Does anyone know of a free or very low cost source for weather information
that would work on the EEE PC?

Mark S.

You mean in the air via the net. 3G might work. You can get the NOAA
weather
channel on the net. I know they don't like cell phones (3G) working in
light planes
but they do work.

Paul Lamar

Sorry, I should have been more specific.Yes, in flight, near real-time
weather is what I'm interested in.Short of a subscription service, is
there anything in public domain that can legally be downloaded while in
flight?

Mark S.

Check out www.approachsystems.com APIC software- it runs on Windows
XP/2000/Vista/etc, is cheap and has most of the GPS system features
including an XM weather overlay.

Mike Parker

Mike,

 Since I purchased an EEE PC1000 with the 40G SSD and Linux, I'll either
 have
 to stick with s/w that's compatible with Linux or load Windows XP.
Besides,
 I already have an EFIS, but it doesn't accommodate weather.I can go to
 NOAA or similar site while on the ground, but I was hoping to find
 something
 that would provide updates while in flight.I seems that XM Weather is the
 best option at this time.

 Mark S.

 Pardon my ignorance on this matter. I am not connected to XM radio.
 How exactly does XM weather get from the receiver to a LCD. Blue tooth?
 Or does the XM receiver have a display of some sort?
 I was thinking of doppler radar animation as shown on the NOAA web site.



 http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=SOX&product=N1P&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

 Paul


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 Paul,
 I'm no expert on XM Weather, but it appears they use a satellite
 signal/receiver and associated s/w to display the images and information on
 a pc or palm device.Here's a snip from their web page...

 _____________________________________________________________________________
Continuously broadcast and dependable

 XM WX Satellite Weather employs a unique satellite delivery
 mechanism<http://www.xmwxweather.com/xmwx-data/to ensure constant,
 reliable weather coverage, no matter how thick the
 clouds get or how hard it rains. In fact, the quality of XM WX data, in
 addition to its robust satellite delivery, has prompted over 90% of
 airframe
 manufactures to adopt XM WX as an optional feature for their aircraft.


 _____________________________________________________________________________

 My issue is with the method of billing that requires an ongoing monthly
 subscription.As I only fly 3-4 times/month, I am looking for something
 that is either free, minimal cost, or allows a per use charge.Most of my
 flying is < 50 miles each way, but Texas weather can change very
 quickly.For now, I guess I'll use the EEE PC to get weather while still
 on
 the ground.

 Mark S.

 Back in my glass cockpit Kitplane article of 1989 I mentioned picking up
 UHF TV
 channels on a small portable 12 voltTV set for weather.

 My friend has a big motor home with a 3 foot diameter satellite dish
 he gets the internet on. I think it is Hughes. It automatically searches
 for
 and locks on to the satellite. There is a servo in it. Of course it
 automatically
 folds down on the roof of the motor home as well as well to cut the overall
 height.
 Cost about $5000 as I recall. He also has a much smaller one that does the
 same
 thing for direct TV only. Check with your local motor home dealer.

 I have a fixed direct TV satellite dish at home but it does not have
 internet service
 but it does have the weather channel 24 hours a day. The dish is about 18
 inches
 in diameter. I have a spare dish if you want one.Might fit in an Lancair
 ES rear
 fuselage. All you need is a servo to find and lock on to the satellite :)

 If they can fly a Rotax 914 poweredUAV in Afghanistan from Tamps Florida
 with a sat link surely we can get weather real time :)


 Paul Lamar

Well, if anyone knows how, I would sure be willing to listen.;-)

Mark

Next time you go flying try the 2 pound  portable 8" digital TV and see what
you can receive. I think UHF is line of sight so you might be surprised.

http://www.lcddigital.tv/8_tv-digital.html


Some television receivers have only an analog broadcast tuner and will require
a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts
with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting.
Analog-only TV's should continue to work as before with cable and satellite
TV services, gaming consoles, VCR's, DVD players, and similar products. For
 more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322
(TTY:1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commissions digital television website at: www.dtv.gov

Paul Lamar