We’re contacting you today to tell you about some upcoming changes to the Weather Underground (WU) API and what these changes mean for you.
The WU API has been around since 2010 to help you develop apps and websites as well as manage your Personal Weather Station data. During that time, we’ve watched you build amazing products and visualize weather data with creativity and purpose.
Over the years, our infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the growing numbers of users coming to us for API data. We realized we needed to make changes to ensure the highest level of quality, performance and uptime for our API users.
As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to retire the Weather Underground API. The Weather Company, which acquired WU back in 2012, offers a powerful suite of enterprise-grade APIs that might be better suited to meet your scale and performance needs while offering a broader range of weather data. You can see these products here.
Here’s what you need to know going forward:
We are grateful for your commitment to Weather Underground and appreciate your understanding and support as we work through this process. These changes will allow us to continually improve our services and develop new features to keep WU a thriving place for you for many years to come.
Thanks for being part of the community.
Sincerely,
The WU Team
The WU API has been around since 2010 to help you develop apps and websites as well as manage your Personal Weather Station data. During that time, we’ve watched you build amazing products and visualize weather data with creativity and purpose.
Over the years, our infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the growing numbers of users coming to us for API data. We realized we needed to make changes to ensure the highest level of quality, performance and uptime for our API users.
As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to retire the Weather Underground API. The Weather Company, which acquired WU back in 2012, offers a powerful suite of enterprise-grade APIs that might be better suited to meet your scale and performance needs while offering a broader range of weather data. You can see these products here.
Here’s what you need to know going forward:
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Your subscriptions, and therefore access, will continue to work through 12/31/2018.
-
If you are a paying WU API customer, you will receive a call from a representative from The Weather Company, and IBM business, to discuss transition options to other API services. If you’d like to have these conversations sooner, contact us.
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If you are a Personal Weather Station owner, you will receive more information about our plan to offer free access to the data you provide to Weather Underground. We’ll reach out once that plan has been finalized.
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The WU Forum will continue to be the best place to connect, keep you informed, share your feedback and get your questions answered as we go through this process.
We are grateful for your commitment to Weather Underground and appreciate your understanding and support as we work through this process. These changes will allow us to continually improve our services and develop new features to keep WU a thriving place for you for many years to come.
Thanks for being part of the community.
Sincerely,
The WU Team
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Posted 8 months ago
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Yes, we expect to have basic forecast data included in the API offering for PWS owners. Can you let us know what your needs are for forecasts? We want to focus strongly on the needs of PWS owners for this new API.
Tim, I would then contact one of our most Prestigious Script writers. Ken True aka Saratoga Templates.
If you dont have his email then contact him here:
http://saratoga-weather.org/contact.php
If you dont have his email then contact him here:
http://saratoga-weather.org/contact.php
I've signed up here also and eagerly await info on the new API.
To be usable for weather hobbyists, it needs to be:
1) free for low-volume queries (< 100 api accesses per day)
2) provide essentially the same data as provided by the current API for a 10-day forecast query (day/night needed .. hourly not needed).
To be usable for weather hobbyists, it needs to be:
1) free for low-volume queries (< 100 api accesses per day)
2) provide essentially the same data as provided by the current API for a 10-day forecast query (day/night needed .. hourly not needed).
the big concern i have is the integration ability for my home automation. control4 has a driver to pull API data, and as i run a PWS, i need the data from it into my automation in order to calculate certain values and make certain decisions. are you working with partners like control4 to ensure this is done?
I also need this API as soon as possible to prevent issues with solar shades and thermostats.
Most of the data I receive directly from my weather station, but the current conditions and forecasts (daily and hourly) would still be useful for my existing projects (landscape automation, local trends, pattern analysis, etc.). I have been supplying my weather station info to weather underground for 10 years now, so I'd be sad to see any of the forecasting disappear.
I can do without the rest like alerts, geolookup, astronomy, tide, yesterday...pretty much everything I can do without except for forecast and hourly!
I can do without the rest like alerts, geolookup, astronomy, tide, yesterday...pretty much everything I can do without except for forecast and hourly!
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Thank you for your input, Burnisde. Still no major public statement, but don't lose hope yet.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Burnside has the right idea.
Very few people are looking for their own data back. I have a decade's worth of data, I can use that all day long.
What everyone is looking for is enriched data, that's the value add. I don't believe just my immediate forecast for my "microclimate" (to misuse a word) is all that valuable. For the DC area, for example, I would expect to be able to pull forecasts for the region.
Since you Weather.com offers 5/10 day and hourly forecasts for specific areas, I would hope to be able to access similarly enriched data.
Very few people are looking for their own data back. I have a decade's worth of data, I can use that all day long.
What everyone is looking for is enriched data, that's the value add. I don't believe just my immediate forecast for my "microclimate" (to misuse a word) is all that valuable. For the DC area, for example, I would expect to be able to pull forecasts for the region.
Since you Weather.com offers 5/10 day and hourly forecasts for specific areas, I would hope to be able to access similarly enriched data.
Thanks for your response Victoria. Not losing hope yet and I have enjoyed being part of the Wunderground community.
@Tom I'm in the same boat. I purchased my weather station (Davis Vantage Pro2) back in 2008 and have archived every piece of data with no interaction from Weather Underground. So I agree, no need for regurgitating data I already have at the cost of bandwidth, lol.
However, forecasting is something our weather stations are very hit or miss at and where that data from weather underground is quite valuable. Beyond the automation and analysis I run, I also maintain public and federal trails and having a local forecast (daily and hourly) has been very beneficial. The symbiotic relationship between Weather Underground and the PWS owners has been win/win and I hope we can still share our plentiful data with them in exchange for forecasting api calls.
However, forecasting is something our weather stations are very hit or miss at and where that data from weather underground is quite valuable. Beyond the automation and analysis I run, I also maintain public and federal trails and having a local forecast (daily and hourly) has been very beneficial. The symbiotic relationship between Weather Underground and the PWS owners has been win/win and I hope we can still share our plentiful data with them in exchange for forecasting api calls.
Forecast would be intersting for me personally for the next 24h/next day because I plan my garden irrigation with it
The most important thing for me is to be able to have my Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices respond to my requests for current conditions at my house. So for example, I have the Amazon PWS skill loaded and configured to respond with the data from my home's PWS via Weather Underground - if I ask what the temperature is outside, I get the temperature right outside the door. Secondarily, my HomeAssistant home automation pulls my PWS data via Weather Underground as well, to be able to plan lawn watering and other temperature/weather related actions for all my home automation tasks.
