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METAR through texts

I saw an article about obtaining METARS by text. By texting 358-782 and placing an M followed by the identifier in the text message it will return the current METAR. The dash must be in the texted number.

Question is how does one make the phone leave the dash in the number? My phone is an Samsung Android phone.
 
yep, 358782 works without the - Also text message like: METAR KVPC PT to get it in plain text .

Substitute TAF for Metar and you can get TAFs , Or better yet substitute MT for METAR and you will get both
 
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Thanks, I couldn’t get it to work this morning trying to enter the dash. The article emphasized put in the dash. Worked fine just now without.
 
Off-topic

This discussion reminded me of a favorite cfi ‘quiz question’: even if current, the METAR will usually disagree with the ATIS. Why?
Hint. Note that I live in CA.
 
I have an app that will show both the Metars & TAFs both in raw data & translated to plain english, including local time.

"Aviation Pro Weather"

Takes all the work out and makes me lazy.

re: the CFI quiz question, I'd guess that it's because the METAR is computerized and pretty much instantaneous (ending code A02= automated recording equipment, no human intervention), but the ATIS is typically recorded by a dude in the tower whenever theres a significant change or when he gets bored, so it's not as minute by minute.

Did I win?
 
I’ve been using Aviation Pro Weather for years. Great app. Was even able to get weather in Central America when we were flying charter down there.
 
You can also get Plain Text

T KWHP PT

and you'll get T erminal reports from the nearest bigger airport, in my case... KBUR

M KWHP will get you raw format, not plain text format.
 
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Google

A number of years ago, one could use the T9 number for google (466453), and send a message for a METAR. I forget what format they wanted since I haven't used it in quite some time. Nowadays, I just use cellular data to access weather websites.

There's also this really neat app available on our smartphones called "Phone". We can call a flight service station and receive a weather briefing from a flight service specialist. It's a real live human who specializes in providing flight services, including weather briefings, to pilots. :D
 
A number of years ago, one could use the T9 number for google (466453), and send a message for a METAR. I forget what format they wanted since I haven't used it in quite some time. Nowadays, I just use cellular data to access weather websites.

There's also this really neat app available on our smartphones called "Phone". We can call a flight service station and receive a weather briefing from a flight service specialist. It's a real live human who specializes in providing flight services, including weather briefings, to pilots. :D

Tried calling flight service a few months ago to cover my butt just before a POTUS TFR at our airport. Spent 20 minutes going through menus and on hold and gave up. Flew anyway after getting a ForeFlight briefing emailed to me.
 
Wow thanks for posting this. I had no idea there was a number I could text to get this info.
 
Tried calling flight service a few months ago to cover my butt just before a POTUS TFR at our airport. Spent 20 minutes going through menus and on hold and gave up. Flew anyway after getting a ForeFlight briefing emailed to me.

That's really quite unfortunate to hear. Canadian flight service wait on hold is a few minutes at most.
 
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