Suggestion: Auto Zip Code for Weather

**Mbai2** · 03-21-2005, 11:56 AM

The zip code needs to be entered in the settings panels for weather to know what info to download. If I drive to another state or city, I would have to re-enter the zip code to get the correct weather info. I was wondering if it would be possible for centrafuse to extract zip code/city information from the integrated Destinator. This way you would always have the correct weather information no matter where you drive. Possible?

**cold_fusion** · 03-21-2005, 04:41 PM

...or you could look out the window?

sorry i couldn't resist!

Tis a cool idea tho!

**lostreception** · 03-21-2005, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by cold_fusion

...or you could look out the window?

sorry i couldn't resist!

Tis a cool idea tho!

but the "real life GUI" sucks i like seeing little rain drops and lightning bolts that are pixelated just MHO

**xBrady** · 03-21-2005, 05:03 PM

Good idea. Does destinator give you the zip code information? Any free databases that can give you this information?

**veetid** · 03-21-2005, 05:13 PM

I can easily get that information from Destinator.... I will make this an option in a future release...

david

**kmcniece** · 03-21-2005, 05:17 PM

I'm speaking out of my arse right now, so take tha tin mind while reading....

I believe the follwing to be accurate...
The zip code is used to determine the closest 'weatherstation' and then there is a weatherstation code used to get the weather/forecast data from the weather server that corresponds to the local weather for that particular zipcode.

In theory,
If the GPS mapping prgram contained the zipcode information, you could read that, lookup the local weatherstation code and dload the text file corresponding to the location you are in.

The weather data is an ascii file with codes that correspond to the various variables for the weather, i.e. rainy/windy 75/80 cloudy/partly cloudy... plus the 5 day forecast. I belive this can all be found by Googling weather related sites like www.nws.noaa.gov.

This site breaks down the codes somewhat:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/NDFD_GRI...der/ndfdwx.php

This would be how MEEDIO and Centrafuse get their weather data, I believe.

The key would be updating the INI file with the weathercode as you move, which I belive requires a restart of the application (not good). But I'm sure a programmer could figure out how to make the information dynamic vs. static.

once, I speak from a vast empty space of knowledge and cannot be held liable for any rain that falls on your head while it says it should be sunny.

Hope it helps...

**xBrady** · 03-21-2005, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by kmcniece

I'm speaking out of my arse right now, so take tha tin mind while reading....

I believe the follwing to be accurate...
The zip code is used to determine the closest 'weatherstation' and then there is a weatherstation code used to get the weather/forecast data from the weather server that corresponds to the local weather for that particular zipcode.

In theory,
If the GPS mapping prgram contained the zipcode information, you could read that, lookup the local weatherstation code and dload the text file corresponding to the location you are in.

The weather data is an ascii file with codes that correspond to the various variables for the weather, i.e. rainy/windy 75/80 cloudy/partly cloudy... plus the 5 day forecast. I belive this can all be found by Googling weather related sites like www.nws.noaa.gov.

This site breaks down the codes somewhat:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/NDFD_GRI...der/ndfdwx.php

This would be how MEEDIO and Centrafuse get their weather data, I believe.

The key would be updating the INI file with the weathercode as you move, which I belive requires a restart of the application (not good). But I'm sure a programmer could figure out how to make the information dynamic vs. static.

once, I speak from a vast empty space of knowledge and cannot be held liable for any rain that falls on your head while it says it should be sunny.

Hope it helps...

Or just do this

:

Originally Posted by veetid

I can easily get that information from Destinator.... I will make this an option in a future release...

david

**veetid** · 03-21-2005, 05:31 PM

I would have it update on the fly and not require a restart of centrafuse...

david

**kmcniece** · 03-21-2005, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by veetid

I would have it update on the fly and not require a restart of centrafuse...

david

So is what I said right?
It reads the zipcode to find the closest weather station and then gets the weather string from there? I;d love to know if I am thinking this right?

**veetid** · 03-21-2005, 07:44 PM

kmcniece: Essentially... It is more of a Postal Code instead of a zipcode... zipcodes are only US, but CENTRAFUSE will take any number of postal codes and get weather information... I can grab that info from Destinator and then have it dynamically pass that info everytime you click weather...

david