Internet Weather Display 2

(last updated: 2014-04-14: code update to support new WeatherBug servers)

NOTE: The WeatherBug servers no longer support the API used with this project. If you would like to build this project, then you will have to port the code to use WeatherBug's new Pulse API.

Purpose: Displays weather information from WeatherBug on a TV monitor. Article published in the July 2009 issue of Circuit Cellar Ink.

Overview

This version of the Internet Weather Display is similar to the original project in that it gets weather data using the WeatherBug API and displays the information on a screen. The following is different:

- uses the Parallax Propeller microcontroller, code ported to SPIN language

- generates compsite video so that the data can be displayed on any monitor that has a composite video input

- sounds an alert when new alert statements are recieved

- turns off monitor for power savings (using a MOSFET switch and sleep timout in firmware)

The WIZnet W5100 is still used for the Ethernet interface and the same method is used to get the data.

The hardware is cleaner because this project will is presented in a magazine article. Components mounted on a perfboard with soldered wire connections.

A single pushbutton is used to select the screens. The screens are: current/live (temperature, wind, rain), forecast for the next two periods, and active alerts.

Specifications

- Composite color video output, use with small or large monitors

- audio outputs, two channels (note: audio has been disabled in current software release because of lack of memory space)

- small TFT monitor power switch, monitor power must be < 1A

- powered by 12VDC wall transformer, 1A if using small TFT monitor, 100mA if monitor is independently powered

- (1) LED indicator

- (1) pushbutton switch

- Use the WIZnet W5100 (WIZ810 module) for interface to the Ethernet.

- Uses DNS to get the IP of the WeatherBug server; DNS query is sent to DSL modem which then forwards it to a DNS server.

- MAC address, IP address, Gateway address, Subnet mask are hardcoded.

- Sounds audible alert when new alert statements are detected (compare alert id's of new read of data versus saved list of alert id's); the alert is a two-tone using both audio channels played for ~3sec and then silent for ~3sec.

- push of the pushbutton switch causes next screen to be displayed; if screen is off then screen is turned on; if turned on and alerts exist, then alerts are shown first, otherwise the current/live information is shown; if the alert sound is being produced, then turn of the sound (we are acknowledging that someone is viewing the alerts.

- Flashes the LED 1sec on, 1sec off while alerts are active.

- Current/Live screen shows temperature, hi & lo temperature, average wind speed and direction, rainfall for day, month, and year

- Forecast screen shows forecast data for next two time periods (periods defined by WeatherBug); shows hi & lo temperature, conditions, and graphic image of the conditions.

- Alerts screen shows the alert statement id, text of the alert type, and expiration time & date; up to two alerts are shown on a screen, if more alerts exist (up to 10) then pressing the pushbutton will cause the next two alerts to be shown (so there will always be at least one page of alerts, and there may be up to 5).

- The order of screens to show is: current/live, forecast, alert(s); then go back to current/live.

- Turns off the TFT monitor and stops displaying a screen after 20 seconds of no pushbutton activity.

- Debounces the pushbutton in software.

Download (see Attachments)

iwd2_R20120807.zip - project files for Propeller Tool (v1.2) - updated for new WeatherBug servers

iwd2_R20100512.zip - old, initial release

iwd2_schematic_bom.zip

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