I am running Windows 10 updated to current date,

Purchased Winstep Xtreme 22.7 and a few days ago I noticed I was getting a N/A all the time from my weather module,

I have the advanced settings set to default, which I have attached. METAR source URL: is: https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/observa ... /stations/%1.TXT

I have tried it with and with out both my VPN and Firewall with the same results.

I am in Hawaii if that matters at all, but I have tried California settings to no avail.

I have read other posts on weather settings, and I have made sure that my *Windows* region is set correctly to English (US).

My Weather.log reads:

* METAR Connection Failed...
No Valid Codes
No Valid Codes
* MSN Connection Failed...
Host not found.
Host not found.
* Yahoo Connection Failed...
Valid name, no data record of requested type.
Valid name, no data record of requested type.

My METAR code is set to Honolulu International Airport: PHNL

Please advise!

Blessings,
-Jonne

Hello, I have the same problem for a few days. I haven't touched any of the initial setup and it just stopped working.

The messages are absolutely the same as the ones that appear to this user.

My location is Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain

I would appreciate any suggestions.

MSN weather feed is down, perhaps permanently.

More information in this thread HERE.

Try finding a location/airport near you with a METAR code. Unfortunately that will only provide current weather conditions, no forecast. but it's still better than nothing.

As far as I know I've always only used METAR.


To test this, I have tried using only the METAR url and a METAR code in the advanced settings with no luck. Also I've tried multiple METAR codes with the same result.

I've never used the MSN weather feed.

Please advise.

Blessings,
-Jonne

Just tried it here with the Lisbon/Portela METAR code (LPPT) and it worked. What is your exact location and METAR code so I can try it here?

My location is US Oahu, Hawaii.
My code is: PHNL (Honolulu International Airport)
or: PHNG (Kaneohe, Marine Core Air Station)

I tried LPPT but that did not work.

Thanks for your quick responses!

Blessings,
-Jonne

PS - I know this is a troubleshooting dialogue and you probably only get complaints, but I do wish to say that I love this software and have been using it for years! Thanks for creating such an awesome way to work with Windows!

Even the METAR codes seem to work only with some airports but not others, from what I have tried here. The one that's nearest to my actual location is about 30 miles away, so totally meaningless for me of course. But at least, it works.

Just tried PHNL and it's working, METAR info for that location was taken by the airport on July 24, 22:53 GMT (i.e. roughly one hour ago).

I think the problem is not the weather module, but something on your system preventing the Winstep application from accessing the Internet.

Try this: open WorkShelf Preferences, go to the Advanced tab, click the Troubleshooting Options button, then click the Check Internet Connection button. What does it say?

Ok, So I tried that and here's a screen shot of what it says (at the bottom):

Strange,

I have tried to access the weather with METAR with my VPN and Firewall off as well, and I have made sure my regional settings are set to English US as well.

I still get this message:

Oh, wait, I think I know what the problem might be.

A bit complicated to explain, but some time ago - and on some systems only, this is the important part - WorkShelf was crashing when trying to get the weather, and it took some time to figure out what the systems crashing all had in common.

NOAA now requires an encrypted (HTTPS) connection to their web server, and this is accomplished via a 3rd party DLL.

Once I figured out WorkShelf was only crashing on those systems when trying to get METAR info, if became obvious it was somehow related to HTTPS connections, so if a crash happened while trying to use an HTTPS connection, a flag was raised that prevented further HTTPS connections from being attempted.

This made sure WorkShelf would stop crashing, but it also meant you could not get METAR info on that specific system (not a biggie since back then the Weather.com and MSN feeds were still working).

It took a long time, but eventually a correlation was found: the culprit was Acronis Active Protection, an anti-ransomware applet that Acronis, a company with literally zero experience in security software, decided to bundle with it's backup software Acronis True Image. It hooked to and somehow interfered with the 3rd party DLL used for encrypted connections, thus crashing the host software (in this case WorkShelf).

So, I think the problem in your system is that this flag is actually enabled. So, open the Windows Registry Editor and navigate to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinSTEP2000\WorkSHELF

Look for a DisableHTTPS entry set to True, and, if found, either set it to False or delete the entry. Restart the Winstep software and, if DisableHTTPS was indeed enabled, this time the METAR connection should succeed. Let me know, please!

Jorge!

You're brilliant!

Yes, that was exactly the problem! And what a tricky one to figure out too. I guess that's what good software developers do...a lot of detective work!

I also appreciated the detailed info on what the problem was, I found it VERY interesting...the way one software might interact with a site's new regulations which might interact with a .dll that ultimately stops a completely different program from operating right. Intriguing stuff!

Here's a celebration pic: (And yes we do have pretty awesome weather here in Hawaii

Thanks again for the swift responses and for such an AWESOME software!!!

Blessings,
-Jonne

Happy we have some solution in any case.
Curious, what exactly prevents METAR codes from providing forecasts?

METAR is used in airports worldwide for current weather conditions only because that is what planes need when landing or taking off.

I've moved to a different state and I can't get the weather app to work right. I can set my location, however I get this - "valid name, no data record of requested type"

Anyone know why and how to fix?


:Moderator's note - large text removed, new thread merged into existing one - nexter:

MSN weather feed is down, perhaps permanently.

More information in this thread HERE.

Try finding a location/airport near you with a METAR code. Unfortunately that will only provide current weather conditions, no forecast. but it's still better than nothing.