WeatherStar - Current Systems

Current Systems

• The Weather Star 4000 was the first WeatherStar model capable of displaying graphics. First conceived in 1988, it was designed and manufactured by the Canadian electronics company Amirix (then the Applied Microelectronics Institute). The Weather Star 4000 is still, as of 2012, in use in some smaller communities. The first Star 4000s were programmed to operate in a text-only mode, similar to the STAR III, but with two improvements: an improved font was introduced, as was a graphical current radar page at the end of the Local Forecast, showing precipitation in the viewer's local geographic area. Within a brief period of time, the Weather Star 4000 began to produce graphically-based Local Forecasts. A customized version of the Weather Star 4000 was used by The Weather Network until 1997, when they switched to a technically different system that produces local forecasts, known as PMX.
• The Weather Star Jr. is a budget model manufactured by Wegener Communications for cable TV headends in smaller communities which was released in 1993. It features the products of the Star III with the typeface of the 4000. When the change in FCC regulations forced the retirement of the Star III, cable TV headends using that unit upgraded to the Weather Star Jr. or more advanced units. Since it is capable of producing an alert tone at the start of every weather warning with the assistance of the Weather Star Jr. Audio Weather Alert Generator, it is still in use today by smaller cable TV providers, such as Champion Broadband.
• The Weather Star XL is an IRIX-based computer manufactured by SGI and introduced at the end of 1998. The Star XL was a major leap over the 4000 with advanced technical capabilities such as modernized graphics (with Akzidenz-Grotesk as the main typeface), narrated current conditions and extended forecast products, and new weather icons that would last the channel for the next eight years from its launch. Its current on-screen appearance closely resembles the WeatherStar's successor, the IntelliStar. The Star XL was also the first platform of WeatherStar to be adapted and modified by The Weather Channel for their Weatherscan service, a 24-hour local weather channel carried on some select cable TV systems nationwide; three years later, the Weatherscan XL units would be phased out and switched to IntelliStar technology as the first trial of the system. However, the Star XL has a high manufacturing cost (US $6,500) and weighs 55 pounds.
• The IntelliStar was rolled out on Weatherscan in February 2003; the "domestic" (used on TWC) version was then introduced into top media markets, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, in early to mid 2004. Initially, its graphics were essentially the same as those seen on the WeatherStar XL (though using Interstate as the typeface), until December 2006, when the IntelliStar received its own, even more realistic icon set. The amount of information provided is dramatically increased: schoolday/weekday forecasts are provided, more local maps are used, UV and other health information is shown, and traffic information for certain markets, provided by Traffic Pulse, are also shown.
• The IntelliStar 2 HD ALPHA was introduced to a New York cable headend carrying The Weather Channel HD in late 2008. With the ALPHA, there is no narration, lower display line bar, or icon animation. The ALPHA was the first system to feature a high-definition 1080i 16:9 output.
• The IntelliStar 2 was officially released in July 2010. Many of the existing issues, which were present with the ALPHA, were corrected. The IntelliStar 2 features, Animated Lower line display, Current Conditions, Weather Bulletins, Metro Conditions, Regional Doppler, Metro Doppler, Hourly Forecast, Local Forecast, and The Week Ahead. Voice narration is done by Jim Cantore. Currently, the system is rolling out in a gradual process on major cable systems across the country. This unit will only be used on The Weather Channel HD and will not replace the IntelliStar or other units on the standard definition channel or on Weatherscan.