View Full Version : TAF/METAR's on mobile phones
gingernut
24th Jan 2003, 15:23
Is it possible to get TAF's and METAR's texted direct to my mobile phone?
It is not a "WAP" phone.
Cheers !
Yes. There's a site in Denmark that provides this service. You can try it for free for, I think, 20 SMS.
The number is +45 40606361
If you send an SMS to that, with EGLL as the content, you will get METAR, TAF, long TAF, and a bit more for EGLL. Each of those counts as one SMS, so you get about two goes at EGLL and your 20 are gone.
It knows most airport ID codes
You can limit what it sends by the use of more codes. For details, go to www.wxsupport.com
Then you pay! I've got a sub there, which I use when abroad (since the iPAQ and Bluetooth to the Internet is horrendously expensive outside the UK).
It does have occasional glitches - last time I was in France and needed it in anger, it was sending out-of-date information. Since then, when I've used it just to make sure, it's been fine.
FlyingForFun
24th Jan 2003, 20:14
You can also get a voice TAF/METAR from the Met Office on 09063 800 400, if you didn't know already. Premium rate I'm afraid, but it's not really all that expensive, and it's reliable. FFF's top tip is to learn the code for your airport, or even better to program it into your phone (e.g. *348 is EGLL).
FFF
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gingernut
28th Jan 2003, 13:29
Keef and FFF, thanks for the replies, I shall give each system a go.
QDMQDMQDM
28th Jan 2003, 21:36
The Danish service is good, but works out expensive, especially when you add 25% Danish VAT:
No. of Messages Price in EURO Price for one SMS in EURO
20 10,00 0,50
50 20,00 0,40
100 35,00 0,35
300 65,00 0,22
1000 190,00 0,19
2000 350,00 0,18
5000 700,00 0,14
Anything cheaper out there?!
QDM
PhilD
29th Jan 2003, 07:14
QDM
I think 'expensive' is a relative term. At the 100 message rate it's 0.35 Euros per message, that's about 22p, or about 28p including VAT. Let's say for a given trip you need 5 weather reports, that's about £1.50. In my Arrow that relates to just over 2 minutes flying. Hardly sounds out of proportion to me - with a bit more practice on leaning in the cruise I could probably save the cost of the forecast....
QDMQDMQDM
29th Jan 2003, 09:16
Well, to get a full TAF and METAR for each icao code takes several messages. Do that for several icao codes several times in the run up to each trip and it adds up. I'm going to spend four weeks in Europe with the cub in the summer and that will tot up.
Useful service though and it would be useful getting the TAFs by text while in flight, even though it isn't allowed. I can't imagine that text messaging would muck up the base stations like voice transmissions would, would it?
QDM
Barnside
29th Jan 2003, 10:48
Well I know the question was not about WAP BUT there is a brilliant service via WAP from http://www.avbrief.com/wap.wml
Currently free.
AC-DC
29th Jan 2003, 11:07
You also can get it from AvWx just dial 87080 and write 2TAF EGLL" or "METAR EGLL". Your cost is 50p.
Barney_Gumble
7th Feb 2003, 18:57
Maybe a slightly different approach but I use my mobile to get a fax polled from the met office. This means that you dial the Met office fax number (these can be obtained from "Get Met" booklet) and the distant fax machine sends the complete bulletin and also met form F214/F215 are also available.
I timed it and it takes approx 30 seconds for the TAF/METAR and about 50 secs for the F214/F215 at a rate of 75p per minute.
This is useful when away from home and PC. The mobile phone is one of those business type ones that opens with a large(ish) display and keyboard made by a well known mobile phone manufaturer!
Barney