In general, this uses Google Maps as an underlying display. You can zoom and pan the maps in a manner similar to other Google Maps. AvnWx.com has added some extra controls to add value for the pilot. This page describes those controls.
Standard Google Maps actions include:
This page covers the two main pop-up windows: the Control Panel, and the Info Window including the following topics:
In the lower left of the map is the Control Panel. This panel allows you to set viewing configuration
and tells you the time (Local or ZULU) the data was most recently updated.
The map will automatically update every few minutes, to make sure we have the latest information.
Checkboxes allow you to select which items you want to display. This information is saved with
your browser automatically. Also, you can create a specific URL with the
button in the upper left of the window.
The bottom of the Control Panel shows current Zulu and Local times.
The Control Panel consists of a black title bar, and four rows configuration parameters.
Click on the top (black) line of the grey Control Panel to hide it, allowing you more map space. Once hid, you can Show the
Control Panel by clicking again. Or, the panel will automatically hide itself 30 seconds after you have
updated an item within the panel. Keep the mouse pointer inside the panel, and it won't auto-hide.
The first row of configuration parameters cover which data items you would like to see: SIGMETs, AIRMETs, PIREPs, METARs, Winds Aloft
and TFRs. Under each category is the time (either local or zulu) the data was most recently updated. If the data is known to be
incomplete or missing, there is a warning icon (
) next to the time. Under
some of the categories are additional selectors, allowing to you show or hide specific types of information. For example, you could
choose to show only Icing-related PIREPs. Under PIREP category, there is a time selector, allowing you to see PIREPs reported within
the previous 30 minutes, or within the previous few hours. Typically, a Pre-Flight Briefer will only inform you of PIREPs within the
previous 90 minutes. Finally, under the TFR category, you may select to show or ignore Stadium TFRs. See About
Temporary Flight Restrictions for more information.
The second row of parameters cover overlays, which will cover the map ("beneath" the icons). You can enable or disable NEXRAD
Base Reflectiviy Precipitation Radar (See AvnWx.com Data Sources for more information on NEXRAD.)
The other overlay in the second row is a "screen" which is a technique
to make the map easier to read. With no screen (that is, full color map) it may be difficult to find
the icons indicating weather. By using a light or medium screen, the icons are more visible, as the underlying map is more "faded".
Choose how you prefer to view the map and it will be saved with your browser.
The Goto Bar is used to set the initial display of data. The map will be centered on the address
provided in the first input field. You'll need to press to update this point. At the same time
you can specify a radius of information -- by default 50 miles in every direction from your home
location. If you're looking for just local weather, a smaller radius will retrieve data more
quickly.
Valid locations can be regular street addresses, as well as 3- and 4- letter abbreviations for airports.
There are thousands of airports in the database, some have multiple codes. LHR, EGLL both get translated to
London's Heathrow Airport, for example.
A grey Circle (or oval, for flightpaths) will be displayed on the map representing the area for which weather
data is being retrieved. This region is drawn based on the location and radius specified. Panning the map side-to-side will not change the region
or data retrieval. If you wish to retrieve data for a different part of the world, specify another location in the
text field.
You can also specify an expiration time for PIREPs. By default, this is set to 2 hours, but you
can see PIREPs which are older as well. Select the expiration time on the location bar and press .
Use the button, next to the Go! button (not
pictured above) to display a list of airports matching the text in the input field. "London" would show all airports in London (any London!), "London KY" would
show only airports in London, Kentucky. Click on the "Lookup Results" bar (under the Poll) to close the Lookup Results box.
37.910,-119.388".
If you double-click on the map, other than over an icon, the map
will update and show you the latitude & longitude of the new location. You'll need surround these two numbers with parentheses "( )"
if you enter numbers within a flight path (see below.)
LAX-DFW-BOS.
If you want to include a latitude/longitude waypoint, surround the numbers with parentheses. For example: LAX-(42.7,-99.8)-BOS to route through
an unnamed location in northern Nebraska.
The last row of the Control panel allows you to set the timezone used for display of all time-related information in Info Windows
(excluding the original raw text of the METARs, etc.) refers
to your computer's local timezone, not the timezone local to the airport being viewed.
will display all time information in ZULU. Your preference is saved with your browser.
Current Zulu and Local times are displayed on the bottom of the Control Panel for your convenience.
1. Grey bar Info Window -- Rollover Enabled
2. Black Title bar "Sticky" Info Window -- Rollover Disabled
The pop-up Info Window provides details about the location under the mouse. This may be METAR or TAF information for an airport; TFR or SIGMET information for a region. As the mouse is moved (without clicking) across the map, the info window will automatically update. This indicates that mouse rollover is enabled, and you can see this indication on the grey bar at the bottom of the Info Window (in the first example, above). Because the window updates as you move the mouse, you may want to disable mouse rollover. This is achieved by single-clicking on the METAR or TAF icon, or single-clicking on the region which contains TFR or Segment information. The Info Window will change from the grey bar version, to the version with a black title bar (in the second example, above). Now, as you move the mouse, the window will not update. This allows you to click on links within the box (such as ASOS or the 12 hour METAR history in the above example.) Clicking on the black bar at the top of this Info Window will re-enable automatic updates via mouse rollover, and the black title bar will be removed. The Info Windows can also be moved. Click and drag the window to a new location, and future windows will be popped-up in this new location. If you're having problems with moving the Info Window, click on the map (not on the info window) to change it to a black titled Info Window, and then move it to your desired location. Click on the black title bar to change it back to the other type of window, and now your mouse rollovers will pop-up where you like. On smaller computer screens, a large Info Window may pop-up covering most of the useful map area. Moving the mouse over the Info Window will cause the Info Window to hide, allowing you to continue using the map -- moving the mouse to a different icon under the window, for example.
Also above the map is the Link button and the Help button. Help sends you to the main Help page.
will create a URL with the current map's settings: location, radius, PIREP expiration.
It will also remember how you've re-centered or zoomed the map, and how you've set the viewing controls.
For example, to set your home location, type in an address in the Location Bar, set the other parameters
as you like and press . This will update the map display. Recenter the map, if you like, and zoom in
or out. Now, press . Notice that your browser's URL has been updated from "maps.avnwx.com"
to something really long -- bookmark this new URL, and you'll always view this map location.