OpenWX
-

User Manual

Benutzerhandbuch

Comprehensive Guide for Radiosonde Tracking & Analysis

Overview

OpenWX is a comprehensive web-based platform for tracking and analyzing radiosondes (weather balloons) in real-time. The system provides detailed information about radiosonde flights, including trajectory predictions, landing locations, and historical data analysis.

Key Features

  • Real-time Tracking
    Live position updates every 5-60 seconds
  • Historical Data
    Access to complete flight archives
  • Trajectory Prediction
    Landing point forecasts using atmospheric models
  • Advanced Search
    Query sondes by date, location, or ID
  • Statistics
    Comprehensive data analysis and visualizations
  • Chase Tracking
    Personal recovery statistics and rankings
  • Gateway Network
    Distributed receiver infrastructure monitoring
  • Mobile PWA
    Dedicated mobile app at app.openwx.de
Getting Started: Start by exploring the interactive map, then enable live tracking to see active sondes in real-time. Register an account to access advanced features and personal statistics.

Map Features

The interactive map is the core of OpenWX, displaying radiosonde positions, trajectories, and landing locations.

OpenWX Interactive Map

Map Controls

Navigation
  • Pan: Click and drag to move the map
  • Zoom: Use mouse wheel, double-click, or +/- buttons
  • Full Extent: Click in Sitetools menu to zoom to all data
  • Context Menu: Right-click on map features for additional options

Map Control Icons

The top-left corner of the map provides quick access to essential map functions:

Icon Function Description
Home / Location Centers the map on your current location. Requires location permission to be enabled in your browser.
Start Livetracking Mode Currently active radiosondes are tracked in real-time. Click to start live tracking mode.
Settings Opens the settings menu to customize map appearance, units, notifications, and other preferences.
Bookmarks Manage your saved sonde bookmarks. View, organize, export and import bookmarked sonde locations with notes.

Marker Types

Icon Type Description
Red Parachute Recent landing (< 6 hours old). Click to view flight details and track.
Grey Parachute Older landing (> 6 hours old). Historical sonde location.
Green Parachute Live sonde currently descending. Updates in real-time.
Balloon Live sonde currently ascending. Watch it climb!
Burst Marker Point where balloon burst. Shows maximum altitude achieved.

Track Lines

Blue Solid Line
Historical flight trajectory from completed flights.

Orange Dashed Line
Gap filler connecting historical and live data.

Green Solid Line
Live tracking path showing current movement.

Interactive Search & Popup Windows

To search for a probe, enter the probe ID or other relevant information into the search field:

Interactive Popup Windows

The probe will be highlighted and displayed with an orange track, in addition to the probes already shown on the map. Click on a marker to open a detailed popup:

  • Sonde ID - Unique identifier and type (RS41, DFM, etc.)
  • Date & Time - Latest telemetry timestamp
  • Frequency - Transmission frequency in MHz
  • Climb - Climb rate in meters per second
  • Coordinates - Precise latitude/longitude
  • Altitude - Current/max/landing altitude
Pro Tip: When you are logged in, additional features and detailed information are available. Create an account to access personalized settings, chase statistics, and more in-depth sonde data like QR-code fast link, chase and logging options and direct mapping app download.
Sonde Search QR Code

Historical probes on the map will be displayed with a blue track. Click on a marker to open a detailed info popup:

Sonde Details

Map Layers

OpenWX provides multiple map layers that can be toggled on/off using the layer control in the bottom-left corner of the map.

Base Layers

OpenStreetMap Standard street map view with detailed labels and roads
Satellite High-resolution satellite imagery from various providers
Topographic Terrain map showing elevation contours and physical features
Dark Mode Dark theme map, ideal for night viewing

Overlay Layers

Sonde Data Layers
  • Latest Sondes - Recent landings
  • Live Sondes - Active flights
  • Burst Markers - Balloon burst points
  • Historical Tracks - Past flight paths
Location Markers
  • Meteo Launch Sites - Weather service stations
  • Military Sites - Military/special launches
  • Temporary Sites - Amateur launches
  • Gateways - Receiver station locations
Weather Layers
  • Rain Radar - Precipitation overlay
  • Wind Arrows - Wind direction/speed
  • Temperature - Temperature map
  • Clouds - Cloud cover
Prediction Layers
  • Prediction Paths - Forecast trajectories
  • Landing Zones - Predicted landing areas
  • Wind Model - Atmospheric wind data

Layer Management

Layer Control Panel:

  • Click the layer icon in the top-right corner
  • Select base map from radio buttons
  • Check/uncheck overlay layers as needed
  • Layers are saved to your browser and persist across sessions
Performance Note: Enabling too many overlay layers simultaneously may impact map performance, especially on mobile devices. Disable unused layers for optimal performance.

