WXN.INI
System Configuration File
Overview
Tips
QTH
Clock Functions
Remote Time Synchronization
Counters/Timers
Network
QRZ
Printer
Default Window Types
Logging
Automatic Reboot of Server
CSV Generator
Data Alarm
APRS®
Miscellaneous
Examples
The system configuration file, WXN.INI, is a text based file and resides in the program root directory. Only those parameters that are required or defaults that must be overridden need to be in the file.
Types
V = Number (value)
S = String
C = Character
B = Boolean
F = Floating Point Number
Boolean Values
Y = Yes
N = No
Other
* = required user supplied field
+ = required if associated feature enabled
x = assigned by server can be customized
Parameter Type Default Description City S * required County S * required State S * required BpqPath S x Path to folder where BPQ resides AnemometerHeight V 0 Height of anemometer above ground SetClock B N Synchronize clock with ID-5001 NwsDecoder B N NOAA Encoder installed (Y/N) DefaultTimeOut V 10 Timeout in minutes for connects AutoDefault S x Default commands sent on Auto Channel EnableNet B N Networking on/off LimitLocal B N Limit forwarding to local data only PlayChime B Y Play cuckoo at top of hour PlayEvent B N Play alert if error/event logged ClockOnUtc B N CPU clock is on UTC UseQrz B N Use the QRZ CD-ROM database QrzPath S D: Path to QRZ database or CDROM drive letter MasterClock B N This server is a master clock SlaveClock B N Servers clock will by syncd with master MasterCall S + Call (no SSID) of master server NodeDataTTL V 48 Hours before window closes on old data DataOld V 60 Time in minutes before data marked out-of-date XchgHoldTime V 30 Seconds net xchg window open before close HelpThreshold V 5 Number of bad cmds that forces user help on PressureInMb B N Display pressure in millibars DisplayTime V 60 Seconds a display window will remain open OpenConnects B N Connect list window will open at startup LogConnects B Y Logs connects to CONNECTS.LOG SendTrivia B Y Trivia message will be sent to user PrinterPort V 1 LPT1 PrintJobTimeOut V 5 Timeout in minutes for off-line/error SmallDefaultWin B Y Default node window will be small SmallLocalWin B N Default local node window size is small ShowNetConnects B N Show net connects in connect window LogEvents B Y Log events to the system log MaxLogFileSize V 500000 maximum event log size AutoReboot B N Automatically reboot server RebootDay V 5 Friday (see detail below) RebootHour V 4 4 AM RebootMinute V 51 Auto reboot server: Fri 04:51 AM CorrectForDst B Y Correct for daylight savings time MaxHops V 10 Max number of times to forward ShowMaxHops B N Show hop count in node window LimitPropagation B N Limit propagation of node to 'MaxHops' CreateCsv B N Enable CSV Generator CsvPath S x Path and filename of CSV generated file CsvFormat S +* field labels for one line in CSV file EnableDataAlarm B Y Enable data alarm AlarmWindGust V 50 alarm wind gust threshold AlarmWindAvg V 40 alarm wind average threshold AlarmPrecip F 1.00 alarm precip rate threshold AlarmEmp V 200 alarm EMP hits/5 min threshold SendAlarmData B N if alarm, force network session/broadcast of data AlarmNode S * target file(.net) if 'SendAlarmData' enabled EnableAprs B N Enable APRS® functionality AprsFromCall S +* same as PORTCALL in BPQCFG.TXT - required AprsPort V +* same as PORT in BPQCFG.TXT - required AprsToCall S APRS Change only as discussed below. AprsDigi S RELAY APRS® digipeater path AprsText S * Text appended to postion broadcast AprsTextInterval V 20 minutes between position broadcasts AprsLatitude F * overrides USGS position for your QTH AprsLongitude F * overrides USGS position for your QTH AprsDelayThreshold V 0 experimental - see APRS page for info ExchangeAprs B N exchange APRS® data over connected network
APRS® is a registered trademark of Bob Bruninga
The following is a more detailed description of each, if required. To make it easier to use, the parameters are grouped by function. Parameter names are case in-sensitive. Parameters must be followed by a space, the equal sign, a space, and then the value.
The miscellaenous group is at the end.
City, County and State have no defaults and must be supplied by the user.
Parameter Type Default City STRING * County STRING * State STRING *
Enable/disable cuckoo at top of hour. Entry of N disables. This can also be temporarily disabled under the System menu.
