EMWIN Logon Changes Tested

I participated in the EMWIN Logon changes test this week.  Starting June 10, 2013, the National Weather Service will require all EMWIN FTP users to use an assigned user name and password to access the FTP server.  If you do not use the FTP method to access the server, no changes are required.

If you use the EMWIN FTP server, you should send an email to Rob Wagner,  EMWIN Team,  Office of Operational Systems, robert.wagner@noaa.gov with your static or dynamic IP address.  You will be assigned a user name and password to access the FTP server.

In a previous blog post I announced that users would be required to use a static IP address.  The NWS will now filter dynamic IP users on the first three octets of their IP address.  This should not be a problem for most dynamic IP users.  (The first three octets are highlighted in the following IP address:  192.168.10.25)

I noticed that my Verizon 4G wireless connection does change that third octet on occasion.  Because of this, I have sent multiple IP addresses for my registration.

Weather Message 4.0 contains changes that allows users to enter their assigned user name and password.

Note: To my knowledge a small number of Weather Message users use the FTP ingest option.

Weather Message 3.9.3 Released

Weather Message version 3.9.3 was released today.  This version of Weather Message contains changes to address problems with authorizing Facebook and Twitter.  If you have already authorized these services, you do not need this update.

These changes have already been included in the current 4.0 beta.

Facebook Changes

Facebook deprecated off-line access in December 2012.  This change causes new Weather Message users to get a short lived access token.  The short lived access token is good for 2 hours.

Changes have been made in Weather Message to extend this initial access token to 60 days.  When the 60 day access token expires, Weather Message users will need to reauthorize the Weather Message application for another 60 days.

It appears that Weather Message users with an original access token, one issued prior to December 2012, do not have this constant reauthorization problem.  New users will have to reauthorize the application routinely.

We are still looking into this problem.  In the mean time, we have released Weather Message version 3.9.2.  The version contains revised code to obtain the 60 day access token.  A beta release for version 4 will be posted soon.

EMWIN News: GOES 12 End-Of-Life

GOES 12 at 60 degrees is nearing end-of-life.  The satellite currently is broadcasting the EMWIN-I legacy data stream.  NESDIS has yet to set an exact date for GOES 12 to be removed from service, but it is expected to occur in the fall of 2013.  Any remaining legacy users should migrate to EMWIN-N capable systems and use GOES East or West.

EMWIN FTP Logon Changes Effective June 10, 2013

The NWS announced today that they will start requiring a user name and password to retrieve files from the EMWIN FTP server. Your user name and password will be associated with your computer's static IP address. In order to download files from the EMWIN FTP server, you will now need a static IP address.

These changes will require an update to Weather Message. I will make an announcement when the changes are completed.

Here is the text from the Public Information Statement.

Effective June 10, 2013, EMWIN FTP users must apply for a username, a password and provide the IP addresses of systems that retrieve files from the EMWIN FTP server. This change DOES NOT affect satellite broadcast or ByteBlaster users.

The IP addresses will be used to obtain access to the server.
Users will need to ensure they use a static IP address, one that remains the same and is not assigned dynamically and therefore changes between user sessions. If users are unsure if they have a static IP address or need to have one established, they should contact their Internet provider.

After June 10, users will be required to use their new username and password to continue to retrieve data from the EMWIN FTP server. It is strongly recommended that users transition to their new username and password as soon possible to avoid loss of service after June 10, 2013.

To apply for a username and password or for other questions,
email:

Rob Wagner
EMWIN Team
Office of Operational Systems
robert.wagner@noaa.gov

For the latest information on the EMWIN FTP logon changes, go to:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/EMWIN/ftp server changes.htm

EMWIN is a low cost satellite weather data broadcast service that provides one of the most resilient methods of receiving NWS weather information. The service includes warnings, forecasts, graphics and imagery. The goal of EMWIN is to provide emergency managers the capability to respond faster to severe weather, tsunamis and other hazards.

More information on the EMWIN service can be found at:

http://www.weather.gov/EMWIN/index.htm

National Service Change Statements are online at:

http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm

Windows 8

I have installed the Weather Message Clients on a Windows 8 computer.  I am pleased to report that I did not have any trouble running the software. 

Users that are accustomed to using the Start button in Windows 7 may be initially lost with Windows 8.  When the tiled desktop appeared, I managed to get to the desktop.  Once there - "No Start Button".  The secret is to move the mouse to the lower left corner of the window.  Then a start tile appears.  Click on the start tile and you move back to the tiled desktop.

Moving the mouse the to lower right corner of the screen displays options to setup the computer.  The options that appear on the tiled start screen are different than the options that appear when you are viewing the desktop.  The options that appear on the desktop will lead you to the control panel.

My first impressions:  I think this operating system is designed for people with touch screens.  The regular desktop looks like Windows 7, less the start button.  The tiled desktop, is different.

It appears that we are moving into a new era of windows operating systems.  I must now start working on transitioning the Weather Message programs from Windows Forms to XAML so that we can take advantage of some of the new features in Windows 8.  That will be a major rewrite of the user interface.

Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5

Microsoft has release the Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5.  The 4.5 framework is an in-place update to the version 4.0 framework.  It includes a number of enhancements that improve the operation of programs developed for the 4.0 framework.

Weather Message uses the 4.0 framework.  I recommend that all Weather Message users update their systems with the 4.5 update.  You will find the update at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30653.

Weather Message 3.9 Updated for Twitter Change

The Weather Message 3.9 installers have been updated with the recent twitter changes.  A quick fix had been posted to the Weather Message Yahoo group.  The program only updates can be used to update your installation.

Twitter Deprecates Endpoints

Twitter has deprecated their unversioned endpoints.  Last week they started removing the endpoints from their servers.  Several Weather Message users reported a problem with posting messages to Twitter.

We have a temporary fix available that restores functionality.  See the Weather Message Yahoo group for a link to the fix and installation instructions.