Settings

Access the Settings menu via the icon in the site navigation menu.

Map Display Settings

  • Default Map View
    Set your preferred starting location and zoom level
  • Marker Style
    Choose between different icon sets and colors
  • Layer Defaults
    Configure which layers load automatically
  • Age Threshold
    Customize when markers change from red to grey

Live Tracking Settings

Update Frequency

Configure how often live data refreshes (default: 5-60 seconds). Lower values provide more real-time updates but increase data usage.

Notifications
  • New Launches: Alert when new sondes are detected
  • Burst Events: Notify when balloons burst
  • Nearby Landings: Alert for landings within specified distance
  • Sound Effects: Enable/disable audio notifications

Display Units

Measurement Available Units
Altitude Meters (m), Feet (ft), Flight Levels (FL)
Distance Kilometers (km), Miles (mi), Nautical Miles (NM)
Speed km/h, mph, knots, m/s
Coordinates Decimal Degrees (DD), Degrees Minutes (DM), Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS)

Advanced Settings

  • Data Caching: Enable local storage to reduce server load
  • Track Simplification: Reduce displayed points for better performance
  • Auto-zoom: Automatically zoom to new live sondes
  • Cluster Markers: Group nearby markers at low zoom levels
Settings Storage: Click on settings to save them to your browser's local storage and synced to your user account (if logged in) for access across devices.

Live View & Tracking

The Live View feature provides real-time tracking of active radiosonde flights with automatic updates every 5-60 seconds.

Activating Live Tracking

  1. Click the Play button in the top-left corner of the map
  2. The button changes to Pause indicating live mode is active
  3. A status panel appears in the top-right showing active sonde count
  4. Green markers and track lines appear for live sondes
Live Sonde Tracking

Live Tracking Indicators

Ascending Phase
  • Balloon icon
  • Green track line showing upward path
  • Altitude increasing
  • Positive climb rate displayed
Descending Phase
  • Green parachute icon
  • Burst marker at peak
  • Altitude decreasing
  • Negative climb rate (descent rate)

Real-Time Data Display

Each live sonde popup shows constantly updating information:

Last Update Timestamp of most recent telemetry
Position Current latitude, longitude coordinates
Altitude Current height above sea level
Climb Rate Vertical speed (+ ascending, - descending)
Ground Speed Horizontal speed across ground
Heading Direction of travel in degrees

Status Control Panel

Live Status Display

A floating panel in the top-right corner shows:

  • Active Sondes: Number of currently flying radiosondes
  • Last Update: Time of most recent data refresh
  • Connection Status: Indicator showing data stream status
  • Refresh Toggle: Pause/resume automatic updates

Automatic Predictions

When a live sonde descends below 5,000 meters, OpenWX automatically generates a landing prediction:

  • Predicted Path shown as polyline from current position
  • Landing Marker placed at estimated touchdown point
  • Updates every 30 seconds as sonde descends
  • Distance to Landing displayed in popup
Important: Predictions are estimates based on atmospheric models. Actual landing location may vary due to wind changes, terrain effects, or sonde behavior. Always use predictions as a guide, not absolute truth.
Mobile App: For optimal chase experience on mobile devices, use our dedicated Progressive Web App at app.openwx.de - optimized for field use with offline capabilities.

Dashboard Display

When live tracking is enabled, an interactive dashboard appears showing all active sondes in a Grafana-style tile layout.

Dashboard Layout

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard gives a comprehensive overview of the telemetry and PTU data of a current radiosonde trajectory. The responsive layout is dynamically and adopts to different screen sizes on mobile devices, like Tablets and Smartphones.

Dashboard Compact View

Each sonde is displayed in its own tile containing real-time telemetry:

T4132719

Freq: 403.500 MHz
Alt: 12,450 m
Speed: 85 km/h
Climb: +5.2 m/s

Tile Features:

  • Sonde ID as header
  • Frequency in MHz
  • Color-coded altitude (green=ascending, red=descending)
  • Ground speed in km/h
  • Climb rate in m/s
  • Click to center map on sonde

Color Coding

Green Text Ascending sonde (positive climb rate)
Red Text Descending sonde (negative climb rate)
Blue Icons Standard telemetry data (frequency, speed)

Dashboard Interactions

  • Click Tile - Centers map on selected sonde and opens popup
  • Auto Update - All tiles refresh automatically every 5-60 seconds
  • Auto Sort - Sondes sorted by altitude (highest first)
  • Hide/Show - Dashboard can be toggled via layer control
Dashboard Visibility: The dashboard remains visible even when the "Live Sondes" layer is toggled off in the layer control. This allows you to monitor telemetry while viewing other map layers.

