Greetings folks,

I've released version 2.1 of the AI-WX Weather Door and it's available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or on the website at firesidebbs.com. This version has support for a new tile mapping API (rainbow.ai) that enables highly accurate weather radar using industry standard tile mapping.

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is no longer functional. You will need to visit the new API's website and obtain a free API key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup. After obtaining your free API key, you can either edit your lwsdoor.ini file and add your API key and switch the line that reads RadarTileAPI=V to read RadarTileAPI=R or you can download version 2.1, that only supports the new radar API from my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or the website at firesidebbs.com.

Also, I'm about to release a new free door game called Shut The Box, I'll post more later.

Thanks everyone,
Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is no longer functional. You will need to visit the new API's website and
obtain a free API key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup. After obtaining your free API key, you can either edit your lwsdoor.ini file
and add your API key and switch the line that reads RadarTileAPI=V to
read RadarTileAPI=R or you can download version 2.1, that only supports the new radar API from my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or the website at

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. Not sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

... My software never has bugs. It just develops random features...

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Lunatics Unleashed BBS (21:3/135)

I've released version 2.1 of the AI-WX Weather Door and it's available on m BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or on the website at firesidebbs.com. This ver has support for a new tile mapping API (rainbow.ai) that enables highly accurate weather radar using industry standard tile mapping.

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is no long functional. You will need to visit the new API's website and obtain a free key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup. After obtaining your free API k you can either edit your lwsdoor.ini file and add your API key and switch t line that reads RadarTileAPI=V to read RadarTileAPI=R or you can download version 2.1, that only supports the new radar API from my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or the website at firesidebbs.com.

Any chance of getting it to work with .net 4. and not 4.8.1?

... I just need enough to tide me over until I need more.

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Cozmo to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 12:44 pm

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is no longer functional. You will need to visit the new API's website and obtain a free API key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup. After

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. Not sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

Currently, rainbow.ai is the only other reasonable option for the radar data. Even though it asks for your credit card, there is no charge for using the API if you do not exceed the free limit. I can say this, I hit the API extremely hard while developing, implementing and testing their API and I never got close to exceeding the free limit cap. They also have a nice dashboard where you can see how much data you have used. I've had their service for a few months now and I feel confortable recommending them as a legit and professional service.

Hope this helps,

Vince Jacobs aka Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Exodus to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 03:14 pm

I've released version 2.1 of the AI-WX Weather Door and it's available on m BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or on the website at firesidebbs.com. This

Any chance of getting it to work with .net 4. and not 4.8.1?

Which OS are you using? I have a version that works under Windows 7/8 that uses .Net Framework 4.8 if you install a helper app on another networked machine running a more modern OS that makes the actual API calls and relays it to the door. Any .Net Framework version lower than 4.8.1 will not natively work with modern APIs, hence the need to the helper app to do the relaying.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Cozmo to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 12:44 pm

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. Not sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

More and more "free" APIs are moving in this direction. This is why I'm no longer working on projects that fetch data from remote sources. They're too unpredictable, in all sorts of ways.

|08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|15 Ü|07 Ü |08Ü |11codefenix |08³
|15 Û|07ÛÛÛ|08Û |09ConstructiveChaos BBS |08³
|15 Þ|07ÜÛÜ|08Ý |01conchaos.synchro.net |08³ |08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|07
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Win32
* Origin: -=[conchaos.synchro.net | ConstructiveChaos BBS]=- (21:4/141)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Codefenix to Cozmo on Fri Jan 02 2026 04:31 pm

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Cozmo to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 12:44 pm

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. Not sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

More and more "free" APIs are moving in this direction. This is why I'm no longer working on projects that fetch data from remote sources. They're too unpredictable, in all sorts of ways.

Did you not just get this echo message from a remote source? ;) Coding on projects that use APIs does require a commitment that some dev's just don't want to hassle with. It is the nature of the beast, however, I'm committed to the maintenance and success of AI-WX. That is why there was already a Plan B in place to swap over to a different API for the radar data that was beta tested by my team well in advance.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Which OS are you using? I have a version that works under Windows 7/8 that uses .Net Framework 4.8 if you install a helper app on another networked machine running a more modern OS that makes the actual API calls and relays

32bit Win7. The BBS is by itself, I don't want it to be dependent on another machine for anything. :(

Thanks tho. Like what you did with it from what I see on other boards.

