Category : Science and Education
Archive   : NOW-WX11.ZIP
Filename : NOW-WX.DOC

- SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT 1991 by NATIONAL DATA WEATHER SYSTEMS -
- PORTIONS COPYRIGHT 1985-1991 BY SOUTH MOUNTAIN
SOFTWARE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -

THIS SOFTWARE MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREELY.

THIS SOFTWARE IS RELEASED FOR USE WITH THE NDWS DIAL UP DATA BASE.
IF YOU USE THE MAP PORTION ONLY WITHOUT USING THE DATA
BASE, A $20 CONTRIBUTION IS REQESTED.

CONTACT: NATIONAL DATA WEATHER SYSTEMS
417 SPRINGFIELD ST. SUITE 800
BOX 3002
AGAWAM,MA. 01001-3002

BBS: 413-789-9131


With this package you can dial up and download current weather infor-
mation from the the NDWS database at a minimal cost, and plot it on
a map that you define.A map can be centered on any 3 letter FAA
ID station, and the radius in miles specified. You can create and
save these maps as you desire. The map generation software is built
into the package.

The downloaded files consist of data to be plotted on the maps.
The following are available at this time:

SURFNE.BIN Surface data for the NE us only
SURFSE.BIN Surface data for the SE us only
SURFNC.BIN Surface data for the NC us only
SURFSC.BIN Surface data for the SC us only
SURFNW.BIN Surface data for the NW us only
SURFSW.BIN Surface data for the SW us only
STATION.BIN ALL US surface data including offshore
buoys
FD.BIN FORECASTED WINDS ALOFT for US
UASTN.BIN Current UPPER AIR data for N.America.

SOME SAMPLE FILES ARE INCLUDED.

The surface files contain current Temperature,pressure,precip/visibility,wind,
and ceiling data. They are updated at approx. 20 Min. after the hour.

The FD and UASTN files are updated twice daily.

 - STEPS TO STARTING UP WITH NOW-WX -


The current cost as of this date for data is.20 per Min.(Note:
any time of day) or $20 Flat rate per month. Prices subject to change.

To subscribe,call the NDWS database bbs at 413-789-9131. Log in
as bbs (lower case). Follow the new user instructions.

- SETTING UP THE SOFTWARE -

Make a sub-directory on your hard drive called NOWWX.
Put all of the supplied files in this directory.
Run the program HCONFIG and set the software to match
your video card. EGA,VGA, and hercules are currently
fully supported. Paradise chipset supervga is currently
also supported. Start up the software with the command
NOW-WX. Go to the map option on the main menu and pick
the "station center" option. Specify a 3 letter FAA ID
of a station near the area that you wish to use as a
center point for the map. If you do not know these,con-
tact any local airport or FAA office and ask them.
example: BOS is Boston, MIA is Miami, ALB is Albany, STL
for St.Louis, etc. There are over 2000 stations included
in the reference file "surface.bin" included. Next specify
the radius from this station in miles. The package will
then draw a map. Save the map from the save option on the
map menu to a name that you will later use. Calling up
a map by name saves creation time, as some systems are
slow to draw maps (especially without math chips.)

 - USING NOW-WEATHER -

After you create a map, you can plot either the US file
included with the package, or download info for either
the whole US, or sectors. The whole US is set as default.
If you plot a sector, you must go to main menu, select the
"plot file select" option, and change to the sector that
you wish to plot from. This is saved, and will show up as
the default plot file next time you start up the software.
From the main menu, you select the surface menu and you can
plot the surface parameters.

Important Functions:

Priority: This is the value set up by the mapper based on
the map range that you made a map for. It will plot more
stations on a short range map, less on a long range map to
eliminate clutter. The priority can be overriden by going
to the surface menu and selecting a 0 priority. This will
plot ALL stations in the file regardless of their priority.

Map ZOOM:

If you wish to specify a non-station center point for your
map, go to the ZOOM option on the map menu. Move the cursor
with the arrows to place it at the point that you wish to
use as a center. Hit the HOME key and enter the radius im
miles.

NEW versions and documentation wilil be available on line.
There will be no time charged for downloading docs or up-
dates.



- OUR POLICY -

THIS PACKAGE IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO HOBBYISTS FOR
THEIR PERSONAL USE. IT BRINGS REAL WEATHER INFO INTO
THE AFFORDABILITY RANGE OF THE HOBBYIST. NO GUARANTEE
IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE DATA.ERRORS DO OCCUR.
USE THE DATA WITH CARE. HELP US KEEP THE DATA AFFORDABLE.
OUR COMPLETE POLICY IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.