Weather on The 8s

[changenthemidst]

I apologize, but I couldn't find the original thread on Weather Channel Info. I know there has been tons of talk on this. I emailed the Weather Channel to get the scoop. It seems that AT&T is flying bull fertilizer at its customers. It appears AT&T doesn't want to do the upgrade and get the needed hardware in order to assist its customers with the programming that 99% on this board craves. Here is what they said;

Thank you for contacting The Weather Channel.

AT&T U-verse is a wired system, just like cable, except that it uses phone lines to deliver the signal. Currently, AT&T U-verse subscribers will get what
amounts to our direct broadcast feed; basically, a series of current conditions and forecast products for the forty-five largest television markets, as well as regional radar and satellite depictions for the nation.

AT&T U-Verse has the capability to deliver local if they choose to do so.

They just have to get IntelliStar computer units. AT&T U-verse has never signed an I-Star agreement with The Weather Channel; therefore their subscribers will not receive a local forecast experience on the eights of the hour. (The I-STAR or WEATHER STAR computer is the piece of equipment that provides our cable affiliates with a local weather product on the eights of the hour, as well as on the weather strip along the bottom of the screen.)  In the best interest of their subscribers, The Weather Channel would like to see
them add these I-STAR units, and we are more than willing to work with them on it, but the decision is entirely theirs. Our advice would be to contact AT&T
U-Verse, who is usually very responsive to their customers, and let them know that you would like to see them provide a local weather experience on the eights of the hour.

We are always happy to hear from our viewers and hope you will continue to watch The Weather Channel for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Chris Hoitsma
Solutions Center/TWC

[randyl]

http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board/message?board.id=Uverse_TV_Programming&message.id=5232#M5232

still valid is the ?   dunno

[callmeox ACE - Wizard]

What bull feathers are you talking about?

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Bulls have feathers?

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

They're planning something more personalized and interactive (per randy's link).

With the latest update on the Ubar, I can see where that could be possible soon.  Select your city, press OK and get selections for 3-day forecast in detail and live radar. (or at least I'm hoping)

Apparently Cable was the only one who had LOT8s (satellite people don't?), so maybe UV considers it old technology or too expensive to implement?

[Uturnaroun]

Actually some satellite comanies do. And FiOS has it as well.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

OK, that blows my theory!  

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

Now they are coming out on Dish with the newest receivers, you just have to tune wc on 214, and if you see a little blue graphic in the upper left, hit 'select' and local weather loads.  Before I left, I saw Jim Cantore promoing this feature for Dish Network.

Chris

[jmmarton]

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mibrnsurg wrote:

Now they are coming out on Dish with the newest receivers, you just have to tune wc on 214, and if you see a little blue graphic in the upper left, hit 'select' and local weather loads.  Before I left, I saw Jim Cantore promoing this feature for Dish Network.

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So in other words it's not LOT8, but rather it's simply running some sort of interactive app to get the weather.  I know we never had actual LOT8 with either Dish or DTV, but I do recall them offering interactive options to get weather.

Joe

[sean3300]

This is also part of the other message I wrote a little earlier, I asked them also about getting LOT8's in the future. The answer I got from this was that when all the VHO have been upgraded to the new Scientific-Atlanta (Cisco) VHO, they have plans to offer LOT8's once all this is done, hopefully by the end of the year due to everyone that keeps asking for it.

The new Cisco boxes will also start rolling out once all this is done as well.

Sean

[Uturnaroun]

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jmmarton wrote:

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mibrnsurg wrote:

Now they are coming out on Dish with the newest receivers, you just have to tune wc on 214, and if you see a little blue graphic in the upper left, hit 'select' and local weather loads.  Before I left, I saw Jim Cantore promoing this feature for Dish Network.

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So in other words it's not LOT8, but rather it's simply running some sort of interactive app to get the weather.  I know we never had actual LOT8 with either Dish or DTV, but I do recall them offering interactive options to get weather.

Joe

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DirecTV people are supposed to have that bar at the bottom with local weather conditions. Dish Network are supposed to get their local forecast on the Dish Home Channel 100. Both providers use Intellistars but localize it based on billing zip code.

[jmmarton]

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Uturnaroun wrote:

DirecTV people are supposed to have that bar at the bottom with local weather conditions. Dish Network are supposed to get their local forecast on the Dish Home Channel 100. Both providers use Intellistars but localize it based on billing zip code.

