By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor

This week, Surfin’ finds out which way the wind blows -- and which way the propagation flows -- at the revamped National Weather Service website.

As hams, we seem to be more interested in the weather than average people. Besides wanting to know what's falling out of the sky and when, we follow the weather because it affects radio propagation in both a negative and positive manner depending on the weather.

As a result, I have a weather-related website open in my web browser at all times, that is, the website of the National Weather Service.

The service completely revamped their website and revealed the new design a few days ago. All the features that I used in the past are still there, and there are new features galore; some I have already explored, some not yet.

If you have not visited the NWS site lately, you will be pleasantly surprised, so check out weather.gov when you have an opportunity.

Windows Communications

Last time, I suggested PuTTY as a replacement for HyperTerminal, which had been jettisoned in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

In response to that, Paul Kirley, W8TM, wrote that Windows 7 does include a Telnet client that may serve as a replacement for HyperTerminal, depending on the user’s requirements. To install Windows 7 Telnet and to learn about its use, go to Telnet: frequently asked questions.

For the hackers, George Byrkit, K9TRV, mentioned that is is possible to copy HyperTerminal components from a Windows XP installation to run HyperTerminal on Windows 7. Brian’s How To describes how to do it.

A third alternative is to purchase HyperTerminal for Windows Vista or Windows 7 from Hilgraeve, the company that created and licensed HyperTerminal to Microsoft for Windows 95 through Windows XP.

Until next time, keep on surfin’!

Editor’s note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, seeks the unusual in radio. To contact Stan, send e-mail or add comments to the WA1LOU blog.