So you didn't think that MAYBE a Low Data Hungry alternative with a Link to your site was a better alternative than cutting everyone off and pissing people off? lol wow, you could have dummied down the API to just a current temp or current condition. With a Link to your site for a real forecast. I run a server over the years and I know the data from a simple ping could not be that bad, unless your getting raped on your data service, maybe you should shop around
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Difficult decisions sometimes have to be made. Thank you for your past involvement, Jeremy. If you haven't found them yet, instructions for PWS uploaders to get a new key can be found in the first response to this post: https://apicommunity.wunderground.com/weatherapi/topics/end-of-feb-wu-api-update
Victoria Gardner
Weather Underground API customer service
Victoria Gardner
Weather Underground API customer service
As a PWS data provider, I find the new API unsatisfactory as the temperature and wind speeds are lacking precision with whole numbers only. I need more precision for calculating accurate wind chill temperatures. Can you please consider adding 1 or 2 decimal places.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I'm sorry you're not finding the API suitable.
As I've noted elsewhere, development is in progress for enabling precision on some values. We hope that it will be finished by the end of April.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
As I've noted elsewhere, development is in progress for enabling precision on some values. We hope that it will be finished by the end of April.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
(Edited)
OK the forecast API at http://api.wunderground.com/api/{apikey}/conditions/q/CA/San_Francisco.json went south on 25-March. What URL should I query to pick up forecasts that are generated using MY data and that of fellow PWS owners who continue to upload?
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Rich, first you need to get a new API key, assuming you are uploading data. Log in to wunderground.com and navigate to Member Settings => API Keys and generate your key.
Then look at the documentation here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKCnKXI9xnoMGRRzOL1xPCBihNV2rOet08qpE_gArAY/edit
Specifically, you'll want the 5-day forecast API: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RY44O8ujbIA_tjlC4vYKHKzwSwEmNxuGw5sEJ9dYjG4/edit
There are five different formats in which you can request a forecast, so you will want to see which is best for your purposes.
If you have any trouble, please let me know.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Then look at the documentation here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKCnKXI9xnoMGRRzOL1xPCBihNV2rOet08qpE_gArAY/edit
Specifically, you'll want the 5-day forecast API: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RY44O8ujbIA_tjlC4vYKHKzwSwEmNxuGw5sEJ9dYjG4/edit
There are five different formats in which you can request a forecast, so you will want to see which is best for your purposes.
If you have any trouble, please let me know.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Hello. I work for a Fortune 100 company and we are users of the Weather Underground API. Recently, the free API stopped working and we are interested in purchasing an API key. I have filled out the Contact form twice and tried calling your sales office. After 2 weeks, I have yet to receive a response. I would like to know how to resolve this issue as this is impacting our production applications.
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Yikes! The free API offering was never intended for production offerings. I've sent your email address off to our sales team, hopefully they can get you set up with something to meet your needs
I am in a similar boat and would like to be contacted. How can we make this happen?
Dear Weather people,
This is really, really sad. Even killed the old Forum credentials which you could have copied over to this forum’s login. Made us start over again.
Its not usually a good idea to upset your largest base of community developers. Wunderground is where innovation happened. It feels like you bought it and killed it. Can you at least copy over the wunderground API call syntax for hobbyists, so we don’t have to learn new and re-write all our calls to your new API? Some of us took many years to learn Wunderground’s API, and we get to start over again? Very sad. I’m so upset i’m shopping for other places to go. You seem to be badly abusing your monopoly status in he US. Hate to send my calls to one of the UK services that are still friendly to hobbyists, but I will consider it.
I may also have to stop sending my Gold-star station data every 5 seconds to a new service entirely. Like many station owners, I’ve been feeding this scientific data to wunderground for many years and never received any compensation from any of the ads on my station page. And this is the thanks we get? The only return I received from it was the ability to make calls occasionally through the API, which stayed about the same and very reliable for many years. Now we’ll be switched over to some big corporate bloated API that we probably won’t be able to get working.
The Weathee company is making hand over fist based on your accounting in your annual reports. It’s bizarre to me that one of the services you bought with the most unique batch of home weather hackers on Earth, with an increasing number of calls (not decreasing) to the API, couldn’t just be left alone and subsidized by the mother company if needed to keep your team of underground hackers on your side.
R&D takes forever to make money, and Wund is your grass-roots R&D area.l and you’re killing it
Something tells me there is some fundamental reason why you’re killing Wund. Is it because I only have the Wund App on my phone and not the TWC app? Is someoneMs ego rustled by that?
I use Wund because the page usually loads very fast and is easy to read and find things that I want to see. You should at least add a new “weather hacks” area to weather.com then, a new home for those left out in the cold by this to play and innovate. We all benefit from this. I really feel sad for universities who will have to change all their software to find data somewhere else for their research.
I predict you will lose data feeds from home stations. Maybe you don’t care. I’m a world where big data is now king, making a move to potentially lose free data doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
If anyone knows another place to move to from Wund and take my station data, please reply.
I’d also like to hear any theories about the real reason this is happening. Makes no sense that a massive company can’t keep a small innovation arm going. The PEOPLE who feed data to and experiment with Wund’s API are what matter here. And I feel youMre about to lose a lot of us.
Marc
This is really, really sad. Even killed the old Forum credentials which you could have copied over to this forum’s login. Made us start over again.
Its not usually a good idea to upset your largest base of community developers. Wunderground is where innovation happened. It feels like you bought it and killed it. Can you at least copy over the wunderground API call syntax for hobbyists, so we don’t have to learn new and re-write all our calls to your new API? Some of us took many years to learn Wunderground’s API, and we get to start over again? Very sad. I’m so upset i’m shopping for other places to go. You seem to be badly abusing your monopoly status in he US. Hate to send my calls to one of the UK services that are still friendly to hobbyists, but I will consider it.
I may also have to stop sending my Gold-star station data every 5 seconds to a new service entirely. Like many station owners, I’ve been feeding this scientific data to wunderground for many years and never received any compensation from any of the ads on my station page. And this is the thanks we get? The only return I received from it was the ability to make calls occasionally through the API, which stayed about the same and very reliable for many years. Now we’ll be switched over to some big corporate bloated API that we probably won’t be able to get working.
The Weathee company is making hand over fist based on your accounting in your annual reports. It’s bizarre to me that one of the services you bought with the most unique batch of home weather hackers on Earth, with an increasing number of calls (not decreasing) to the API, couldn’t just be left alone and subsidized by the mother company if needed to keep your team of underground hackers on your side.
