Nexrad3 Beta Testing Information Page

Current Release: Version 4.0 Beta Revision 3
 Released: Tue 4/26/2005

WHAT’S NEW?


Rev 3

A full install package is needed again. 3D radar has been put on hold, there’s too much more to be done on it and I need to get a full working copy available again. This copy pretty much represents what features version 4 will have. I don’t plan to add anything else until the next major version, so all that remains is working out the final bugs (and there are indeed still a few). It is also worth mentioning that version 4 will be available in 2 forms: Pro Edition and Server Edition. This beta test copy represents the Pro Edition, there will be no public beta test copies made available of the Server Edition, but the Server Edition will be identical to the Pro Edition but will also include Gif and Animated Gif support as well as the ability to automatically “serve” any series of radar images you wish, on your local PC and optionally uploaded to your own Web site via FTP. You may occasionally notice that I will be testing the Server Edition on my website. For those wondering about it, I will be asking for $80 per registration of Nexrad3 Version 4 Pro. The Server Edition will be $140. Customized Server Editions are also possible (contact me).

Note that these final couple beta test revisions will only work for a couple weeks each time. Then, once I “finalize” the project. The demo version will work 14 days. Thereafter, a purchase will be necessary. Sorry, folks, but I can’t afford any more freebies, I am in extreme financial need. By all means, feel free to go ahead and register now during the beta process. The registration codes will work in the beta versions as well as the release version.

On to brighter things: The VAD Wind Profile product (48vwp) is finally supported in Nexrad3! I know it was a long time coming.

Those of you who have been using previous beta revisions (1 or 2) of Version 4 will notice that I’ve tried to simplify the shapefile rendering properties set up. The way it will now work is that the same property sheet will control all "Places" shapefiles (i.e. CentralCities, State-Places and Tiger-Places). It will work like that for all the standard "categorized" shapefiles such as Counties, Highways, Water polys, etc. This will save you from having to change the properties on a half-dozen shapefiles just to change the color of your cities (or whatever). Unfortunately, these improvements mean that any of you who have been using a previous beta revision of version 4 will find your shapefile properties back to default values. Plus, any Tiger files you've obtained will not fit within the "categorized" property sheets mentioned above, they will still work, but need renamed. If you are in this case, contact me and I'll tell you how to rename them. Speaking of Tiger shapefiles, I’ve added a nice download-helper for obtaining Tiger shapefiles. It works kind of like the ESRI online wizard. First you’ll select the state you want, then county, then layers. Then Nexrad3 will download, unzip and automatically incorporate them into your Nexrad3 shapefile collection.

Another option added is my color and b/w "presets" on the Map Menu, similar to what I had in version 3: "Load Mike's Color Presets" and "Load Mike's BW Presets". Note however that these convenient shortcuts only work on the standard & categorized (mentioned above) shapefile property sheets. This includes all shapefiles downloaded using the Nexrad3 D/L options (AWIPS,CENSUS,TIGER). Any shapefiles you've manually added on your own will not be affected by these shortcuts.

I am writing a help file for Nexrad3. A couple pages have been written (just basics) and it is available from the Help menu (of course). It should be complete by the next (and probably last) beta revision.

I’ve added a new radar data viewer for accessing the tabular, warning and/or product dependent data. Also, there’s a new “pulldown window” available on each radar window for viewing the “alphanumeric” text data that is available with some products.

The AVI creation routines are back in place, but still a little buggy. I’m working on it.

The IWIN window has been renamed to “US Alerts”, as it no longer gets it’s data from the IWIN site but from the NWS XML feed at:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts/us.cap

Rev 2

Only 2 things changed here (been too busy moving). The warned counties now show up on the radar images as “cross-hatched” shaded areas instead of the color codes. Let me know your opinions on this versus the color codes. The color codes are still used on the IWIN map itself. Also, for those who had trouble using the full install on Win98, I have fixed this so it should be safe for the full installation on Win98. I removed the conflicting MFC dll’s that were disrupting the Win98 O.S., they aren’t needed anyway, these dll’s come with all versions of Windows 98 and above. One other note: To those who of you who are having trouble figuring out how to use the shapefiles, I promise I’ll document this more once I have more time. But things will get busy at work by the end of the week if Frances does indeed come our way here in WPB. I will have to work at the station indefinitely in that event. We are a very complete news station and would be in full coverage for the event itself and possibly days beyond depending on the severity of the event.

Rev 1

Map Maker – You can now add virtually any shapefile you want as a map layer.

Lightning Fast Online Updates – Nexrad3 no longer needs to get a remote ftp directory listing for downloading updates. This significantly speeds up the update process. In version 3, running and maintaining a large radar area loop like CONUS was a virtual impossibility, but not anymore!

TRUE Automation – Nexrad3 no longer depends on a “timer” download that users must fool with in order to auto-update. The “timer” download features are still included for those who like them, but they are not necessary. Version 4 can automatically determine what each window needs at update time and get it.

Extended Level II support – Version 3 would only show a single volume scan. Now you can build loops with your Level II archives.

US Alerts/Warnings/Watches – Nexrad3 now delivers the latest US weather warnings to you and will constantly keep them up-to-date.

If you have a previous beta revision of version 4, you don’t need to un-install (if you do, you might have to D/L all your AWIPS shapefiles again!). Just install this right over top of the old one.

The BETA installation only comes with 3 shapefiles: World, Great Lakes and NexradSites. In order to give life to your maps, you will want to obtain more shapefiles. In particular, if you wish to utilize the new “US Alerts” window, you will need the “AWIPS” warning zone shapefiles. After installation, check out the MAP OPTIONS menu for options on getting the standard map layers and AWIPS shapefiles. Also look at the Operational Notes for more links to online available shapefiles.

FULL INSTALLATION PACKAGE


Download the file, then execute the file “setup.exe”