Mobile Dashboard

On mobile devices, the dashboard adapts to smaller screens:

  • Single column layout for better readability
  • Swipe gestures to scroll through tiles
  • Larger tap targets for easier interaction
  • Collapsible to maximize map viewing area

User Registration

Create a free account to unlock advanced features, track your chase statistics, and access personalized settings.

Registration Process

  1. Click Login in the Sitetools menu
  2. Click "Register" tab in the login dialog
  3. Fill out the registration form with required information:
  4. Registration Signup

    The registration is only available for amateur radio license holders. Our service can also be used without any registration for non-licensed radiosonde enthusiasts.

  5. Check your email for verification link
  6. Click verification link to activate your account
  7. Log in with your credentials

Required Information

Display Name Name shown publicly in rankings and statistics
Callsign/Username Unique identifier (amateur radio callsign required)
Email Address Valid email for account verification and notifications
Password Secure password (minimum 8 characters)

Optional Information

  • Location: Your city/region for nearby sonde alerts
  • Avatar: Profile picture (supports Gravatar)
  • Language Preference: English or German interface
  • Gateway Association: Link to your receiver station

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Enhanced Security (Optional)

Enable 2FA in your profile settings for additional account protection:

  1. Install an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
  2. Scan the QR code displayed in profile settings
  3. Enter the 6-digit code to verify setup
  4. Save backup codes in a secure location

After activating 2FA, you will be prompted to enter a code from your authenticator app each time you log in.

Two-Factor Authentication Setup

If after activating 2FA you encounter issues or your device is lost or damaged, you can use the backup codes to log in.

Benefits of Registration

  • Chase Statistics
    Track your sonde recoveries and rankings
  • Saved Searches
    Store and quickly access favorite queries
  • Custom Alerts
    Configure personalized notifications
  • Settings Sync
    Access your preferences on any device
  • Data Sharing
    Contribute to community statistics
  • API Access
    Developer access to OpenWX data
Privacy: We respect your privacy. Email addresses are never shared publicly. You control what information is visible to other users via profile settings.

User Profile & Settings

Access your profile by clicking your username in the top navigation bar (when logged in).

Profile Information

Personal Details
  • Display Name: Name shown in rankings and statistics
  • Callsign: Amateur radio callsign or unique identifier
  • Email Address: Contact email (private)
  • Avatar: Profile picture (Gravatar supported)

  • Location: City/region for distance calculations (optional under Station)
User Profile

Profile Settings

Language & Localization
  • Interface Language: English or German
  • Time Zone: Local time display
  • Date Format: Regional date preferences
  • Unit System: Metric or Imperial
Privacy Settings
  • Profile Visibility: Public or private
  • Share Sondes: Contribute to database
  • Show Location: Display your region
  • Ranking Visibility: Include in leaderboards

Gateway Association

If you operate a radiosonde receiver/gateway, link it to your profile:

  1. Enter your gateway identifier (e.g., "GATEWAY01")
  2. Provide gateway location coordinates
  3. Select antenna type and receiver hardware
  4. Configure sharing preferences
Gateway Benefits: Linked gateways appear on the map with your name, contribute to network statistics, and earn you additional ranking points for sondes received.

Security Settings

  • Change Password
    Update your account password anytime
  • Enable 2FA
    Add two-factor authentication for enhanced security
  • Session History
    View recent login activity and locations
  • Logout All Devices
    Remotely sign out from all sessions

API Access

Developer API Key

Generate an API key to access OpenWX data programmatically:

  1. Navigate to Profile → API Access
  2. Click "Generate New API Key"
  3. Copy and securely store your key
  4. Use in HTTP headers: X-API-Key: your_key_here

API Documentation: Available at /api/docs

Security Warning: Keep your API key private. Never share it publicly or commit it to version control. If compromised, regenerate immediately from your profile.

Account Management

  • Export Data: Download all your data in JSON format
  • Email Preferences: Configure notification settings
  • Account Deletion: Permanently delete your account and data

Chase Statistics

Track your radiosonde recovery achievements and compete on global leaderboards.

Chase Statistics

Personal Statistics

Recovery Counts
  • Total Sondes Recovered: All-time count
  • This Year: Current year recoveries
  • This Month: Current month recoveries
  • Unique Types: Different sonde models found
  • Recovery Rate: Percentage of tracked sondes recovered
Geographic Stats
  • Countries: Number of countries with recoveries
  • Regions: Different geographic areas covered
  • Farthest Recovery: Distance from home location
  • Coverage Area: Total area of recoveries
Distance Records
  • Total Distance Traveled: Cumulative chase distance
  • Longest Chase: Farthest distance for single recovery
  • Average Chase Distance: Typical recovery distance
  • Closest Recovery: Nearest sonde found
Timing Stats
  • Fastest Recovery: Quickest time from landing to recovery
  • Average Recovery Time: Typical duration
  • Most Active Month: Month with most recoveries
  • Chase Streak: Consecutive successful recoveries

Some of these features are still under development and not yet available for historical data.

