Weather Message

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will Weather Message run on a single computer?
   Yes. It does however require that TCP/IP be installed on the computer.
   

2. What setup files should be saved for Weather Message Server?
   On Weather Message Server Setup, select File then Export Settings.  You should then backup all *.txt and *.xml files from the C:\Program Files\WxMesgNet directory.
   

3. Is there a discussion group for Weather Message?
   Yes, join the Weather Message group on Yahoo.
   

4. How do I setup a test message to be sent at a specific time interval?
   The following link will download a document that describes setting up a test message and scheduling it for email or paging.
   

5. What is SNPP paging?
   SNPP stands for Simple Network Paging Protocol.  SNPP is more reliable than using e-mail (SMTP) to send messages to pagers.  With regular e-mail, messages must travel through multiple servers before reaching the paging company.  With SNPP, messages are delivered directly to the paging company server.
   

6. What is WCTP paging?
   WCTP stands for Wireless Communication Transfer Protocol.  WCTP is more reliable than using e-mail (SMTP) to send messages to pagers.  With regular e-mail, messages must travel through multiple servers before reaching the paging company.  With WCTP, messages are delivered directly to the paging company server.
   

7. Why does PNS???, with my state and county code, not alarm?
   If you specify a county code, in an alarm, Weather Message expects the message to contain a UGC line.  For the PNS product, you will need to specify the exact product code, for example PNSBHM, and leave the state and county codes blank.
   

8. Can Weather Message support more than 50 client connections?
   Yes, a 100 client connection license is available.  Send an email request to Weather Message help.
   

9. Where can I get a WxWords.dat file already setup with message abbreviations?
   Go to the Additional Downloads page.  A Weather Message user has provided a file to get you started.
   

10. How do I setup faxing on Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/2008?
    Here are links to Microsoft knowledgebase articles on setting up Windows 2000 and XP fax service.
    Windows 2000 Setup
    Windows XP Setup
    

11. Can VNC be used with Weather Message Classic?
    The default installation of VNC causes error 462 to be reported by the Weather Message Programs.  There is a detailed posting on the Weather Message Discussion Group that explains what changes need to be made to VNC so that it will work with Weather Message.
     

12. What is the format of Product.dat?
    The product.dat file format is:
      3 character product identifier
      2 character wmo identifier
      1 numeric product contains UGC line 0=no, 1=yes
      1 numeric product contains VTEC line 0=no, 1=yes
      1 numeric product contains both fips and county codes 0=no, 1=yes
      * variable characters for product description