the preferred city for weather conditions. During normal weather conditions, the NWS updates their data about once an hour. Sometimes, for example, during adverse weather conditions, the data is more frequently updated. Depending on NWS server availability, the program may take a while to connect and download data. Connecting to their server during either adverse weather or during their data upload period can take an abnormal amount of time and may cause the program to stop responding. Upon startup, the program displays the last-recorded data. Choose File / Refresh Conditions to download up-to-date data. Not all possible weather situations have been tested and data display may be incomplete during these conditions. Please report bugs to the above email address. The weather gauges display actual, detailed, incremental changes. Hold cursor over any weather gauge to display the actual textual data. To toggle the data log display on and off, choose View / Data Log. To toggle the connection log display on and off, choose View / Connection Log. Dial Up Networking setup: In order to take advantage of CCC Weather Station's Auto Refresh option, your system's dial up networking must be properly setup to automatically dial your ISP without your intervention. Because of the different versions of Windows and Windows Dial Up Networking, there is no default way to accomplish this. Experiment with the DUN settings before leaving the program on Auto Refresh status. Basically, choose "Automatically Connect When Needed", or "Don't Prompt for Dial Up Networking", etc. depending on your Windows version and/or DUN version. If Auto Refresh can't be setup, manual refreshes can still be utilized. If you enable the program's Auto Disconnect option, the program will disconnect from the internet after retrieving data. This feature coupled with the Auto Refresh option allows data to be automatically retrieved throughout the day while hanging up the modem and freeing up the phone line until the next refresh interval. Weather data and connection data are logged in seperate files. The connection data log can be used to troubleshoot Auto Refresh connection problems while away from the computer. Both log files can be archived (saved) for future reference and cleared for minimul confusion. When archived, the program names the files either "data" or "wx", followed by the day of the year, then the time in military format. The program has been tested on various Windows operating systems and various DUN versions. It is not known if the program will connect through American On Line or other ISP's, or through every DUN / Operating System configuration. Disable any screen savers which sometimes slow the program down. During an all-day refresh, with energy saving monitors, enable the standby or power-down mode to prevent screen burn-in as an alternative to running a screen saver; otherwise, simply turn off the monitor. Main Screen: The main screen displays weather graphics and text and the weather data log and connection log. The data log, located at the bottom of the screen, logs and saves new decoded weather information. This can be especially useful to determine trends by comparing current data to logged data. To view the connection log, choose View / Connection log. The connection log display is toggled with the weather gauge display. Only one or the other can be viewed at any one time. Setup Screen: Local Conditions: Choose city for NWS data download. Over 1300 cities available. Upon refreshing conditions, data is downloaded, decoded, displayed and saved to the data log. Conditions Refresh: Auto Refresh: Check to enable, uncheck to disable. If enabled, program will attempt to automaticallty connect to the Internet to refresh and decode weather conditions. Refresh Interval: Amount of time, in minutes, that program will wait to auto refresh conditions, if enabled. Auto Disconnect: Check to enable, uncheck to disable. If enabled, program will disconnect from the Internet and hang up the modem after downloading data. Future versions of CCC Weather Station will implement weather forecasting, printing, almanac features and more. Visit the CCC Weather Station web page at http://www.cronancomputer.com/weatherstation for program updates and other program information.