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The weather department received a complete
technology
overhaul
in the HDTV
upgrade process.
(Chief Engineer, Rick Zach)
The weather set is both wide and deep.
WCVB employs seven certified staff meteorologists.
The PC workstation screens facing the camera use Red Hat
LINUX Enterprise edition for HD graphics.
Windows XP 64-bit version is used for HD Doppler
RADAR.
All utility workstation screens facing away from the camera use
Windows XP Pro.
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A true story:
For decades the channel-5
meteorologists have been given the best in high-tech
equipment. Their most requested but never
delivered item has always been a simple low-tech window
to be able to look outside.
On May 16th, that wish
was granted when a severe weather front entered
from the western suburbs. It suddenly dawned on
the meteorologists that their new studio not only gave
them a window, they had an entire outside DOOR.
All three ran outside to observe. This was a
very big deal! |
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All 18 computers on the weather set are used in a genuine working
environment.
(L-to-R: Dick Albert, Mike Wankum,
Harvey Leonard, JC Monahan)
Getting all of the new toys to work properly...
The weather graphics computers needed to be controlled
from any of three locations at the same time.
High-definition KVM switches were prohibitively expensive and lacked
some needed features.
A multi-platform freeware utility called UltraVNC was used. As a side
benefit, if one meteorologist at work needs help,
another staffer at home can call in via VPN to assist using VNC.
( OK... way too may letters here!)
Director Dorothy Will (L) rehearses anchor Heather
Unruh for best
presentation.
The smiles are quite genuine!
John Bonner photo
The WCVB "Where's Waldo" picture.
click here for a hi-res/print version to download |