... Of course it's safe. Go on in, I'll be right behind you.

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Lonewolf to Codefenix on Fri Jan 02 2026 04:19 pm

Did you not just get this echo message from a remote source?

Sure, and FTN hubs have been known to go down from time to time, or go dark entirely. It's a false equivalency though, since I don't need a credit card on file to use them, which was Cozmo's point.

|08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|15 Ü|07 Ü |08Ü |11codefenix |08³
|15 Û|07ÛÛÛ|08Û |09ConstructiveChaos BBS |08³
|15 Þ|07ÜÛÜ|08Ý |01conchaos.synchro.net |08³ |08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|07
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Win32
* Origin: -=[conchaos.synchro.net | ConstructiveChaos BBS]=- (21:4/141)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Codefenix to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 06:14 pm

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Lonewolf to Codefenix on Fri Jan 02 2026 04:19 pm

Did you not just get this echo message from a remote source?

Sure, and FTN hubs have been known to go down from time to time, or go dark entirely. It's a false equivalency though, since I don't need a credit card on file to use them, which was Cozmo's point.

Right, but Cozmo's point kinda got turned into all API's and remote sources are bad.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Exodus to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 06:39 pm

Which OS are you using? I have a version that works under Windows 7/8 that uses .Net Framework 4.8 if you install a helper app on another networked machine running a more modern OS that makes the actual API calls and relays

32bit Win7. The BBS is by itself, I don't want it to be dependent on another machine for anything. :(
Thanks tho. Like what you did with it from what I see on other boards.

Thanks and no prob. FYI, the wxrelayapi app works great on machines that are just sitting around, like an old Raspberry Pi or something. Again, the relay is only needed when AI-WX is running on Win 7/8 machines.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Thanks and no prob. FYI, the wxrelayapi app works great on machines that ar just sitting around, like an old Raspberry Pi or something. Again, the rela is only needed when AI-WX is running on Win 7/8 machines.

I made the wife a promise years ago when I took it from a VM to a real machine that I would only keep the BBS on the BBS machine. One thing keeping me from setting up and ol wildcat instance for doors, as it needs port 23 to run, which I run renegade from. I could do a VM, but I don't want that overhead just sitting there doing nothing and from the take on my mpls, java, and majorbbs dooes, none of them get played ...

:(

... Headline: War dims hope for peace.

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

I've released version 2.1 of the AI-WX Weather Door and it's available
on my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or on the website at firesidebbs.com. This version has support for a new tile mapping API (rainbow.ai) that enables highly accurate weather radar using industry standard tile mapping.

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is no longer functional. You will need to visit the new API's website and
obtain a free API key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup. After obtaining your free API key, you can either edit your lwsdoor.ini file
and add your API key and switch the line that reads RadarTileAPI=V to
read RadarTileAPI=R or you can download version 2.1, that only supports the new radar API from my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or the website at firesidebbs.com.

I didn't upgrade last time, and noticed the newer version WAS better. Can you possibly suggest to sysOps the BEST API settings to use? Is it now the new Rainbow thingy??

I need to get updated to the newest version - just didn't want to bork my old config.



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: paulie420 to Lonewolf on Fri Jan 02 2026 06:01 pm

I've released version 2.1 of the AI-WX Weather Door and it's available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or on the website at firesidebbs.com. This version has support for a new tile mapping API (rainbow.ai) that enables highly accurate weather radar using industry standard tile mapping.

I didn't upgrade last time, and noticed the newer version WAS better. Can you possibly suggest to sysOps the BEST API settings to use? Is it now the new Rainbow thingy??
I need to get updated to the newest version - just didn't want to bork my old config.

The best thing to do is to save a copy of your old lwsdoor.ini file and then delete all of the previous version's files from whatever folder you have them in and then unzip the new version into that folder. Then just copy the matching settings from the old lwsdoor.ini file to the new one. Some old settings are gone and a few new ones exist, but the .ini is well commented to guide you. And yes, the new rainbow.ai API is now the default, so the new lwsdoor.ini file has a line for your rainbow.ai API Key. That should get you upgraded quickly.

Thanks!