R&D takes forever to make money, and Wund is your grass-roots R&D area.l and you’re killing it
Something tells me there is some fundamental reason why you’re killing Wund. Is it because I only have the Wund App on my phone and not the TWC app? Is someoneMs ego rustled by that?
I use Wund because the page usually loads very fast and is easy to read and find things that I want to see. You should at least add a new “weather hacks” area to weather.com then, a new home for those left out in the cold by this to play and innovate. We all benefit from this. I really feel sad for universities who will have to change all their software to find data somewhere else for their research.
I predict you will lose data feeds from home stations. Maybe you don’t care. I’m a world where big data is now king, making a move to potentially lose free data doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
If anyone knows another place to move to from Wund and take my station data, please reply.
I’d also like to hear any theories about the real reason this is happening. Makes no sense that a massive company can’t keep a small innovation arm going. The PEOPLE who feed data to and experiment with Wund’s API are what matter here. And I feel youMre about to lose a lot of us.
Marc
Two imagined "real" reasons (for lack of any honest answers):
COUNTERCULTURAL
Funny how elitist corporate culture hates anything described as grass-roots. Consider that the title "Weather Underground" traces its origins to a counter-cultural hippie group that specialized in 1960s anti-establishment antics. As cool as that may sound to many, Weather Co. brass may find it too 'radical'.
CONSPIRATORIAL
(This point is entirely hypothetical, so don't go claiming it is real, unless, of course, it is): Perhaps the underground weather junkies using this stuff might've been able to detect very early signs of a catastrophic-type natural disaster -- if the service remained status quo. Heaven forbid that "regular folks" could access a network capable of communicating factual details, advance warnings, and perhaps a window of public preparation time. Corporate elitists could have other plans. Thus, they end Wund API and its potential for truthful details to be reported by ground-level troops, and instead retain control behind a company firewall.
Just sayin'
COUNTERCULTURAL
Funny how elitist corporate culture hates anything described as grass-roots. Consider that the title "Weather Underground" traces its origins to a counter-cultural hippie group that specialized in 1960s anti-establishment antics. As cool as that may sound to many, Weather Co. brass may find it too 'radical'.
CONSPIRATORIAL
(This point is entirely hypothetical, so don't go claiming it is real, unless, of course, it is): Perhaps the underground weather junkies using this stuff might've been able to detect very early signs of a catastrophic-type natural disaster -- if the service remained status quo. Heaven forbid that "regular folks" could access a network capable of communicating factual details, advance warnings, and perhaps a window of public preparation time. Corporate elitists could have other plans. Thus, they end Wund API and its potential for truthful details to be reported by ground-level troops, and instead retain control behind a company firewall.
Just sayin'
ydnew nine: I tend to accept your conspiratorial theory: this is the second time in the last few months that community (and therefore free) platforms will be cancelled and made available only for premium members. But this one (WU) is less acceptable.
Here, as PWS owners, we provide almost uptodate weather data of our region. Most of us with a more-or-less precise GPS data.
In this case we had to payed for the data we are providing instead threating us to pay (How many? ) if using the API afterwards.
Anyhow:
As a result I will either not publish my weather data after 01.01.19
or with a much less precise geolocation.
- Is this really the goal?
(Don't answer. I know it. :( )
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Hi, László. I have been trying to get this message out in the forum in as many places as I can.
I understand that these changes can be difficult but I want to assure you that Personal Weather Station (PWS) contributors will continue to have complete, uninterrupted access to their own data as well as a limited range of additional data, such as short-term forecast, through the Weather Underground API as well as through the Wunderground web site. If you have a PWS currently reporting to us, your access for that data is, and will be, free.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
I understand that these changes can be difficult but I want to assure you that Personal Weather Station (PWS) contributors will continue to have complete, uninterrupted access to their own data as well as a limited range of additional data, such as short-term forecast, through the Weather Underground API as well as through the Wunderground web site. If you have a PWS currently reporting to us, your access for that data is, and will be, free.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
What a complete BS - you pissed off all PWS data providers by killing the website, making even uploading data impossible (the source of your frigging organization) and now that? Go down the greedy drain where you and the utterly incompetent "managers" of IBM belong. You will never, ever get any of my data again.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Sorry you feel that way Terry. The WU web site is working for me this morning -- are you having a problem?
So far as I know, there are no current problems with uploading data, either. New PWS users can join the platform here: https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/signup?new=1
But in any case, I wish you all the best for your future endeavors.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
So far as I know, there are no current problems with uploading data, either. New PWS users can join the platform here: https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/signup?new=1
But in any case, I wish you all the best for your future endeavors.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
For several months, uploading data fails. For existing and for new accounts (the existing one was working for several years...) - there is ZERO support and with IBM's clear goal to run Wunderground into the ground and let everybody pay for accessing their data (the data that is truly the base for your business, and that is provided for FREE to you...), there is really no point to discuss anything regarding "low volume access" - what a BS. The users don't only provide "low volume" weather data for free either.
You don't know about the problems - well then simply scan through YOUR OWN FORUMS... But it does not surprise me that nobody knows, simply because nobody really gives a sh.t...
Taking advantage of users that supported and got wunderground where it is today (well, where it was before greedy IBM took over...) simply makes me want to puke. So much for supporting a good cause for fellow weather enthusiasts.
You don't know about the problems - well then simply scan through YOUR OWN FORUMS... But it does not surprise me that nobody knows, simply because nobody really gives a sh.t...
Taking advantage of users that supported and got wunderground where it is today (well, where it was before greedy IBM took over...) simply makes me want to puke. So much for supporting a good cause for fellow weather enthusiasts.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Terry, all I can do is offer to help. If you want me to have a tech look into a station that's not loading, I can and will. But you're not providing me with anything I can use to address the issues you're concerned about. I have personally gone through months of problems on this forum, and asked users if the issues were resolved. All the uploading issues I know about are from software not making appropriate upload calls. Dozens and dozens of people have seen my email address here and emailed me directly with problems, which have been or are being addressed. Just because it's not visible on the forum doesn't mean nothing is happening.
I understand you are disappointed in the way things have changed. I get it -- I started using WU in the late 90s when I was at the University of Michigan. But it is a business.
I look people in the eye who are doing what they can to keep that spark of WU alive. They are not that cartoon character of the evil, cigar-smoking businessman that you may be imagining. They genuinely care about the PWS owners; they care about weather data.
If you want to give me some specific issue, great. Otherwise, there is nothing I can do but continue to wish you well.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
voicemail: 978-552-1406
I understand you are disappointed in the way things have changed. I get it -- I started using WU in the late 90s when I was at the University of Michigan. But it is a business.
