ClassicConnect

[parasquared]

FreeStar 4000 (hereon known as fs4k) is a program that attempts to simulate the WeatherStar 4000 headend units. it can do both the fullscreen forecasts, as well as the overlay text (either transposing it on a video stream itself, or allowing you to chroma key it into something like OBS)


this is a custom stream layout i did in obs with the official weather channel video stream

setting it up initially is a little weird, especially since there's no documentation yet (it did come out like, two months ago, to be fair), so here's how i did it:

- git clone the repository or download one of the tagged releases
- in my case i had to create a Python virtual environment, mostly because i was too lazy to just manually install my distro's python packages for the things it needs
- run installer.py; this will install all the needed deps via pip
- run launcher.py; this is the way you configure the software and whatnot

once you're in the launcher, configuring it does take a bit but is fairly simple. basically just boils down to filling all the fields in. only one i had issues with was the "NWS Climate PIL", of which i still don't know how to actually get. google's AI search crap kinda just gave me the one for Portland and i ran with it, considering i couldn't figure it out with a regular google search for whatever reason. here's how i have the "main location" configured:


also, if you want it to actually look correct (i.e 4:3 and not the framebuffer output's aspect ratio) check 8:5 Feed Size Adjust under Presentation and Compress Window under Misc.

the program has support for input and output streams, but i've only tried input streams. i haven't a damn idea how RTSP works, so that's a later idea, perhaps. it's also just easier to chroma key it in OBS to overlay your own footage (even if said chroma key is a bit broken right now, due to it using anti aliasing and the colors arent quite right. hopefully that'll be fixed)
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- parasquared

"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews

[LeWolfYT]

thanks for using (and sharing about) FreeStar 4000! i plan on releasing an official guide at some point in the near future. the NWS climate PIL is the six-letter identifier used by the NWS to identify products. i’m currently trying to find an international data source for month-to-date precipitation. other than that, i hope the upcoming update and guide help out! there has been an updated README for a while, but i keep forgetting to add it
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-lewolfyt
my code works 50% of the time. it either works, or it doesn't

[random()]

when i was messing around with freestar at some point (i think around when it was announced in Mist) i was able to figure out the PIL by just replacing JFK in the example with the region code i find in IEMBot for each area (minus the chat bit...), denver's one being BOU as an example.
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rnadom.

[Sashi]

I need this in my life. I have a retro pi TV to build.
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I do stuff with things for reasons.
Fuck it, test in prod.

[campos]

love the racoon in current conditions

[l0nestargaming]

i have recently found out that you can find your nearest NWS climate PIL by looking at where your nearest NWS forecast office is, and adding CLI at the beginning of the station id, usually a 3 letter combo, such as https://www.weather.gov/pah