TropoForecast
Local and regional tropo forecast for FMDX web server
This forecast is based on my own calculations and—aside from its color scheme and visual design—bears no resemblance to William R. Hepburn's forecast!
Version 2.0
- New Client-Server Architecture: Moved all data fetching from the browser directly to a dedicated backend module (TropoForecast_server.js) using WebSockets.
- Massive API Optimization & Caching: The server now handles the heavy lifting, requesting the 500km grid once and caching it server-side for 3 hours. This effectively prevents browser CORS errors and API rate-limit bans.
- Simplified Loading Logic: Removed the complex, two-phase loading process. The system now performs a single, stable data request.
– Minor changes to the UI & styling
Thanks to AmateurAudioDude for modifying and adapting the code for the server variant!
Important note
This plugin provides a very reliable trend and probabilities for Tropo DX. However, due to purely technical reasons (resolution of global weather models), a 100% guarantee of forecast reliability cannot be given. It is still recommended to consult forecasts such as Hepburn.
Installation notes
- Download the last repository as a zip
- Unpack all files from the plugins folder to ..fm-dx-webserver-main\plugins\
- Stop or close the fm-dx-webserver
- Start/Restart the fm-dx-webserver with "npm run webserver" on node.js console, check the console informations
- Activate the TropoForecast plugin in the settings
- Stop or close the fm-dx-webserver
- Start/Restart the fm-dx-webserver with "npm run webserver", check the console informations on node.js console
Contact
If you have any questions, would like to report problems, or have suggestions for improvement, please feel free to contact me! You can reach me by email at highpoint2000@googlemail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
History
Version 1.2
- API error 429 was fixed by querying the Open Meteo API once
- 100 km zoom level added
- Minor design adjustments
Version 1.1a
- Location queries are now performed using the stored formats; queries via the browser are now only a fallback option
Version 1.1
- Increased map brightness and contrast
- Added Tropo Index display to the button
Version 1.0
- Uses vertical refractive profiles (N according to ITU logic via temperature, humidity, and pressure)
- Considers pressure levels (1000–850 hPa) with elevation gradients
- Searches for strongly superrefractive gradients (threshold ~ −60 N/km instead of just "something below −39 N/km")
- Additionally considers wind shear in the layer with the strongest gradient, including conversion of direction/speed to u/v components
- Cleanly scales the result to a 0–10 index (based on Hepburn)