Specifications
4/22/99 23 - 3
POSTING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DATA VIA THE INTERNET
The Toolbox software package handles two essential steps in the posting of weather data to the
Internet. The software first polls the data to create the text, Java and picture files, then transfers the
files to a specified address or file location. The software transfers the files using a protocol known as
FTP (File Transfer Protocol). In order for the transfer to be successful, the destination site must
support FTP access.
Data can be transferred to an Internet site using either a constant connection or a temporary dial-up
connection. When a constant connection is used, the user specifies the frequency of the file generation
and update. When a dial-up connection is used, the user still specifies how often he/she would like to
generate and transfer the files, but then, on the user-determined schedule, the computer dials the
network connection point, establishes a connection, transfers the files, and disconnects.
The software comes with several templates for posting weather data and graphs. The user can modify
the templates provided or create his/her own.
There are certain hardware and software requirements for the Toolbox software to operate. They
include:
• Windows 95/98 or Windows NT 4.0
• Any of the following Davis Instruments weather stations: Weather Monitor II, Weather Wizard II,
II-S or III, Perception, or GroWeather
• WeatherLink/Data Logger
• Modem for dial-up connection, or network card for a permanent network connection
• Ability to transfer files using FTP
• Space on a web server to receive the transferred files