Parameter Type Default PlayChime BOOLEAN Y
Computer clock is on UTC. Used for time correction in program. Set to Y if computer clock is on UTC.
Parameter Type Default ClockOnUtc BOOLEAN N
If the weather station used is the ID-5001, this entry can be added and set to Y. This will enable synchronizing the computers internal clock from the ID-5001 clock. Typically, this provides a more accurate time base for the system.
Parameter Type Default SetClock BOOLEAN N
The default for this option is to correct for daylight savings time when appropriate. Note that if your system clock is on UTC, the setting should remain set to 'Y' regardless.
Parameter Type Default CorrectForDst BOOLEAN Y
This server is a master clock. Use this server as a time source to synchronize other servers that are flagged as slaves. Allows synchronizing clocks at remote nodes. Set to Y to enable.
Parameter Type Default MasterClock BOOLEAN N
Servers clock will by synchronized with a designated master. Clock will be set if there is more than five minutes difference between the clocks of the two machines. Set to Y to enable. Requires setting the MasterCall parameter.
Parameter Type Default SlaveClock BOOLEAN N
Callsign of connecting server that is the master clock. Do not use SSID or function will fail. Only needs to be set if SlaveClock parameter is set to Y.
Parameter Type Default MasterCall STRING must be set by user if SlaveClock = Y
Timeout in minutes for connects can be changed by using this parameter and setting a different value. Forces a disconnect after no activity for time specified.
Parameter Type Default DefaultTimeOut NUMBER 10
Number of seconds a window remains open. This applies to all archive data windows, the Status and About window. Does not apply to Node Data windows or the Connect List window.
Parameter Type Default DisplayTime NUMBER 60
Hours before node window closes on old data. If set to zero, window never closes.
Parameter Type Default NodeDataTTL NUMBER 12
Number of minutes before data is considered old. Exceeding this value causes DTG in large window to turn red. If the small window is used, a red ! will appear next to the entry at the top of the window. The default value should work in most cases. Increase this value if you are networked and receiving nodes indirectly through an adjacent node.
Parameter Type Default DataOld NUMBER 60
Number of seconds a net exchange window will stay open before closing. Allows the sysop a period of time to view the status of the exchange.
Parameter Type Default XchgHoldTime NUMBER 30
Network - for a complete discussion, see the pages on Networking.
Enable/disable networking using the connected mode. Must be present and set to Y if the server will be networked with other servers. Networking requires script files in .\NET directory to function.
Parameter Type Default EnableNet BOOLEAN N
If set to 'y', limits outgoing network connections to sending only local data and then disconnecting. Does not affect incoming connections. Conserves channel bandwidth if the server is an endpoint in the network and there is no need for timely updates.
Parameter Type Default LimitLocal BOOLEAN N
When turned on, will limit the propagation of nodes through this server. That is, when MaxHops is decremented and reaches zero, the node will not be forwarded.
Parameter Type Default LimitPropagation BOOLEAN N
If LimitPropagation is set to 'y', this node's data will forward through the number of nodes specified in this parameter. As the data is forwarded, each node in the chain will decrement the count. When the count reaches zero, the node will no longer be propagated.
Parameter Type Default MaxHops NUMBER 10
When this parameter is enabled, the current node count will be displayed in the large data windows to the right of the AFOS identifier in the upper LH quadrant.
Parameter Type Default ShowMaxHops BOOLEAN N
If this parameter is enabled, APRS® nodes will be sent over a connected network exchange. Note that when disabled, the setting will override the protocol version specified in a network script.
Parameter Type Default ExchangeAprs BOOLEAN N
Enable/disable the QRZ CD-ROM database feature. If enabled (Y), new users will automatically have their user profile filled from data in the QRZ CD-ROM and the geographic database. If running APRS®, this (or an entry in APRSQTH.INI) is needed to resolve the location of an APRS® station.
Parameter Type Default UseQrz BOOLEAN N
Either a drive letter or complete path to the QRZ database must be supplied. If only entering a drive, a single letter will do. This differs from previous releases in that the path can be specified. Due to the spin-up time of many so-called "high-speed" CDROMs, this option was added to permit loading the callbook data and index files onto a hard drive. If the complete path is used, it must point to the directory where the database and index files are stored. The files needed are in the "\callbk" directory on the CDROM. The "GIF" directory within "\callbk" is not needed. At this time, the only files required are "callbkc.idx" and "callbkc.dat". The second file is pointed to by the first (index) file, so if things don't work, just copy all the "idx" and "dat" files. If using the CDROM, only the drive letter needs to be entered.