I look people in the eye who are doing what they can to keep that spark of WU alive. They are not that cartoon character of the evil, cigar-smoking businessman that you may be imagining. They genuinely care about the PWS owners; they care about weather data.
If you want to give me some specific issue, great. Otherwise, there is nothing I can do but continue to wish you well.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
voicemail: 978-552-1406
Victoria,
Are individual weather station owners important to WU's business? What percentage of data come from donated data? What percentage of data collection is paid for by WU?
Are individual weather station owners important to WU's business? What percentage of data come from donated data? What percentage of data collection is paid for by WU?
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Tom, I'm not going to get into debating the whole business model. I don't have access to the business's bottom line. Nor do I spend much time thinking about it. I spend all my time working with individuals on individual issues, solving problems.
Victoria
Victoria
Edit:
Nevermind, It's on your site:
Nevermind, It's on your site:
U.S. current conditions data comes from 180,000+ weather stations across the country including:
- Almost 2,000 Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) stations located at airports throughout the country. These are maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration and observations are updated hourly, or more frequently when adverse weather affecting aviation occurs (low visibility, precipitation, etc).
- Over 250,000 Personal Weather Stations (PWS's) that are part of Weather Underground's ever-expanding PWS network. Stations are put through strict quality controls and observations are updated as often as every 2.5 seconds.
- Over 26,000 weather stations that are part of the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) which is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For further information, see https://madis.ncep.noaa.gov/.
(Edited)
fucking scumbags
We are a private school running a few PiClocks for weather and forecast data. We would like to set up more PiClocks in the future but without weather data, it's kinda a dead project. Will there be any API offerings for education?
dont count on it
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Hi Brian,
Someone will reach out to you shortly to review your options, We are asking customers to move to our API offerings through the weather channel. These APIs are supported by a much larger team and are much better suited for using in production systems. The downside is they tend to be more expensive.
Someone will reach out to you shortly to review your options, We are asking customers to move to our API offerings through the weather channel. These APIs are supported by a much larger team and are much better suited for using in production systems. The downside is they tend to be more expensive.
I am working in a university with limited funding to provide agricultural weather forecasts to farmers and uploading weather data every 15 minutes from 18 sites for free to Wund so that we could get reliable 10-day forecast in our region. You are now saying that we have to pay with more expensive fee to use the new API. We just managed to set our system up properly in the last few months and now we have to start all over again and pay for it. We can afford this new paying scheme if you are going to pay us also for our uploaded data to your site, otherwise, just like everybody else feeding our precious data to you, we will find a new place for our data where we can send our data starting 01/01/2019.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Okay, Nelio, I'm not sure I understand completely. Please forgive me while I try to clarify.
If you are a current PWS (personal weather station) user/key holder, you will continue to have complete, uninterrupted access to your data as well as a limited range of additional data, such as short-term forecast, through the Weather Underground API as well as through the Wunderground web site. If you have a PWS (or many PWS's!) currently reporting to us, your access for that data is, and will be, free.
I will check on the 10-day forecast specifically.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
If you are a current PWS (personal weather station) user/key holder, you will continue to have complete, uninterrupted access to your data as well as a limited range of additional data, such as short-term forecast, through the Weather Underground API as well as through the Wunderground web site. If you have a PWS (or many PWS's!) currently reporting to us, your access for that data is, and will be, free.
I will check on the 10-day forecast specifically.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
What I would like to still do is access, without a fee, the 10-day forecasts of other PWS aside aside my own (now 20 instead of 18) PWS (and counting) sending weather data to Wunderground every 15 minutes for free. I believe that uploading our data to your site for free would be enough payment for us to use the API to get forecasts from other PWS without a fee. Charge others who are just users but not contributing their PWS data to Wunderground.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Nelio, thank you for clarifying that the 10-day forecast is important for your local setting.
Would it be possible to email me to provide details (url, exact use, context)? I want to understand your needs. It helps me to understand the issues at play within the context of possible solutions.
Thank you!
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
voicemail: 978-552-1406
Would it be possible to email me to provide details (url, exact use, context)? I want to understand your needs. It helps me to understand the issues at play within the context of possible solutions.
Thank you!
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
voicemail: 978-552-1406
Wow, Wunderground. No free developer account??? WTF? You just lost a potential customer. And I'm going to stop using you and recommending you. That's really sad. You're the first ones I thought of when I came up with a new startup idea, and using Wunderground APIs is just a non-starter now.
If your new system (marketing team?) were worth anything they would know to implement rate limiters or other means to control traffic from a free developer account, like practically every other service created by competent developers. Seriously, in 2019 **in the internet age**, you're pay-only and shunning developers like that? It's a shame.
You want to know how to do it?
This is how you do it (but be more competitive in price): https://openweathermap.org/price
If your new system (marketing team?) were worth anything they would know to implement rate limiters or other means to control traffic from a free developer account, like practically every other service created by competent developers. Seriously, in 2019 **in the internet age**, you're pay-only and shunning developers like that? It's a shame.
You want to know how to do it?
This is how you do it (but be more competitive in price): https://openweathermap.org/price
(Edited)
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I'm sorry you feel that way. The Weather Company does offer time-limited trial keys.
We wish you the best in your future We're glad to host a place for open discussion about the WU API transition.
We'd like to remind our PWS owners/contributors:
We'll announce in the forum when the registration page opens.
Or, email victoria.gardner@ibm.com to receive an email notification once it's ready.
The new API will provide access to:
The documentation for the new API is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKCnKXI9xnoMGRRzOL1xPCBihNV2rOet08qpE_gArAY/edit
Victoria Gardner
Victoria.gardner@ibm.com
We wish you the best in your future We're glad to host a place for open discussion about the WU API transition.
We'd like to remind our PWS owners/contributors:
- Your past data will always be available to you for viewing and download in a web browser on wunderground.com, just as it always has.
- If you are in the small minority of people who use the WU API and a corresponding WU API key to obtain data in .json format, here's what's happening:
- We'll open a registration page for you to get a new API key to get your data in .json format
- You'll sign up and get a new API key for the new API
- Once the registration page is open, we'll keep the old API and your old API key active for 2 weeks to allow transition time to your new key
We'll announce in the forum when the registration page opens.
Or, email victoria.gardner@ibm.com to receive an email notification once it's ready.
The new API will provide access to:
- Current observations from the PWS network
- 5 day daily forecast
- PWS historical data
- PWS lookup by geocode, zip code and location
- Call volume: 1500/day, 30/minute
The documentation for the new API is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKCnKXI9xnoMGRRzOL1xPCBihNV2rOet08qpE_gArAY/edit
Victoria Gardner
Victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Brian, I'll contact you off forum, your use case is unique and hopefully we can work something out for you.
