Shaw Direct Interactive Weather Service launched

[hugh]

Shaw Direct Weather will provide customizable, 5-day weather forecasts from more than 1,500 Canadian communities, U.S. cities, and popular international destinations in both English and French.

The service began in free preview on channels 397 and 739 and can be seen by all customers with receivers that have on-screen picture-in-guide capability.

The new channels will be rolled out on a free preview basis to all customers with receivers that have on-screen picture-in-guide capability (DSR 207/209, 317/319, 505, HD PVR530) from July 15 to 22.


Interactive Weather Manual - Yep there is a manual. (.pdf file)

[Hilman]

^ It looks pretty cool and I like the function but what does free preview mean? Do they honestly think this is a chargeable service?

Regards

[fredbalsdon]

Still not up and working here in petawawa

[hugh]

fred, as noted in post #1, it won't be available to all customers until July 22nd.

[hugh]

Do they honestly think this is a chargeable service?

Apparently although they made no mention of what they expect to charge.

[sawguyg]

I won't pay for this feature. You can get Evironment Canada's website online for free....well with your internet fee

[cowcanada]

I wouldn't pay for weather forecasting. Yes you can get if with your internet fees on the computer, but how about switching on a radio or just looking out the door. We all pay for internet, we all pay for TV - mmmm not really going to pay for the weather.

[magnet]

Data is provided by Accuweather. Once again they may not charge extra for it, but customers will pay for it in the increasing of their monthly bills.

[bigoranget]

I'm certain we will get dinged with the yearly $3.00 increase on most packages in September.

[HiDefBob]

Weather is from Accuweather ... that is not good! Their forecasts beyond the 2nd day are almost useless. Those forecasts are 100% computer generated with no human input. I have often seen them forecast snow in the winter when there is 0% chance of that happening.
Environment Canada is somewhat better, but as of a few years ago they too rely too much on the computer.

About the only reliable data that you are going to get is the current conditions!

By the way, I worked for 40 years for Environment Canada in the weather service as a support tech and my best friend is a forecaster for the Forest Service so I know all about what goes on in the Canadian and American weather service.

Some of the best forecasts come from local television stations who in very severe weather prone areas employ their own meterologists and have all the latest forecasting tools (radar, satellite service, etc).

So, my recommendation ... if they try to charge for the service definitely do not subscribe!!!

[Voxxon]

The channel is now working on my 530. You can choose from a list of world-wide cities. It's nice having the channel, but I wouldn't pay anything for it. There's too many other ways I can get the weather without paying extra.

[Lester]

I just checked this new innovation out and it looked like it locked up my receiver for a minute but I managed to get out of chanell 397 by using the up down button. Using the numbers buttons did not work. Incidentally It gave our cities current temperature as 20 degrees. Because I was sweating profusely I checked my personal weather station and it showed a more reasonable temperature as 26.

Lester

[HiDefBob]

I just checked ... I have 397 as well. I might use it to check current conditions occasionally, but that is all.
For the most part, I will continue to use the internet for the weather. It is far faster, easier to use and has much more available ... radar, satellite imagery, weather maps, etc., etc.

[jcol]

Haven't got the Weather upgrade yet on either of my two receivers. For those who have I'm curious, do you turn your receivers off at night and has your SW changed from F8? Thanks.

[HiDefBob]

One improvement I would like to see ... when exiting the interactive weather channel you were returned to the channel you were watching. I might use it more if it were more convenient to use.