Open Source Weather Radar Software - Supercell Wx

[D Paulat]

I just checked out this software. the app did opened for me but I have to sign up for API key. when I sign up at mapbox. It asked me for credit card. I will not give my credit card info. need to choose alternative for map. might openstreet map.

I have a new version that should be ready soon, supporting MapTiler as the default over Mapbox. Unfortunately Mapbox decided to start requiring credit cards despite having a free tier some time ago.

 

[D Paulat]

You can find the new version here (as well as a Linux version), that supports MapTiler: Release v0.1.1 · dpaulat/supercell-wx

I'm still working on documentation updates for this release.

 

[Drew Terril]

I'll serve as a guinea pig for the Linux version once things settle down on my end in a few weeks. I'll try it initially on my really old machine that I use primarily for digital HF modes, but I'll also test it on one of my newer machines

 

[John Sacrey]

I've downloaded this program. You need to have a Maptiler Key, but they do not require the use of a CC. Looks pretty interesting. Will keep looking/testing it.

 

[D Paulat]

The documentation has been updated for this latest release: Supercell Wx — Supercell Wx documentation

@Drew Terril
Let me know how the Linux version works for you. I suspect you might have problems with your older machine, as the application relies on some newer library features that older distributions might not have (the main one I would expect issues with is GCC < 11). I'm currently advertising support for Fedora 34+ and Ubuntu 22.04+.

 

[Gary Stofer]

Since v.11 if I have change grid width and height to 2/2 respectively, my elevations options disappear.
Love that you give a linux option. I may spin up a vm just to test it.

 

[D Paulat]

Interesting about the elevation options, I don't see that behavior, and I typically run in a 2x2 grid. The way it's currently designed is the elevation degrees will show up only if you have a level 2 product selected. If you have a level 3 product selected, there's a small arrow where you are able to select a tilt. Are you seeing different behavior?

 

[Gary Stofer]

Okay now I understand. Thanks for clearing that up. My products were all Level 3.
The V.11 updater alerted me to the new version so that works.

I did not see it on the roadmap but I assume you'll implement an animation / download frames option at some time?

 

[D Paulat]

Yes, an animation and archive view is in the works (I've labeled it "timeline", I should clarify that in the roadmap). It probably won't be done until next month sometime at the earliest, implementation is a bit trickier. I'm not sure I understand the "download frames" functionality though.

 

[Nathan Parker]

I'd be glad to give your app a try on my Windows PC. If you develop a Mac version, I'd really be interested, as while I like RadarScope on my Mac, I'm always looking for additional solutions.

While you're definitely going to keep the free/public radar sites in there for people who need a totally free storm tracking solution, any chance you'll eventually add AllisonHouse integration (where we could login with our AllisonHouse account or plug in URLs to AllisonHouse data like we can in GR) for those of us who'd want to use AllisonHouse during a time when the public servers might be saturated? That'd also be a way you could offer some premium data (such as lightning, although you could use one of the free lightning feeds for a form of basic lightning).

 

[Anthony Kukla]

What is the trick to getting this to not force close on Windows 11 on app startup? I had 2005-2022 C++ files installed.

Edit: Wiped hard drive (thought it may be a corrupt os file somewhere), reinstalled windows and then i reinstalled Supercell and 2015-2022 C++ and still same issue. Terminal pops up, does its thing and just closes.
Thinkpad X220, i5, 16gb memory, 1TB SSD. Like i said, on Linux it works perfect but need windows right now.

 

[Levi Mol]

I see people post from time to time, asking about free or inexpensive software to consume Level 2 and Level 3 radar data. With few free and/or open source options available, and being obsessed with weather for longer than I can remember, I've decided to challenge myself with developing a desktop application for tracking severe weather in my free time.

Supercell Wx is a free, open source application to visualize live NEXRAD Level 2 and Level 3 data, and severe weather alerts. It displays continuously updating weather data on top of a responsive map, providing the capability to monitor weather events using reflectivity, velocity, and other products.

You can find documentation here, including info for first-time setup: Supercell Wx — Supercell Wx documentation
The latest release is available on GitHub: Releases · dpaulat/supercell-wx

It's not as fully featured as many of the paid options out there, but it does provide a base level of functionality. I'm continuing to develop the application, and add new features. I've been using it myself to track some of the recent storms, and feel I'm ready to share my progress. I hope the community can benefit as well!

Can it be downloaded on ChromeOS?

 

[James K]

What's the link for the latest windows version.. I have a win-10 machine I can test on.

 

[Brian R.]

I will gladly test it on macOS when it is available, since I only run Apple products, and as far as programming my Motorola radios I either have a friend program them, or one of our agencies radio techs while they are on site servicing the agencies radios. Use Radar Scope currently, but always open to try out a newer program.