Not that sooo special!
My weather station has a "direct connection" to WU ... So I only could get the data if I star with an own DNS in my home network that makes sure that the WU traffic from that "closed" device is redirected to a server of mine or such ...
So I have the topic that I want to get access to "my" data ... ideally the same "realtime" information (station sends any 3mins or such) as the station is sending so that I can also use wind data for my sun-protection controls.
My weather station has a "direct connection" to WU ... So I only could get the data if I star with an own DNS in my home network that makes sure that the WU traffic from that "closed" device is redirected to a server of mine or such ...
So I have the topic that I want to get access to "my" data ... ideally the same "realtime" information (station sends any 3mins or such) as the station is sending so that I can also use wind data for my sun-protection controls.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Ingo -- your PWS is up on the WU web page, right? If you look on the table view for your PWS, on the right there's a download link. Do you see that? Let me know if none of this is making sense.
Of course this is separate from the API, but I want you to know what you do have access to.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Of course this is separate from the API, but I want you to know what you do have access to.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Hi, yes I know the download of the past :-) This is one part I would need. I I could widh then an API where I regeister a websocket and then get data pushed once they get updated would be great. This would then be kind of "real time" and technically is not that complex. or be able to set a "Callback URL" where you actively push data to in a HTTP POST or GET call could also work.
But as written the second interesting part is the "local forcast" fpor at least the next day, especially for awaited rain, temperatures and such. But this is enough to check once per hour or such.
But as written the second interesting part is the "local forcast" fpor at least the next day, especially for awaited rain, temperatures and such. But this is enough to check once per hour or such.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
This is in the plans for PWS owners. So no, there's not yet any official documentation about it, but yes, it's within the range of what we're trying to accomplish.
--Victoria
--Victoria
Then one thing: It seems that my PWS was not correctly added to my WU account back then and so the PWS is not shown there. I contacted WU several times but got no answer to fix this assignment. I want to make sure to get these infos as "PWS owner" when the time has come. Who I should contact to check and fix it?
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Send me an email with A) the email addresses linked to the PWS and B) the PWS station IDs. I'll check into it and get back to you via email.
-Victoria
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
-Victoria
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
sent :-)
As someone who has been sending data to Weather Underground for a while, but who just recently got in a better position to use the api to pull my own data, the fact that keys are no longer available is very disappointing. I appreciate the issues that were raised, and the possibility of eventually getting access to the data I provide, but not having a timetable or a plan in place prior to cutting off new API keys isn't helpful. Hopefully we will hear something soon, but will be looking into alternatives in the meantime.
Aaron
Aaron
Disregard. I just deleted by wunderground account and will use other services.
Tim Roche, Official Rep
Aaron, understand the frustration, but we don't want to get into a situation where people are building things that will break in a few months as the service changes. Expect more information in october, and some examples and documentation by end of october
Thanks - I understand, it just isn't great for folks who are trying to get setup. I'll move on to other services, but wish you guys the best in whatever you're trying to do.
If WU can be more open to its PWS Owners than this hide and seek saga that they are carrying on with at present, I think WU may live another day.
But to hide, ignore 100's if not 1000's of emails and just stonewall its customers, well then....there needs to be a change of management and probably some new staff.
But to hide, ignore 100's if not 1000's of emails and just stonewall its customers, well then....there needs to be a change of management and probably some new staff.
Hi, I am a non-commercial user of the API and would like to receive updates whenever available to learn about the new plan. Can I subscribe to a mailing list to be alerted when the new plan is made available? Your API is the most accurate weather data source I could find for my budget and I'd hate for my app to suffer due to a less efficient API. Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
For developers who use WU API data for non-commercial purposes, you will have access to a new plan for a personal use, low call volume API.What about developers who use the API for commercial purposes? The new Core plan API might have what I need, but it also has way more than I need. And the fact that there's no price listed anywhere makes me think that this will be priced far beyond what I can pay. My users want to view current data from a specific station. It's a small app that I made as a hobby project in my spare time, I'm not a big business (or a business at all). I have a small but loyal user base who like the simple and quick data presentation that I provide. I make enough to cover the current API costs, but If it costs even double what the old API was, then I'm out.
Tim Roche, Official Rep
WU doesn't want anyone to know what the cost or what the API will look like until it's so late a lot of users will have to stay. Any decent company would have informed their user base long ago about the changes so they could make the necessary study of how it affects them. They have ignored for over a year any request or bugs. They kept this a tight secret until now. You only have about 2 1/2 months from now until the current API is discontinues. That's a horrible way to run a company and I bet it doesn't change much once it is switched over. Start now to find another source to upload your data and get information about other API's. If you think WU is the best place to be, you are incorrect. There are much better companies out there.
Anyone who wants to know a better place let me know. I can give you one.
Anyone who wants to know a better place let me know. I can give you one.
Could you recommend a weather API that also provides severe weather alerts like flood watches or hurricane warnings?
(Edited)
Have you looked into submitting your data to PWS Weather (pwsweather.com) which then feeds Aeris? There is a free Developer tier account with Aeris which gives you 2 months of usage.
From what I gathered, Aeris is on the verge of creating a new free subscription for those who provide data to PWS Weather as long as that data is good. In the meantime, you can reach out to Aeris and ask to make that Developer tier permanent for the time being.
I will also add that the Aeris API provides more data than the Weather Underground API. Once you log in, you'll also notice how much more polished their account portal is. Still waiting to see how stable and fast the platform is, but it's looking good. I can only think that the more people that sign up that the better data subscribers will be receiving.
Have fun!
From what I gathered, Aeris is on the verge of creating a new free subscription for those who provide data to PWS Weather as long as that data is good. In the meantime, you can reach out to Aeris and ask to make that Developer tier permanent for the time being.
I will also add that the Aeris API provides more data than the Weather Underground API. Once you log in, you'll also notice how much more polished their account portal is. Still waiting to see how stable and fast the platform is, but it's looking good. I can only think that the more people that sign up that the better data subscribers will be receiving.
Have fun!
(Edited)
I agree. I had to switch to Aeris because of extremely poor or non existent support from WU. I didn't want to at first, I had used WU for many years and had a lot of time devoted to developing apps and a weather site. But for my web site to function proper I had to switch. Too may issues that were ignored by WU over the years. I will say I've only had a couple of issues at Aeris, (some were my fault) but their support is the absolute best. One day turnaround on any issue I had, and with follow up emails to make sure everything was working properly. I was so used to being ignored at WU it was like Christmas to me.
