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WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

weatherstar.netbymatt.com

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Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#71

Post by jazzyjackson »

dylan604 wrote: post #59
jazzyjackson wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for mentioning that, had me digging around for where I can find the music. The youtube link lead me to the project's hackaday log, which is extremely detailed but lacks any mention of music [0] The submission link's github page [1] links to a website listing all the tracks that ever played [2], explaining they dropped the music from the project so as not to deal with copyright claims. too bad fair use isn't cl…

why would fair use be at play here? TWC would have paid a license fee through ASCAP or whomever for the rights to broadcast that music. They didn't just download a bunch of mp3 files from Napster and try to disrupt broadcasting.

You're right, of course. I guess I just put a lot of weight on the charm of keeping old things running, and think there's value to the public in allowing free use of music, particularly for non-commercial/educational purposes.

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#73

Post by theklub »

jazzyjackson wrote: post #71
dylan604 wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why would fair use be at play here? TWC would have paid a license fee through ASCAP or whomever for the rights to broadcast that music. They didn't just download a bunch of mp3 files from Napster and try to disrupt broadcasting.

You're right, of course. I guess I just put a lot of weight on the charm of keeping old things running, and think there's value to the public in allowing free use of music, particularly for non-commercial/educational purposes.

Not sure if you are aware but the weather Channel sold music CDs I have one.

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#74

Post by [deleted] »

jazzyjackson wrote: post #71
dylan604 wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why would fair use be at play here? TWC would have paid a license fee through ASCAP or whomever for the rights to broadcast that music. They didn't just download a bunch of mp3 files from Napster and try to disrupt broadcasting.

You're right, of course. I guess I just put a lot of weight on the charm of keeping old things running, and think there's value to the public in allowing free use of music, particularly for non-commercial/educational purposes.

[deleted]

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#75

Post by eth_hack77 »

This sounds interesting but here's what I experience: I put London and pressed continue - nothing happened. I gave the location permission and pressed continue - nothing happened again.

Console printed these logs: Uncaught (in promise) TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'relativeLocation') at ws.min.js?_=5.21.3:1:133923 at ws.min.js?_=5.21.3:1:89730

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#77

Post by ghosty141 »

harwoodr wrote: post #64
raverbashing wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like it. Which is definitely a shame but I can understand they might not have all the APIs for all the locations

International version: https://github.com/mwood77/ws4kp-international https://mwood77.github.io/ws4kp-international/

this is fantastic, thanks!

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#79

Post by CursedSilicon »

ndiddy wrote: post #3

If you're interested in this, someone on YouTube got a WeatherStar 4000 (device that sat at cable headends and generated the local weather report graphics) and wrote all new firmware to make 90's style weather reports on the real hardware. This was necessary because the original firmware was downloaded over satellite so it's now lost. It looks basically identical to the real Weather Channel from the 90s, except it do…

If it's the same one that brings the equipment to Retro Computing events. He sadly has declined to publish any kind of archive of the software for other hobbyists :(

I understand that he's under no obligation to do so. But a lot of us worry that if the hard disks die or if he loses interest in the hobby, that software will be irrevocably lost for all of us

Re: WeatherStar 4000+: Weather Channel Simulator

#80

Post by reaperducer »

dylan604 wrote: post #63
dcrazy wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a time when it was only prerecorded “The forecast for your area”

For a time, you could call a phone number for the forecast. A lot of banks would tell you the time with one of their numbers.

This still exists in some cities. Albuquerque is one.
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