NEXRAD Weather Maps

NEXRAD Weather Maps

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NEXRAD radar map for weather (PC)

The TeleType GPS software now supports NEXRAD radar maps. The software contains information for 154 NEXRAD radar stations, which in total provide complete coverage of the United States. This will allow a pilot to fly around bad weather. Note that to be able to download current maps, the PDA or PC must be connected to the Internet.

A cell phone cable can be used to connect to the Internet. Also, a satellite or PDA phone combination can receive live weather if you can browse the web with it while in flight.

To see the current weather maps in your web browser you can go to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/radar/ and select the radar station closest to your current location. For more information on what the colors represent on the radar maps, you can go to http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html#color.

NEXRAD radar stations are represented by blue diamonds on the map. To display the radar locations, the US_Radars.ttm map file must be loaded into the software.

You must have a license to access this feature.

Radar maps serve as the basis for obtaining weather maps for your desired area. To load the radar maps into the software you have two options:

1.	Select a radar, and select Weather Map from the screen that is displayed.

2.	Zoom in to the area where you want weather maps, and right-click/press on maps then click on Show Maps > Advanced > Weather > OK. Exactly what this does depends on the options selected in the Weather tab on the Preference window. A full explanation of the weather map preferences is below.

Weather Preference tab (PC)

Weather Map Preferences

Server - This option allows you to choose the server that will download the weather maps. This is useful if a server is not responding.

Auto Refresh - This option allows you to specify how often to refresh the weather map. The data on the weather servers used by TeleType GPS software is updated every 1-5 minutes; how often you choose to refresh your weather maps is at your discretion. Make sure you are connected to the internet during these intervals.

Load in View Options - These options allow you to choose what happens when File > Load in View > Weather Maps is selected.

Closest to Screen Center – Loads only the map closest to screen center.

Around Current Position – Loads only the weather map nearest your current position.

All Maps in View – Loads weather maps for each radar station that is in view on the screen.

If you find that you cannot access weather maps even if you have an active internet connection, you may have a firewall setting that is prohibiting the TeleType application from accessing the internet. Configure the firewall to allow TeleType access to the internet.