Can't believe they haven't give everyone here a link to look at the API you will required to use. Just a bunch of double talk and "Don't Give Up Crap".
Anyway, I hope it works out for everyone here. I have my doubts.
Can't believe they haven't give everyone here a link to look at the API you will required to use. Just a bunch of double talk and "Don't Give Up Crap".
Anyway, I hope it works out for everyone here. I have my doubts.
(Edited)
Yeah, this is a ridiculously short amount of time for developers to switch. Developers should have several months to actually work with the new API before the old one is cut off (especially since new API's will probably be buggy - developers working with it early can help find those). And we don't even have API documentation yet to know if the data we actually want to get to is included or not. Before they said that access to an individual station's data was not going to be part of the new API, but now the info page for the Core plan kind of sounds like it will after all, but it's not clearly stated for sure. Maybe it's just talking about a location rather than an individual station. Weather buffs want THEIR station's data presented to them, not just for the general location.
Amen. What kind of service announces a pulling of the plug on services in 3 months, with zero documentation or information about a replacement that we're supposed to switch to?
As a PWS owner providing you data for free, you are just going to cut me off. Maybe I should stop providing you data. You need to take care of those providing you that free crowd sourced data.
Tim Roche, Official Rep
If you are a Personal Weather Station owner, you will receive more information about our plan to offer free access to the data you provide to Weather Underground. We’ll reach out once that plan has been finalized.
So does that mean we continue sending you our data at the current rate/interval but will be restricted in our own retrieval rate? 100 calls a day is not going to cut it and if your company thinks we will pay (an undisclosed amount) Then it's time to move on again. I sense the continued way these responses are answered is intened to leave us in the dark as long as possible.
Andy
Andy
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Andy, we anticipate 1000 calls/day and 30 calls/min as the upper limits with the new API for PWS uploaders, once it's ready.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
I unable to create an account
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Yes, Kings Force, because the API will be closing down soon, we are no longer creating new accounts.
I currently have a Cumulus Downpour account and would like to downgrade. How or whom should I contact to do this? Thank you!
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Lucian, there's no way to downgrade at this point. Perhaps the best option would be for me to have someone get in touch with you about moving your account to the new API. Shall I do that?
Wow, so there is no way to downgrade and you are still charging people without allowing them to cancel their subscription or downgrade? This a complete and utter disgrace. Ever since the Weather.com acquisition of this company WU has fallen apart! I will not be using NO NEW API and giving you guys a single dollar. I am done and moving my business to Aeris.
(Edited)
You and many many others I'm sure.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I think you are both being a little dramatic. People can and do cancel their subscriptions. There is literally only weeks left to billing at this point.
So anyone who wants to change/edit their subscription is invited to send me an email.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
So anyone who wants to change/edit their subscription is invited to send me an email.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
With Chaney Instrument (Acurite) hard-coding WU as their upload point for data (smart move by TWC to lock in that relationship), if anything, the number of PWS data points will increase.
As I said weeks ago, make your own decisions based on the what provides value to you. WU has provided you pretty much all the info you need to make your decision.
As I said weeks ago, make your own decisions based on the what provides value to you. WU has provided you pretty much all the info you need to make your decision.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Tom, I am pretty sure that hardcoding an upload point is a bad idea from a software standpoint. Everything changes. Everything. And that especially goes for anything on the Internet.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Hey Christopher, listen to Victoria, how dare you be dramatic !
Just because they pulled the rug out beneath your feet. Didn't give anyone information in time to figure out what to do, Didn't give the programmers a link to see the new interface. Didn't give anyone time to figure the pricing. Pulled down the link to edit/change/ upgrade/downgrade or cancel their service. I mean, really how unfair can you be.
Sounds like this is a company that I would really like to be associated with.
Maybe your should apologize to her. ( Sarcasm in case she can't figure that out )
Just because they pulled the rug out beneath your feet. Didn't give anyone information in time to figure out what to do, Didn't give the programmers a link to see the new interface. Didn't give anyone time to figure the pricing. Pulled down the link to edit/change/ upgrade/downgrade or cancel their service. I mean, really how unfair can you be.
Sounds like this is a company that I would really like to be associated with.
Maybe your should apologize to her. ( Sarcasm in case she can't figure that out )
I didn't mean literally mean hard coding, perhaps default is a better word.
But let's be clear that if the default endpoint is WU from Acurite, it's unlikely that it will ever change and there are always technical workarounds if things change.
Besides, the lifespan of those Acurite weather stations is short enough that as those default endpoints change, so will the defaults from Acurite.
As I said, smart work by WU.
But let's be clear that if the default endpoint is WU from Acurite, it's unlikely that it will ever change and there are always technical workarounds if things change.
Besides, the lifespan of those Acurite weather stations is short enough that as those default endpoints change, so will the defaults from Acurite.
As I said, smart work by WU.
(Edited)
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Bows to James lovely use of sarcasm.
Remind me why PWS owners will want to share their data with a company that has only maximum profit in mind...? I don't quite comprehend.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Are you asking me, Mike? I don't inquire about people's motives when they ask for my assistance, so I really cannot speak to that. I can only tell you that people do.
I have several PWS deployed in Guatemala, and had advocated in Latin America about WU platform for years as a way to make weather data available to more users specially in Latin America where met services lack this kind of information.
I convinced a lot of people in the region to deploy PWS's because I noted that the forecast got better after some days of data being sent, I think that the PWS network that all wx enthusiasts like us helped to built is one of the big assets that made WU appealing to TWC and then to IBM.
I understand business decisions, but as many has mentioned before, as a PWS network user and WU site user I feel all this was abandoned since these Corporate changes. The crowdsourcing model made you and all users had access to realtime data in remote location like yours and like ours in Latin America.
I just want a fair treat with a forecast API for users that has contributed to this platform (many of us for years when WU was a great startup). Just imagine how many hours in development has been invested like what saratogaWX has mentioned that must start again from 0 or loose what accomplished.
BTW, I came here via a Google search, did not received an email, all of you fellow PWS owners receive something ?
I convinced a lot of people in the region to deploy PWS's because I noted that the forecast got better after some days of data being sent, I think that the PWS network that all wx enthusiasts like us helped to built is one of the big assets that made WU appealing to TWC and then to IBM.
I understand business decisions, but as many has mentioned before, as a PWS network user and WU site user I feel all this was abandoned since these Corporate changes. The crowdsourcing model made you and all users had access to realtime data in remote location like yours and like ours in Latin America.
I just want a fair treat with a forecast API for users that has contributed to this platform (many of us for years when WU was a great startup). Just imagine how many hours in development has been invested like what saratogaWX has mentioned that must start again from 0 or loose what accomplished.
