WeatherStar Jr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WeatherSTAR Jr. | |
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| Manufactured: | Wegener Comm / The Weather Channel |
| Family: | WeatherSTAR |
| Hardware: | Wegener 2450 |
| OS: | None |
| Graphics: | Text-Only |
| Discontinuation Date: | N/A, still in use |
| Category: | Satellite Transponder Addressable Receiver |
| Status: | Used in few cable systems |
The WeatherSTAR Jr is one of many versions of the WeatherSTAR technology developed for The Weather Channel by Wegener Communications in Duluth, Georgia.
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[edit] The Jr's concept
The WeatherSTAR Jr. is based on Wegener's Series 2450 graphics display unit, coupled with custom software developed by Wegener for exclusive use by The Weather Channel. The WeatherSTAR Jr. is used by TWC affiliates to receive text-based local weather forecasts.
[edit] History
In 1990, Wegener first began to create the WeatherSTAR Jr. The WeatherSTAR Junior would be used in cable headends that could not afford any other unit (either the former WeatherSTAR 3000, STAR 4000, WeatherSTAR XL, or IntelliStar). In some instances, this unit replaced some WeatherSTAR 3000 units when the FCC put it out of use in late 2004 because it could not produce a warning tone.
When this happened, TWC was already prepared with the Jr. Cable companies with the 3000 upgraded to either the WeatherSTAR 4000, the WeatherSTAR XL, the IntelliStar or the Jr.
[edit] Features
The Jr. had the same look and feel of the 3000, but with a cleaner looking font like the original WeatherSTAR 4000 and still displayed blue, red, or brown backgrounds. This time, it could produce a warning tone in the event weather warnings are issued, with the help of a box that produces DTMF tones. The Weather Star Jr. was still in use today at smaller cable systems. Many of the larger cable companies are opted to replaced them with the newer Weather Star XL, and later the IntelliStar.