Parameter Type Default QrzPath STRING D:
Sets the printer port that will be used by the servers print thread. 1=LPT1, 2=LPT2, 3=LPT3.
Parameter Type Default PrinterPort NUMBER 1
Timeout in minutes for off-line or other error condition. If the condition is not resolved by the end of the timeout period, the print job will abort.
Parameter Type Default PrintJobTimeOut NUMBER 5
The default window style for nodes is small (key data only). If there are many nodes, the screen can be difficult to navigate. Changing the option will allow displaying full data for a network node. This is the same data screen that is shown for the local node. The window size can still be toggled with CTL-F4 or clicking on the button in the ULH corner of the window.
Parameter Type Default SmallDefaultWin BOOLEAN Y
The default window style for the local node is large (all data). This option changes the default local node window to small where only a minimum of data is displayed. The window size can still be toggled with CTL-F4 or clicking on the button in the ULH corner of the window.
Parameter Type Default SmallLocalWin BOOLEAN N
If set to Y, the Connect List window will open at startup. Otherwise, it must be manually opened through the appropriate menu command.
Parameter Type Default OpenConnects BOOLEAN N
Connects are logged to the file CONNECTS.LOG when the connection closes. To disable, create the entry and set to N.
Parameter Type Default LogConnects BOOLEAN Y
Show net connects in connect window. Nodes that connect and exchange data with the host will be posted to this window on disconnect. Set option to Y to enable. Otherwise, only auto and command channel users will be posted.
Parameter Type Default ShowNetConnects BOOLEAN N
Log events to the system log, <system.log>. Set to N to disable.
Parameter Type Default LogEvents BOOLEAN Y
Maximum event log size in KB. Controls size of both the permanent <system.log> and temporary <temp.log>. When that size is reached, no further log entries will be made.
Parameter Type Default MaxLogFileSize NUMBER 500000
Enable/disable sounding an audible alert if an event/error occurs. Entry of Y enables.
Parameter Type Default PlayEvent BOOLEAN N
Automatically reboot server. Used for machines in remote locations to insure a working system. Some memory, over time, tends to become corrupted. Rebooting once a week seems to solve this problem. All files and connections are closed before rebooting. Anyone connected to the server is disconnected prior to the reboot. The day, hour and minute can be set by the parameters RebootDay, RebootHour, and RebootMinute. The default is Friday at 4:51 AM local time. Will not work with Windows 95.
Parameter Type Default AutoReboot BOOLEAN N
Reboot day. Default is Friday. Other days are: Sunday=0, Monday=1, Tuesday=2, Wednesday=3, Thursday=4, Friday=5, Saturday=6
Parameter Type Default RebootDay NUMBER 5
Reboot hour. Default is 4 AM. Valid hours are 00 through 23. PM times require adding 12 to the hour. For example, 5PM is 5 + 12 = 17.
Parameter Type Default RebootHour NUMBER 4
Reboot minute. Default is 51. Valid minutes are 00 through 59.
Parameter Type Default RebootMinute NUMBER 51
CSV Generator - for complete information, see the section on the CSV Generator
Enable the CSV Generator.
Parameter Type Default CreateCsv BOOLEAN N
This parameter only needs to be changed if you want a different name and/or use a different path for the server generated file.
Parameter Type Default CsvPath String x
This parameter holds the token labels for the fields that will be written to the CSV file. The format supports multiple entries of this parameter to allow multiple lines in the CSV file.
Parameter Type Default CsvFormat STRING *
Data Alarm - for a complete discussion, see the Data Alarm page.
By default, data alarms are enabled. To disable, put this entry in the INI file and set it equal to 'N'.
Parameter Type Default EnableDataAlarm BOOLEAN Y
Sets the wind gust threshold that kicks the data alarm into the active mode.
Parameter Type Default AlarmWindGust NUMBER 50
Sets the wind average threshold that kicks the data alarm into the active mode.
Parameter Type Default AlarmWindAvg NUMBER 40
Sets the hourly precipitation rate that kicks the data alarm into the active mode. Note this applies to instantaneous as well as hourly rates.
Parameter Type Default AlarmPrecip FLOAT 1.00
Sets the five minute EMP hit count that activates the data alarm.
Parameter Type Default AlarmEmp NUMBER 200
If you wish to send local data to another node or force an APRS® broadcast when the event occurs, this parameter must be set to 'Y'.
