Usage Yahoo! Widget

When starting the widget for the first time, it'll try to retrieve data from the initial default airport weather station (Bern/Belp LSZB in Switzerland). However, you need to be connected to the Internet in order to get current data. Data will be refreshed every 10 minutes (indicated by the animated flight rule indicator in the upper right corner). You may also reload data manually by clicking on the refresh-button in the lower-left corner. The widget keeps the last data loaded even when the connection to the Internet is interrupted (including appropriate warning). Standard context menu allows to change preferences and preset stations.

Aviation Weather utilizes the dock icon feature of Yahoo! Widgets 4.0 and displays the current flight rule indicator for all 4 preset stations.

Data-Sources

There are two data sources for METAR/TAF data available:

• National Weather Service (NWS): NWS provides data for almost every airport weather station worldwide. Data can be display in raw and translated format. There are up to 4 presets possible and most formatting options can be applied.
• MyMetar.com: MyMetar.com offers personalized and customizable METAR/TAF services. Simply by entering your user name, the widget will display METAR/TAF data in raw format for your customized groups.

Display

In the translated mode you can toggle between METAR and TAF simply by clicking in text (blue part of the window). You can also get raw data by shift-clicking (holding shift-key while clicking). This works also the opposite way (get translated data in raw mode).



In every mode (except raw mode with the option "Show all stations at once" selected) by clicking on the airport name will display additional station information plus a map with the approximate location indicated by a red dot. Simply click in the window again to get back.



Optionally the widgets fetches all METARs for the past 2 hours and allows browsing through all record by using the two arrow buttons (next to the station name). If the lastet data is unavailable or can not be interpreted, it'll show the last valid METAR. Data (METAR) which does not reflect the latest information will be indicated by a colored red "time" line.

Preferences

Preset Stations

Enter a station by typing in a location name (preferably an airport resp. city name) or use the ICAO (4-letter) code directly. A menu will be shown, if there are multiple locations with a similar name. Please consider that not all listed locations actually offer METAR and/or TAF data. See also stations list by NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research).

You may define up to 4 preset stations. Enter a station and validate it by pressing the enter, return or tab key. Then click on any "+" button to save it. The ICAO code will show up on the button. Clicking again on the preset button will clear it ("+" sign comes up again). Presets show up in the same order on the upper side on the widget front panel.

General Options

• Get past data when current unavailable: the widgets fetches all METARs for the past 2 hours and allows browsing through all record by using the two arrow buttons (next to the station name). If the lastet data is unavailable or can not be interpreted, it'll show the last valid METAR. Data (METAR) which does not reflect the latest information will be indicated by a colored red "time" line.
• Format: you can choose between U.S. (optionally with temperatures in degree Celsius) and Metric formats (applies to time, temperature, pressure and distance). A forth option (Metric All) converts also cloud ceilings into meters.

Mode-Specific Options

• Show local time: this option shows the real local time based on the timezone it's in.
• Show METAR remarks: remarks are specific to the station and are not interpreted, however, by checking this option they'll be shown in their original format.
• Format data nicer: simple option which inserts line breaks before each TEMPO, FM, BECMG, or PROB for better readability.
• Show all stations at once: displays all preset station in the same window.
• Show calculations: calculates pressure altitude, density altitude, and freezing level (according to ISA standard).