Why was this done?
First guess is that it's due to the federal government cutting some stuff... and things like this are usually the first to go.
Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
11–20 of 65 posts
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#12While I understand the nostalgia, as a Canadian I wasn't even aware this was a thing. We still have CBC radio that broadcast weather reports, and whether reports are still available on the internet. If I understand correctly, this service was for people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services…
> people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services I'm not bringing Starlink on a week-long kayak voyage. My cousin isn't bringing it on his hiking and hunting trip in the bush. There's no cell service out there - radio is all you get, at best. This might not be tremendously well used, but ther…
For people who live in remote areas, Starlink has been very helpful. Hiking and outdoor activities, much less so.
For what it's worth, we're probably a few years off from ubiquitous availability of cheap, sat-based cellphone data. In fact, my iPhone has free sat-based texting right now.
Although also, I really don't enjoy that crucial safety services such as weather data are being discontinued. And I actually really don't enjoy the premise that I'll be able to be reached anywhere in the world, even the remote wilderness.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#13While I understand the nostalgia, as a Canadian I wasn't even aware this was a thing. We still have CBC radio that broadcast weather reports, and whether reports are still available on the internet. If I understand correctly, this service was for people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services…
> If I understand correctly, this service was for people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink and similar services is become a very small minority of individuals. You'd be surprised at how bad cell service is in Canadian areas that aren't even considered "boonies". There are often times when you're driving without cell service or any other options.
I agree with that. Cell service in Canada is centred around cities and non-minor roads with most every that isn't in those categories it gets spotty pretty quickly and the non-existent.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#14Why was this done?
The current govt is on a bit of an austerity kick at the moment, particularly wrt staffing of public bodies. Would be surprised if this simply wasn't a casualty of that.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#15While I understand the nostalgia, as a Canadian I wasn't even aware this was a thing. We still have CBC radio that broadcast weather reports, and whether reports are still available on the internet. If I understand correctly, this service was for people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services…
> people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services I'm not bringing Starlink on a week-long kayak voyage. My cousin isn't bringing it on his hiking and hunting trip in the bush. There's no cell service out there - radio is all you get, at best. This might not be tremendously well used, but ther…
On the other hand as someone who has gone on week long (and longer) hiking, kayaking, and most frequently canoeing trips in Canada I was completely unaware of this service, and would have been completely uninterested in it is I knew about it.
We just take it as it comes and deal with it...
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#16Why was this done?
The current govt is on a bit of an austerity kick at the moment, particularly wrt staffing of public bodies. Would be surprised if this simply wasn't a casualty of that.
I don't think it's 100% accurate to call the budget "austerity".
The budget projects increases in both revenue and spending, and increases the deficit by ~50% percent.
What the government has asked for is widespread cuts across the board from current programs and operations (and staffing) to try to make more room for new spending in new areas. They are targeting getting to ~$13 billion CAD reduction in annual operations cost by end of decade.
By contrast, there are a lot of major spending programs - ~$10 billion CAD added to the defense budget, ~$5 billion CAD in tariff relief.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#17While I understand the nostalgia, as a Canadian I wasn't even aware this was a thing. We still have CBC radio that broadcast weather reports, and whether reports are still available on the internet. If I understand correctly, this service was for people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services…
> We still have CBC radio that broadcast weather reports, and whether reports are still available on the internet.
Commercial radio/television broadcasts are not the same thing since they do not offer continuous weather broadcasts. Getting weather information from the Internet is better in most respects, but it is not always the best medium to receive such information. I am a regular user of the Weatheradio service during the summer months, and have been through one situation where it most likely saved lives.
> I think we have to not maintain things that are older tech and unused and focus on things that are the future.
The problem is that we are ditching older tech without finding a viable replacement. I find it difficult to associate that approach with focusing on the future. I find it easier to associate it with forgetting lessons we learned the hard way.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#18Only boaters use this.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#19I hate to see this. I bought a Sangean AM/FM/Weather radio with NOAA All Hazards alerting a little while back (I've been extremely happy with it) and as I was programming it wondered how long until either a group like DOGE, or private interest who wanted to repurpose these radio bands would cause such a wonderful service to go away. Maybe I'm naive but I'm surprised it happened in Canada before it happened here in th…
Yeah, super disappointing. Not only do many of my amateur radio transceivers tune to the weather FM frequencies, I just picked up a cheap low-power receiver for the purpose of having something that can last a long time during extended power outages, if necessary -- with the idea of being able to keep up with local radio and weather radio during those times. I assumed Canada of all places will keep these kind of services going indefinitely, because they are pretty important when all else fails.
Re: Closure of the Weatheradio service in Canada
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
> people who didn't have internet access, which with cell service, StarLink (yeah, Elon Musk, I know but it has been a game charger in remote communities) and similar services I'm not bringing Starlink on a week-long kayak voyage. My cousin isn't bringing it on his hiking and hunting trip in the bush. There's no cell service out there - radio is all you get, at best. This might not be tremendously well used, but ther…
On the other hand as someone who has gone on week long (and longer) hiking, kayaking, and most frequently canoeing trips in Canada I was completely unaware of this service, and would have been completely uninterested in it is I knew about it. We just take it as it comes and deal with it...
It's pretty good for backcountry hiking/camping (or offroading in general) where you are potentially hours away from any kind of cellular service. Some of these weather radio stations have (had?) pretty good coverage. A cheapo radio that can receive weather radio frequencies could last weeks on a single battery charge. It's great to know if my planned hike for the next day is possible or if we should make alternate plans, or if a giant storm is due later in the day, that kind of thing. Once you've been out for a day or two, all the forecasts you had ahead of time are obsolete and incorrect, particularly in the mountains.