Achievements & Badges

Chase Rankings and Achievements

Earn badges for special accomplishments:

First Recovery

Found your first radiosonde

Collector

Recovered 10 different sonde types

Globetrotter

Recoveries in 5+ countries

Speed Demon

Recovery within 30 min of landing

On Fire

10 consecutive successful recoveries

Century Club

100+ total recoveries

Global Leaderboards

Compare your stats with other chasers here on OpenWX:

Ranking Categories
  • Most Recoveries: Total number of sondes found
  • This Year: Current year rankings
  • This Month: Current month rankings
  • Rare Finds: Unusual or special sonde types recovered
  • Distance Champion: Farthest total chase distance
  • Quick Draw: Fastest average recovery time
Privacy Control: You can opt out of public leaderboards in your profile privacy settings. Your personal statistics are always private unless you choose to share them.

Recovery Documentation

Log your sonde finds with detailed information:

  • Photos: Upload images of recovered sondes (under development)
  • Location: GPS coordinates of find
  • Notes: Recovery story and details
  • Condition: Sonde damage assessment (under development)
  • Components: What parts were recovered
Community Sharing: Share your recovery stories and photos with the community. Interesting finds may be featured on the OpenWX homepage (under development).

Map Legend

For complete map legend information including landing markers, live tracking indicators, dashboard display, and trajectory prediction features, click "Show Legend" in the Sitetools menu or see the overview sections above.

Map Legend
The interactive Map Legend provides detailed visual reference for:
  • All marker types and their meanings
  • Track line styles and colors
  • Live tracking indicators
  • Dashboard telemetry display
  • Prediction visualization

Keyword Index & Search Terms

Quick reference of all major features, tools, and concepts covered in this manual:

Radiosonde Weather Balloon Sonde Tracking Live View Real-time Tracking Dashboard Telemetry Trajectory Prediction Landing Forecast TAWHIRI Map Layers Gateway Receiver Network AutoRX Chase Statistics Recovery Leaderboards Sonde Types RS41 DFM M10 M20 Burst Altitude Landing Altitude Low Landing Frequency Climb Rate Ground Speed Launch Sites Meteo Sites Military Sites APRS OpenWebRX TTGO Query Sondes Nearby Search Advanced Search Date Filter Location Filter Altitude Filter Export Data CSV Export JSON Export KML Export GPX Export User Profile Registration Two-Factor Authentication 2FA API Access Settings Language Units Metric Imperial Statuscheck Predictor Groundstation Sondehunter Mobile App PWA Progressive Web App app.openwx.de Statistics Charts Line Chart Bar Chart Radar Chart Database Statistics Gateway Rankings Top Gateways Active Gateways Achievements Badges Recovery Documentation Photo Upload Coordinates Latitude Longitude GPS Navigation Map Markers Parachute Icon Balloon Icon Burst Marker Track Lines Flight Path Ascent Phase Descent Phase Live Status Update Frequency Notifications Alerts Context Menu Right-click Popup Windows Layer Control Base Layers Overlay Layers OpenStreetMap Satellite View Topographic Map Dark Mode Weather Layers Rain Radar Wind Arrows Temperature Map Cloud Cover Atmospheric Model GFS Model Wind Model Landing Zone Prediction Path Ascent Rate Descent Rate Parachute Type Payload Weight Flight Duration Horizontal Distance Coverage Area Reception Range Success Rate Frame Count Telemetry Data Data Quality Archive Historical Data Legacy Data Community Data Sharing Privacy Settings Account Management Email Verification Password Reset Session Management Auto-zoom Cluster Markers Performance Caching Offline Mode Battery Saving Chase Mode Voice Navigation Turn-by-turn Field Operation

Common Search Queries

  • "How to track live sondes"
  • "Enable real-time tracking"
  • "Find nearby radiosondes"
  • "Predict landing location"
  • "Search for sonde by ID"
  • "View historical flights"
  • "Register account OpenWX"
  • "Setup gateway receiver"
  • "Mobile app installation"
  • "Chase statistics leaderboard"
  • "Export sonde data CSV"
  • "Enable two-factor authentication"
  • "Change map base layer"
  • "View burst altitude statistics"
  • "Find low landing sondes"
  • "Gateway rankings
  • "API access documentation"
  • "Offline map caching"
  • "Recovery photo upload"
  • "System status check"

Manual Version: Loading...

info@openwx.de

Back to Map Top