BTW, I came here via a Google search, did not received an email, all of you fellow PWS owners receive something ?
(Edited)
Tim Roche, Official Rep
The PWS network will not be impacted by this change. Commercial use cases will be shifted to our enterprise offerings, and non commercial use cases with low call volumes will not be impacted.
And what about commercial use cases that are relatively low volume and don't need (and cannot afford) forecasts, maps, etc, just daily station data? My 5 year old iOS app will be dead in the water if I still can't get that information for about the same cost. I make a little bit from an ad banner, but not enough to afford a huge price increase.
When can we expect prices and a beta API developers can start testing with? Time is running out, not everyone is in a position to turn around changes that fast.
When can we expect prices and a beta API developers can start testing with? Time is running out, not everyone is in a position to turn around changes that fast.
Eric: >> BTW, I came here via a Google search, did not received an email, all of you fellow PWS owners receive something ?
the same here. As a PWS owner I also just reading this post because a friend drew my attention to it. :(
And just curious what will happen with my (btw presonnal) weather data after 01.01.2019.
Probably I will stop to publish them and keep the data providing by the hardware just private. It's a pity.
the same here. As a PWS owner I also just reading this post because a friend drew my attention to it. :(
And just curious what will happen with my (btw presonnal) weather data after 01.01.2019.
Probably I will stop to publish them and keep the data providing by the hardware just private. It's a pity.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
As Tim Roche notes above, personal weather station (PWS) owners will not be impacted. They will have access through the keys they already have to their own data, and probably a limited range of short-term forecasts.
We're trying to get to the point of rolling out information about this publicly, it's just not quite ready yet. More to come!
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
We're trying to get to the point of rolling out information about this publicly, it's just not quite ready yet. More to come!
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
What about those PWS owner that need a key in the first place?
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
A key is one method of gating (permitting access to) an API -- there are others. We're working on making sure that issue is addressed.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Yea I use the API in my relay program to CWOP to pull airport and GPS data from WU on install. I was sent no info on this and found it by accident. I dont use forcast users requested a API and entered it in the program to pull there station status. Everything will have to be rewritten with out notice.
Also anyone know why we are nolonger allowed to delete bad data from out station page....
I do have a wepage that pulls data but rather then rewrite the code I might as well create a script to post data to my website direct. If openweather didnt have a broken unusable API I would use it.
Also anyone know why we are nolonger allowed to delete bad data from out station page....
I do have a wepage that pulls data but rather then rewrite the code I might as well create a script to post data to my website direct. If openweather didnt have a broken unusable API I would use it.
(Edited)
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Hi, Tmaster.
We have done everything we can to reach API keyholders. I'm sorry we were unable to reach you.
The API will continue to function past the end of the year for PWS owner/uploaders until the new API for PWS owner/uploaders is ready. If you want a peak at the documentation for the new API, you can look here.
Sincerely,
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
We have done everything we can to reach API keyholders. I'm sorry we were unable to reach you.
The API will continue to function past the end of the year for PWS owner/uploaders until the new API for PWS owner/uploaders is ready. If you want a peak at the documentation for the new API, you can look here.
Sincerely,
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
I am using the Wunderground service to control my garden watering sprinkler system by weather parameters. The OpenSprinkler system used is a commercial product, but it is used for non-commercial purposes. The weather parameters needed are yesterdays mean temperature, yesterdays min. and max. humidtity and yesterdays and todays precipitation summary. A 4-day weather forecast is also retrieved for convenience reasons. All this data is send to Wunderground by my own PWS via Meteoware for Netatmo and retrieved by OpenSprinkler software via my free Wunderground API key at a low call volume rate. In summary historical, current conditions, astronomy and forecast data is requested on an hourly basis.
The question is now will this service be stopped by the end of the year? Is it just a new API key? Are there changes in the API interface that need software adaptations?
The question is now will this service be stopped by the end of the year? Is it just a new API key? Are there changes in the API interface that need software adaptations?
Tim Roche, Official Rep
There will be more changes than just an API key change. The interface will be different as well. I have reached out to open sprinkler to make sure they are aware of these changes.
We need to urgently upgrade from Shower plan to one with higher limits, I can't do that online anymore. Submitted request with weater.com - no response so far. Please have someone contact me asap.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Tina, I tried to find your account but was unable to. If this is still unresolved, would you please email me at victoria.gardner@ibm.com?
Yes, still not resolved. I sent you an email.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I've sent you an email, but as a commercial account, have you completed the form on the right side of the page here: http://biz.weather.com/WU-Data-API_Data-Package-Demo-Request.html? That will generally be the best starting point for commercial users of the Weather Underground API.
I will also continue to follow up on this with you privately.
-Victoria Gardner
I will also continue to follow up on this with you privately.
-Victoria Gardner
I submitted that form weeks ago, no response
It seems the same response all the time. I have yet to have an email answered in the past 10-11 months.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Hi, Andy.
My email is victoria.gardner@ibm.com. Feel free to resend whatever question you have there.
My email is victoria.gardner@ibm.com. Feel free to resend whatever question you have there.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I have passed along the information that each of you is trying to get in touch. Perhaps give it a week or so, and let me know if no one has gotten back to you.
Victoria
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
phone: 978-552-1406
Victoria
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
phone: 978-552-1406
When will there be some documentation released covering the changes to the API? I'm utilizing the WU API for non-commercial purposes.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
How about pricing? Documentation and a usable beta is critical but none of that matters if I can’t afford the new API and I have to kill my 5+ year old iOS app. I would like to have these answers a couple months ago at the latest.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Matt, congratulations for keeping an iOS app alive!
I can contact someone on the sales side to push you up the contact queue if you'd like.
I can contact someone on the sales side to push you up the contact queue if you'd like.
Matt Brady has a good point as we might not want to renew an apple developer account if the new API pricing puts it more than we are willing to spend.
Also waiting to hear what the plan will be for those of us who are contributing data. It would be good if a message is posted here when PWS owners are being contacted to make sure we aren't left out.
Also waiting to hear what the plan will be for those of us who are contributing data. It would be good if a message is posted here when PWS owners are being contacted to make sure we aren't left out.
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I'll be sure to post an announcement when there's more information!
Cabdiqaadir Barwaaqo
Ingo Fischer
joegr
If I can't get that, then I have no reason to continue to send you data.
William J Schmidt
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
As mentioned elsewhere, PWS owners who send their data up to WU will have uninterrupted access to their data, and a limited range of other information, like forecasts, through an API that is being developed. The shift to the new API will likely occur after the first of the year, so for PWS holders, access to the WU API will continue past December 31 while we prepare for the transition. So PWS uploaders are is a special, protected class right now.