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

On 02 Jan 26 15:02:07, Lonewolf said the following to Exodus:

Which OS are you using? I have a version that works under Windows 7/8 that uses .Net Framework 4.8 if you install a helper app on another networked machine running a more modern OS that makes the actual API calls and relays

I understand and appreciate what you're doing.... I really do... but theres just "something" to me about a BBS door that requires Dot Net Anything or any suggestion of a Rube Goldberg setup.

A single native Win32 executable door that is small, slick and doesn't require any additional OS dependancies would be most awesome, and can run on ANY version of Windows.

I use Wget on Windows XP to hatch weather updates to Fidonet...

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

I use Wget on Windows XP to hatch weather updates to Fidonet...

I am guessing that in order to get the live radar working, something this simple would not work. I suspect that is what the API is for. I agree
that for your average door it sounds like a little much, but I don't think anyone has ever attempted anything this graphic or "real time" before.

---
þ SLMR 2.1a þ "Television! Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover..." - Homer
* Origin: Capitol City Online (21:1/175)

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. No sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

-=Cozmo=-

Currently, rainbow.ai is the only other reasonable option for the radar data. Even though it asks for your credit card, there is no charge for using the API if you do not exceed the free limit. I can say this, I hit the API extremely hard while developing, implementing and testing their API and I never got close to exceeding the free limit cap. They also
have a nice dashboard where you can see how much data you have used.
I've had their service for a few months now and I feel confortable recommending them as a legit and professional service.

Hope this helps,

Thanks! i'll give it a go.

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

... Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Lunatics Unleashed BBS (21:3/135)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Atreyu to Lonewolf on Sat Jan 03 2026 07:55 am

I understand and appreciate what you're doing.... I really do... but theres just "something" to me about a BBS door that requires Dot Net Anything or any suggestion of a Rube Goldberg setup.

A single native Win32 executable door that is small, slick and doesn't require any additional OS dependancies would be most awesome, and can run on ANY version of Windows.

I understand and I feel the same way, but the reality is, a .NET Framework is already part of Windows and in order to access modern end points a certain version of TLS within that .NET Framework is required that isn't available in older Windows versions. I wish that wasn't the case.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

More and more "free" APIs are moving in this direction. This is why I'm
no longer working on projects that fetch data from remote sources.
They're too unpredictable, in all sorts of ways.

I just don't like to give Credit card info. I get why they're doing it incase you go over the limit, but still...

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

... Help! I can't find the "ANY" key.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Lunatics Unleashed BBS (21:3/135)

Hello Cozmo,

03 Jan 26 12:05, you wrote to Codefenix:

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free
API key. sure I want to do that for something thats free.
Any work around? More and more "free" APIs are moving in
this direction. This is why I'm

no longer working on projects that fetch data from remote
sources. They're too unpredictable, in all sorts of ways.

I just don't like to give Credit card info. I get why they're doing it incase you go over the limit, but still...

just a tought:
with revolut you can create a virtual credit card for these stuff and limit the cards spending limit to $1.

if anyone needs revolut we both receive 22.500 huf (~60 eur/70 usd) with
my shameless invitation link: https://revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=daniel06x!DEC2-25-AR-H3&geo-redirec t


ByEbYe
--
Daniel

telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

... Uptime: 7d 6h 57m 35s
--- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
* Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)

Hey Lonewolf!

On Fri, Jan 02 2026 05:08:00 -0600, you wrote:

NOTE: The previous radar API (rainviewer) has been sunsetted and is
no longer functional. You will need to visit the new API's website
and obtain a free API key at https://developer.rainbow.ai/signup.
After obtaining your free API key, you can either edit your
lwsdoor.ini file and add your API key and switch the line that reads RadarTileAPI=V to read RadarTileAPI=R or you can download version
2.1, that only supports the new radar API from my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 or the website at firesidebbs.com.

What all is this going to affect? For example, if I were to continue using the "V" option and all of a sudden they shut it down, is the entire app basically turned into a useless paperweight? As of right now everything still seems to work fine.

Do they have a date where they're going to shut it down?

I don't plan on putting my credit card information on a random website I'll probably never visit again, just for a free API key. So I'm trying to figure out my options, and how much time I have left to do so.

Otherwise, thanks for the heads up!

