WxMaster Version 0.1 1996 Copyright A.D. Drumm All rights reserved. Introduction WxMaster is a Windows 3.1 application which reads and displays data log information from a Peet Brothers Ultimeter 2000. It shows current weather data in text form and will graph several types of data in a 24 hour plot. In addition, WxMaster will log information into a file for later retrieval. WxMaster will also connect to a TNC and will send packets formatted for APRS. WxMaster was written to statisfy my personal requirements and as an educational exercise. It was written in C++ using Borland's Turbo C++ 3.1. It is my first Windows communications program and my first attempt at Windows graphics. However, I've attempted to provide some features you may not see elsewhere and give it at least a reasonable "look". I still have several features I'd like to add, but they will appear only as I have time to devote to programming. System Requirements Testing of WxMaster was done on two computers, a 486DX33 and a 486DX120, both with Windows 3.1. Both of these computers have a port receiving weather station data. One has a TNC connected but no mouse. While WxMaster can be used without a mouse, it's certainly easier to use with a mouse! Only an Ultimeter 2000 was used. I don't know if the data log string is identical for a 500 (I think it is). I'm fairly certain WxMaster will not support the Ultimeter II. All my TNCs are AEA brand. I believe the TNC commands I use are fairly standard, but be aware there may be some incompatibilities. WxMaster is doing a fair amount of processing. It is certainly not sluggish on the 33MHz 486. However, I recommend that or a 386-40 as a reasonable minimal system. It has not been tested with Windows 95 or OS/2. WxMaster needs the Ultimeter serial data. It can run, though, quite happily without a TNC. Program Assumptions WxMaster assumes the weather station is sending data logs (those start with !!), just like APRS uses. It uses the following TNC commands: Ctrl-C to break out of CONV mode, BText, Unproto, and MYcall. It expects the dates and times between the computer and the weather station to be reasonably close (within one hour). It will warn you if they are not (this affects the file IDs used). It assumes the weather station has the more correct time in any case. It assumes the weather station is running at 2400 bps. It assumes a TNC is running 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps. The Fun Begins... WxMaster does something you may not have seen in any other communications program, Windows or otherwise. It was actually so easy, I'm not sure why it's not more common. WxMaster will find your WxStation port and your TNC ports on its own. First, WxMaster determines what COM ports are available. Then, it polls them looking for data logs. If it cannot find the weather station, it displays a message and ends. (Note: there seems to be a Windows anomoly that sometimes prevents WxMaster from finding the station. It doesn't happen often and usually only after I've run it several times before. If that happens and you are sure everything is connected right, just try again. It seems to always work the second time.) WxMaster will begin displaying weather information as soon as the weather station has been found. If there are any remaining COM ports, WxMaster will start searching for a TNC. It does this at several bits per second settings and may take a few seconds. If a TNC is found, WxMaster will query its settings. If you have used APRS recently, it will likely find everything it needs, your callsign, unproto path, and latitude/longitude. The first it's run, it will prompt you to verify this information or to enter it if none was found. (WxMaster stores initialization information in WXMASTER.INI in the same directory as WXMASTER.EXE. It does not pollute your Windows directory. If you want to get rid of WxMaster, just delete your WxMaster directory and everything in it.) Once APRS information has been verified, WxMaster will begin sending Posits and Beacons using the APRS format. You can change the settings at any time and you can personalize the beacon text. These beacons are sent independently by WxMaster. It does not use the built-in TNC beacon. It sets the TNC beacon interval off. WxMaster also displays the most recently received text from the TNC so you can see other APRS station beacons as they are received. Currently, WxMaster graphs only today's weather and only outdoor and indoor temperatures, wind speed, and barometric pressure. I don't have a rain gauge or humidity sensors yet! Should be easy to add these later. Copyright Statement I retain all rights to WxMaster. You may use it free of charge or make copies and distribute it provided you do not profit from doing so. Commercial use in any form is prohibited. As this was done for fun, I make no warranties of any kind on the suitability of WxMaster for any purpose. Comments or suggestions Send to Tony Drumm TonyDrumm@ibm.net