This shift is so that we can provide access to a better, more modern infrastructure. I'm pretty sure that's not nothing. Your data can be viewed by your community easily on a platform that's used worldwide. I'm pretty sure that's not nothing, either.
Whether you personally find value in it is a decision only you can make.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Nelio Altoveros
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
It sounds as if you already see the value of our aggregating and incorporating the data into forecasts. That doesn't come free on our end, either.
PWS owners will be able to continue to use the WU API past the December 31, 2018 cut-off which will affect all other users who have not made prior sales contracts with TWC/IBM. PWS owners will subsequently have time to shift their calls once the new API is up and running. That is what we are doing in an effort to work with the many PWS uploaders who see the value in putting their data where large numbers of people can see and use it.
But things are not ever going back to the way things were before. Abundant free data on a global scale is just not possible. It was clearly unsustainable, or we wouldn't be here now.
I'm glad you're finding the Weather Underground useful, and I hope you will continue to do so.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Paul Grace
Well no, it is not that it was unsustainable, it was that IBM bought the data stream by buying the aggregator. Perhaps a new open community will form around the PWS community, and cut IBM out of the data stream, perhaps not.
But let's not pretend it was because anything was "unsustainable"
"Abundant free data on a global scale is just not possible."
PWS data is compact. It's a tiny amount of data, and on a global scale is easily possible, and has been free at least since I used to upload it on a 300 baud modem.
The proof of this fact is that IBM will be continuing to host the data for PWS owners at no cost.
Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth.
guy
Overall, I don't think IBM/WU wants to really continue the relationship with the PWS owners. Look at everything that has happened since the take over by IBM. Look at the tone set in this forum. And what about these statement from them... So PWS uploaders are is a special, protected class right now . Is this special protected class permanent...or just for the near term? Another member asks Are individual weather station owners important to WU's business, response, were not going to discuss this. If you read though this forum, I don't think they really need to answer, the answer is there without saying any written statement from them.
At this point, the best thing that could happen is that another company sees the value of the contributors of personal weather data and starts developing or expanding their own PWS system.
christopher.r.spitler
Victoria, I know you work for a behemoth company that is about the bottom line, but since you're representing IBM here, you should work to make sure your leadership doesn't burn the bridge. your team needs to get transition information and new API info out to PWS owners ASAP. you won't get a second chance with PWS owners once they move on to another provider.
Mike Brewer
Nobody is expecting abundant free data. Indeed, the existing WU API doesn't provide "abundant free data"... think there was a daily quota of only (IIRC) 500? ... can't find the pricing structure because it has gone. It was a chargeable service. Just like darksky and openweathermap, who also have a low free quota for testing and hobbyists.
> It was clearly unsustainable, or we wouldn't be here now
I really don't buy this line of argument. See above. The WU API was a paid service. The pricing structure could have been tweaked if it wasn't quite working, e.g. to reduce the free quota, and/or increase the cost. Surely if darksky can manage it, IBM can too? Dang, hand me the reins to the WU API and I could manage it myself... cloud servers are two-a-penny nowadays.
No, pure and simple this is a business decision from some suit in IBM somewhere. Something along the lines of "we have the TWC API for which we can charge big business rates; the WU API is merely taking business away from our cash cow TWC API".
I'm not a PWS owner myself, though I've often toyed with the idea, but I suspect that part of the ethos of a large majority of these people is that they take satisfaction in providing data -- along with thousands of others -- to provide a valuable resource for all. They don't want this to be some sort of "private members club" where only PWS owners have ongoing API access. It's like open-source developers wouldn't want access to their libraries restricted only to other developers who themselves are open-source developers.
The end result of this is, I suspect, that these PWS owners will drain away from WU and send their data to something more community-minded and less corporate.
But maybe that is what IBM wants. Shut down the competition and disrupt.
Maybe something else will rise to take over the space where WU used to be... I certainly hope so.
Paul Grace
For an explanation, see this video, from a Microsoft lawsuit where MS embraced the Linux standard, extended it adding new proprietary interfaces, and killed it.
https://youtu.be/TVHcdgrqbHE?t=684
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Mr. Spitler, I'm really not sure what you're talking about here. I am doing everything in my power to provide accurate information as soon as it's possible. That PWS owners are, as a group, being provided access beyond that offered to anyone else, to me that suggests that we are doing what is possible to facilitate a difficult shift for everyone.
I said that PWS owners would be a protected class "for now" because once they are the only class, they are all protected by default. I have no information whatsoever of PWS owners being shut out in the future.
PWS owners who are uploading their data will have uninterrupted access to their data, and a limited range of additional items. They will be able to access up to 1000 calls per day and 30 calls/minute. (This reflects an increase over what I mentioned before, which was the base level for the WU API.) When the API for the PWS uploaders is ready, we will provide a transition period to switch from the WU API to the new API. For PWS uploaders, the Weather Underground API will not close down on December 31.
For everyone else, and yes, this includes the many people with developer keys, the Weather Underground API will close down on December 31, 2018, unless they have made a prior contractual arrangement with IBM/The Weather Company.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
christopher.r.spitler
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
But I would like to point out that even when I don't have additional information, I am constantly answering posts. Which might add to the feeling you're not getting anything new, but it's different from, I think, not providing anything. You (the big collective you, not necessarily Christopher personally) have my email, you can poke me for updates. I remind you (again, the big collective you) of this just to say that I am not (I have no reason to believe!) going up in smoke on the 31st of December. It doesn't mean I will have information any faster, but you will continue to have it when I have it.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
christopher.r.spitler
Either way, thanks for actually reading and responding to posts, that's more than most organizations do!
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
--Victoria
tmaster
..
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
The old WU API is being closed for reasons that were determined long ago. Backward compatible API are not trivial to build. Arguing about these sorts of details now will not change anything.
I'm sorry that this change is difficult, but the change is necessary. We appreciate that customers going through this transition with us are also struggling. Thank you for your continued efforts!
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Staffan Sandberg
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
I am happy to help you work out details, Staffan. But I need to look at actual data, and for that we need to move off a public forum.
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Michel Paquet
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
Victoria Gardner
victoria.gardner@ibm.com
Jack Bass
JoeW49
Jeremy Brosnan
Kirk Davis
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
--Victoria
petesalomone
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
--Victoria
Trey Duncanson
Victoria Gardner, Official Rep
It's worth noting that the elevation seems to have been incorrect for some time. I see the same incorrect elevation in the old WU record as well.
--Victoria