Parameter Type Default SendAlarmData BOOLEAN N
If the previous parameter is set to 'y' and you wish to send data to a designated node, this parameter must contain the file name (less the .NET extension) of the network script to use for the forwarding operation. Note that in this mode, only the current dataset is sent from this node. No other data exchanges take place. For example, if 'AlarmNode=EVVWXN', the server will forward the current dataset to the node given in EVVWXN.NET.
Parameter Type Default AlarmNode STRING *
Also see 'ExchangeAprs' under network.
The first three parameters are required for minimum functionality. The last two parameters may be required in some situations.
Enables the APRS® functions on the server. Set to Y to enable. Requires setting AprsFromCall' and 'AprsPort parameters that follow. If 'AprsFromCall' or 'AprsPort' are not set appropriately, the parameter will be set at startup to 'n' regardless of the actual setting.
Parameter Type Default EnableAprs BOOLEAN N
The callsign that other APRS® stations will see when the server transmits a weather packet. Must be the same as PORTCALL in the PORT definition section in the BPQ configuration file. Failing to set this parameter has the effect of setting 'EnableAprs=n'. Must be set.
Parameter Type Default AprsFromCall STRING *
The port number that was defined for APRS® in the PORT definition section in the BPQ configuration file. Must be configured to an active port. The default value of zero has the effect of setting 'EnableAprs=n'.
Parameter Type Default AprsPort NUMBER 0
The current default setting is "APRS". When future releases of other APRS® software reflect the addition of my code to the list, using "VERSION" (all caps) will reflect the version of this software you are running. Changing this to anything else may result on your station not showing up on other APRS® systems. In other words, do not change unless there is a very good reason to do so.
Parameter Type Default AprsToCall STRING APRS
The default setting is 'RELAY'. This may need to be changed to fit your local situation. If more than one digipeater is specified, separate entries with commas. Can be temporarily changed in the Network menu while the program is running.
Parameter Type Default AprsDigi STRING RELAY
This text is appended to a packet containing position information that is broadcasted periodically at an interval set by 'AprsTextInterval'. See the APRS® page for detailed information on it's use. Can be temporarily changed in the Network menu while the program is running.
Parameter Type Default AprsText STRING *
Interval in minutes between broadcasts of the 'AprsText'. The default of 20 minutes should be adequate in most cases. Can be temporarily changed in the Network menu while the program is running. Values other than 15, 20, or 30 may produce erratic results.
Parameter Type Default AprsTextInterval NUMBER 20
Used to control which delay algorithm is used in transmitting position and extended data packets. Value of zero disables feature. See section on APRS® for more information.
Parameter Type Default AprsDelayThreshold NUMBER 0
Sets the latitutude and longitude as broadcasted by APRS®. Must be set as a pair and true floating point decimal numbers entered. See section on APRS® for example.
Parameter Type Default AprsLatitude FLOAT USGS coordinates for node QTH AprsLongitude FLOAT USGS coordinates for node QTH
Path to the directory where BPQCFG.BIN resides. The server will search for and insert the path to the first instance of this file it finds. If you have multiple folders with BPQ in them, then it will be necessary to override the automatic setting by making this entry.
Parameter Type Default BpqPath STRING automatically assigned by startup code
Height in feet above ground for the anemometer assembly. This number is important to the National Weather Service if you data is used and evaluated by them in times of weather emergencies. If the value of zero (default) is used, it will not be displayed in the large data window. The field is optional, but should be set.
Parameter Type Default AnemometerHeight MUMBER 0
If the NOAA watch/warning detector is installed, this switch must be set to Y. Note that if it is set to Y and no decoder is attached to the serial port, the system may become unstable.
Parameter Type Default NwsDecoder BOOLEAN N
Default commands sent on Auto Channel can be set with this parameter. Enter the commands as you would on the command line when connected to the command channel.
Parameter Type Default AutoDefault STRING tc th tl wc wt pc
Number of bad commands before user help is turned on. Help is on by default, but the user can turn it off using the UH command. If the number of bad commands in a session exceeds this number, help will be turned back on regardless of the profile setting.
Parameter Type Default HelpThreshold NUMBER 5
Causes barometric pressure for this server to be displayed in millibars on the console only. User connects will be displayed in inches regardless of this setting.
Parameter Type Default PressureInMb BOOLEAN N
Trivia message will be sent to user. To disable, create the entry and set to N.
Parameter Type Default SendTrivia BOOLEAN Y
City = Evansville
MasterClock = Y
DisplayTime = 120