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
--- SBBSecho 3.34-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/700)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Accession to Lonewolf on Mon Jan 05 2026 05:54 pm

Hey Lonewolf!

On Fri, Jan 02 2026 05:08:00 -0600, you wrote:

What all is this going to affect? For example, if I were to continue using the "V" option and all of a sudden they shut it down, is the entire app basically turned into a useless paperweight? As of right now everything still seems to work fine.

Do they have a date where they're going to shut it down?

I don't plan on putting my credit card information on a random website I'll probably never visit again, just for a free API key. So I'm trying to figure out my options, and how much time I have left to do so.

Otherwise, thanks for the heads up!

Regards,
Nick

Rainviewer.com is still supporting the API endpoints that AI-WX consumes and switching to the other rainbow.ai option is no longer mandatory. But to answer one of your questions, rainviewer is only used for the radar and nothing
else. So you can leave your settings as is and everthing still works as before since rainviewer.com is still providing the endpoints we consume.

I had created a version 2.1 that removed rainviewer, but that was in error because their news release was confusing and made it sound like they were discontueing the endpoints AI-WX consumes on 01/01/26. But that does not seem to be the case as it appears the endpoints they discontinued were tiling endpoints AI-WX does not use.

I'm creating a new 2.2 build that adds the rainviewer.com API back in, as well as all the enhancements that 2.1 has. This build will be available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com23231 tomorrow morning (01/06/26).

Sorry to everyone for the confusion.

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Re: Re: AI-WX Weather Door
By: Cozmo to Lonewolf on Sat Jan 03 2026 12:03 pm

That site is asking me for my credit card info for the free API key. No sure I want to do that for something thats free. Any work around?

-=Cozmo=-

Currently, rainbow.ai is the only other reasonable option for the radar data. Even though it asks for your credit card, there is no charge for using the API if you do not exceed the free limit. I can say this, I hit the API extremely hard while developing, implementing and testing their API and I never got close to exceeding the free limit cap. They

Thanks! i'll give it a go.

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

Cozmo,

I believe the current rainviewer.com API is still available. They had sent out a new release stating they were discontueing some endpoints 01/01/26, but it appears that does not affect the radar in AI-WX. So you should be able to still use the rainviewer.com API (the one that doesn't ask for a credit card).

I have a new version 2.2 of AI-WX available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 that reinstates the rainviewer.com API option within the .ini file as in...
; Radar tile API to use R=rainbow.ai API, V=Rain Viewer API
RadarTileAPI=V

Hope this info helps,

Lonewolf
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Win32
* Origin: Fireside BBS:23231 AI-WX Weather Door (21:3/223)

Hey Lonewolf!

On Mon, Jan 05 2026 20:45:15 -0600, you wrote:

Rainviewer.com is still supporting the API endpoints that AI-WX
consumes and switching to the other rainbow.ai option is no longer
mandatory. But to answer one of your questions, rainviewer is only
used for the radar and nothing else. So you can leave your settings
as is and everthing still works as before since rainviewer.com is
still providing the endpoints we consume.

That's great news, and thank you for the explanation!

I'm creating a new 2.2 build that adds the rainviewer.com API back
in, as well as all the enhancements that 2.1 has. This build will be available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com23231 tomorrow morning
(01/06/26).

I'll be by to grab v2.2 then, and will bypass v2.1. Thanks!

Sorry to everyone for the confusion.

No worries. You were only going by the information you had at the time. The clarification was definitely helpful and I appreciate you staying on top of it to give us the latest information.

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
--- SBBSecho 3.34-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/700)

I believe the current rainviewer.com API is still available. They had
sent out a new release stating they were discontueing some endpoints 01/01/26, but it appears that does not affect the radar in AI-WX. So you should be able to still use the rainviewer.com API (the one that doesn't ask for a credit card).

I have a new version 2.2 of AI-WX available on my BBS at firesidebbs.com:23231 that reinstates the rainviewer.com API option
within the .ini file as in... ; Radar tile API to use R=rainbow.ai API, V=Rain Viewer API RadarTileAPI=V

Hope this info helps,

Awesome! Thank You!

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

... Confucius say: "Man who runs behind car gets exhausted"

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Lunatics Unleashed BBS (21:3/135)