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Ah, the two sat providers must be changing things, then.  Well good for them; I'm sure this will make their customers happy.

So now when is AT&T gonna do this for us UV subscribers?  I don't care if it's LOT8 or some cool weather app.  I might prefer some cool app, actually, with radar and stuff.  But I want *some* way of getting local weather info without having to get up and walk to another room where my PC is.

Joe

[Uturnaroun]

I agree. I would hope that eventually we would get both. But we need at least the app soon.

[visualhavoc]

Please something soon would be great!!! Here in the Midwest yesterday I could of used a canoe in my house!!! (nasty bad stuff)  I have been use to finding many radar updates with my previous provider as soon as I wanted it.  Now I have to take more time to find it through local tv or comp.

   Little things like this would make uverse service that much better even as small as this sounds.  This is probably the biggest complaint I have with uverse, especially when you rely on information you don't have that you use too.  

[Koolkid1935]

Hm, 'new' SA equipment.  AT&T has been using SA (Cisco) VHO equipment since the start according to one of their press releases when U-verse was just starting up

Just another PR move or true?

[Uturnaroun]

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Koolkid1935 wrote:

Hm, 'new' SA equipment.  AT&T has been using SA (Cisco) VHO equipment since the start according to one of their press releases when U-verse was just starting up

Just another PR move or true?

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Probably just a PR move. I won't believe it until I see a real announcement though.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Backpeddling for sure, I'll bet.  IF they were gonna do LOT8s, they've had 2 years to do so; not difficult it sounds, just not cost-effective in their eyes.  Plus they want something more this century, interactive and all.

[siouxmoux]

So I should get a called from ATT sometime in the future(in ATT time about two years)  about swapping out the Motorola boxes for Cisco boxes for the Weather on The 8s. I am all for it.

[siouxmoux]

This problely old news. But if you never seen it It New to you.

COMING SOON!

Weather On Demand

You've demanded it and we listened. We'll soon be launching in limited markets this exciting new application that will give you all the weather data you'd want to see, when you want to see it. No more waiting for the 7's (or 8's or 9's or whatever). 

https://uma.att.com/assets/files/applications.html#weather

[showtime48 ACE - Guru]

didn't know you could have more than 1 city on the ubar weather...

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

I keep several, especially since our area is so spread out...and a few locations for ex's.

[Uturnaroun]

If you read the last part of that page, it says submit suggestions on U-talk in the Features board. doesn't that go against the whole P2P and not monitored by AT&T philosophy of this board?

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

I noticed that as well and it had me wondering...so I guess they really DO monitor here to some extent?

[Pip_2]

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Uturnaroun wrote:
If you read the last part of that page, it says submit suggestions on U-talk in the Features board. doesn't that go against the whole P2P and not monitored by AT&T philosophy of this board?

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It would seem so, but I thought it was brought up some time ago that occasionally, an AT&T person would come in and look around and sometimes make a comment.

I would think they do read the board, but to start to reply to all the questions and comments here, would start an avalanche of potential problems for those people.

I would think it would be sufficient enough to just know that AT&T does read some things here (weather on the 8's comment, for example) and may take some of the suggestions and put them into actual practice some day.

Leaving this as P2P is still the best way to go for them and that is most likely why they stay in the background....WAY in the background.

Just my opinion.

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

I think there are certain AT&T employees jobs to monitor this site because every now and then we get posts from att employees about subjects that get a lot of posts.  And the fact that they come here and make announcements about upcoming features or upgrades.  It is very clear that somebody from att monitors this board, and quite regularly too.

[slygirl714]

Before I signed up with U-Verse, I checked to make sure they had The Weather Channel. It NEVER occured to me that Weather on the 8's would not be included. I just had installation a week ago and I am bummed. I never would have switched. I liked Weather on the 8's so much that I am seriously thinking of switching back.

[randyl]

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slygirl714 wrote:

Before I signed up with U-Verse, I checked to make sure they had The Weather Channel. It NEVER occured to me that Weather on the 8's would not be included. I just had installation a week ago and I am bummed. I never would have switched. I liked Weather on the 8's so much that I am seriously thinking of switching back.

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         http://utalk.att.com/utalk/board/message?board.id=Uverse_TV_Programming&message.id=5232#M5232

        We can only hope with the new u-bar layout that there will be more to come on enhancing the weather portion...

        randy