Connecting to the Internet

This content is being developed. Check back for updates.

1. On the main Weather Display window, click Control Panel.
2. Under Web Site Configurations, click FTP Connections METAR/NOAA FTP.
3. Click the Connections tab.

On older versions of Weather Display, across the top of the Setup screen there are some arrows, < and > in the top right hand corner that you can use to scroll through all the setup pages. You dial up your Internet ISP as needed

This is the more normal case when the WD machine gets its Internet access from a modem directly connected to it.

Within the group box labeled "Internet Settings" click on "Get ISP's". Then select the one you want to connect to (there most likely will only be one) from the list in the top left hand corner. Then the Username and Password should get filled in automatically. If your dial up networking does not have the password being saved, then a box will appear asking you enter the password for your connection to the internet (same password as you would normally enter when you connect to the internet). Continue with "For All below".

Persistent (always on) connection to the Internet

This is from the perspective of Weather Display, and may not be true if your Weather Display machine reaches the Internet through a local network. This would most likely apply to those with ISDN, DSL, or CABLE TV internet service. It also applies to those with dial-up modems which are connected 24/7 via a software or hardware firewall.

Within the group box labeled "Permenant Connections" click on "I have a permenant connection". Continue with For All section below.

Do not select the I have Internet sharing over a LAN check box.

For All

Select the Start with FTP program visible check box for debugging so that you can see what is happening.

Later you will want to clear this check box so that the ftp program does not continually pop up over the top of everything.

For future debugging, select Produce a log file. If you want to view the last log file produced, on the View menu, then click on "ftp error log file". All of the current day's internet connections will be dispplayed. Scroll to the end of the list to see the most recent. To see additional detail from the last connection, click on "View Full Log".

Click Cancel on re-establish connection is a good idea, but minimize connection box when connected applies only to Microsoft Windows 95 although it seems to have adverse effects with Windows 2000 or later.

Time out in minutes for when a slow connection is the overall time out.

FTP connect time out and Mail connect time out should be Ok at the default settings for most users.

For most users the normal FTP mode will work, but if you are using a hardware or software firewall you might encounter problems. If a connection appears to hang and you have a firewall, try selecting the Use Passive Mode with new FTP program check box. You might also have to make changes to the firewall to let Weather Display access the Internet. You should consult the documentation for your firewall for instructions on how to allow a program to access the Internet.

On the Main Internet Switch, click OK.

This enables Weather Display to use the Internet, but does not generate any Internet activity by iteself.

Notes

• If you don’t want Weather Display to run its own FTP program, for example, because you are using a Weather display on a server, then clear the Use Weather Displays own FTP, and you can enter in the text box a .bat file for Weather Display to execute to copy the files to the detination location. You can select the location of where to produce the files under the Tab Files, and then click Set Web files location.

• If you want Weather Display to perform other functions, such as send data to Wunderground or download METARs, etc., then select the Still use ftpupd.exe for everything but normal uploads check box.

• If you want Weather Display to update a Web page on the Internet, for example, your Web home page, then you must set up the FTP server, Username, and password, as using the server information and credentials provided by your Internet service provider (ISP).

The remote directory is the most tricky part to get correct, as you need to get the placement of any "/" needed correct. Don’t forget to turn the master switch on, so that it is green. Click OK to save the settings at any time, and then go back to the Setup window for any further changes.