[Xastir] While we are on the subject of feature ideas for Xastir

[Gerry Creager]

Howdy!

Alex Carver wrote:
> --- Gerry Creager <gerry.creager at tamu.edu> wrote:
>> Pardon me while I don my Nomex.
>> <soapbox>
> 
> No problem, I've got my plasma torch handy. :)

No problem.  I have to deal with faculty on a regular basis.

>> Joseph M. Durnal wrote:
>>> Some things that I can do with APRSDos, like bring
>> up a command window
>>> to the TNC, handle NTS formatted messages
>> I can't think of a reason to have to get into the
>> TNC once it's 
>> configured, and it really should be run in KISS. 
>> What'd a terminal 
>> window buy you there?
> 
> Actually, it's sometimes handy to reconfigure the TNC
> for non-KISS operation (a digipeater, for example,
> that you shouldn't depend on the computer in case it
> crashes), or diagnostics while inside Xastir.  I run a
> TNC in command mode with Xastir precisely for the
> digipeating of the TNC without the computer just in
> case the machine dumps out due to something weird (and
> I've got a weird system, two computers, one runs
> Xastir and one runs the TNC).  I know I've wanted to
> be able to send a command or two to the TNC before.

I've done this in the past and found it was better/easier for me to have 
a configured digi and a lower powered APRS station.  While I've more 
computers at home than sense.... Well, you get the idea. I don't have a 
computer on a digi all the time unless I'm having hardware problems or 
want to monitor the channel authoritatively for problems.

Still, I may concede this point.

>> OK: I am now switching gears and asking for opinions
>> and comments on a 
>> vizualization product.  If y'all would look at 
>> http://mesonet.tamu.edu/scoop-cgi/ogc/wrf and give
>> me off-list feedback, 
>> I'd appreciate it.  I'm running the WRF (community
>> developed Weather 
>> Research and Forecasting)model over a rather large
>> domain, from ~40W to 
>> ~105W and ~5N to ~55N.  The display is surface wind
>> fields.  The purpose 
>> of this model is to provide 10 meter height winds
>> and surface barometric 
>> pressures to initialize ocean circulation and wave
>> models, which will in 
>> turn be used to help predict storm surge and
>> inundation.
> 
> 
> It's hard to see some of the arrowheads especially on
> the vectors that have small magnitudes.  It seems the
> arrowheads scale with the magnitude of the vector,
> too, and not just the length of the vector line. 
> Perhaps fixed sized arrowheads and color for the
> magnitude like radar data?

Good point/observation.  With the package we're using now... and most 
I've seen for model outputs, there's little I can do to keep the arrow 
heads a constant size but we can look into this.

Thanks
Gerry
-- 
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University	
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