Can't Use Weather Apps without Wifi?

[durango]

Storm knocked out power tonight, so I lost my home Wifi capability (and of course my Dish TV reception). Since I was anxious to see the current weather (especially the radar maps), I went to my iPhone 6. The first thing I did was go to Settings and turn on Cellular Data, which then enabled LTE.

I then tried 7 different weather apps, including: AccuWeather, Intellicast, Weather Channel, NOAA Weather, and a local TV station weather app. None of these yielded useful data. I did get a couple of temp readings, but no radar maps and no storm warnings. But mostly I got error notices such as "This app requires Wifi", "Connection Time Out Error", etc.

What's going on? I thought Cellular Data setting would allow web browsing, to include app utilization. Admittedly, the only time I have used Cellular when I am away from Wifi is when I use a GPS app in my car going down the road.

So what part of Cellular capability don't I understand? Please educate me...

Thanks in advance

 

[pigoo3]

I then tried 7 different weather apps, including: AccuWeather, Intellicast, Weather Channel, NOAA Weather, and a local TV station weather app. None of these yielded useful data.

So what part of Cellular capability don't I understand? Please educate me...

My question back to you is. When your WiFi is working…what device do you usually use to get weather data?

The reason why I ask is. If these 7 weather apps you tried on your iPhone are NOT your regular weather data source. Maybe the weather data they provide is always less than what you expect. And you're only finding this out now when you're in a "compromised" situation with your WiFi & TV signal (Disk) are both out.

- It may not be a matter of the the of connection. It may be that the weather apps on the iPhone are just lacking or underpowered.
- OR. There are tons & tons of people doing EXACTLY the same thing you are (you're not the only person in your area in the same situation)…and the cellular system in your area is overloaded. Which is why your getting the timing out problem.

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

Hey durango old fella. Have to go way, way back to the 60's and stick the head out the window and check!

We have been having pretty damaging storms Down Under also mate. Must this Mexican guy El Nino!

 

[durango]

My question back to you is. When your WiFi is working…what device do you usually use to get weather data?

- Nick

Good question. I normally use my Win 7 PC when my Wifi is working. But now I'm anxious to try the iPhone weather apps when my Wifi is on. I also want to try it on my iPad, which doesn't have cellular. But I will need to do that in the morning, 'cause it's my bedtime.

But thanks for suggesting that I consider other scenarios. I'll report back the results in the morning.

 

[durango]

Hey durango old fella. Have to go way, way back to the 60's and stick the head out the window and check!

We have been having pretty damaging storms Down Under also mate. Must this Mexican guy El Nino!

Can't hang my head out the window.......it blows my hair around. Both of them............

 

[harryb2448]

You lucky devil!!!

 

[bobtomay]

Because most apps have their own individual setting that allows them to use cellular so that you can control which ones use your cellular data and which ones don't. Head to settings and scroll down the main page to find the app you want to allow cellular and turn it on.

 

[IWT]

Because most apps have their own individual setting that allows them to use cellular so that you can control which ones use your cellular data and which ones don't. Head to settings and scroll down the main page to find the app you want to allow cellular and turn it on.

Hi Durango

I know that what you said was:

The first thing I did was go to Settings and turn on Cellular Data, which then enabled LTE.

But what bobtomay is pointing out (and beat me to the punchline) is that there are two separate "cellular" settings. The one you activated, which is generic and then a separate "cellular" setting for each individual app, found under Settings>Name of App> where you find: ALLOW NAME OF APP TO ACCESS> Location; Notifications; Use Cellular Data (switch this one on).

Ian

 

[durango]

Because most apps have their own individual setting that allows them to use cellular so that you can control which ones use your cellular data and which ones don't. Head to settings and scroll down the main page to find the app you want to allow cellular and turn it on.

Thanks to you and Ian (IWT) for this response. This fact dawned on me during the power outage, so I checked all 7 weather apps and each was set to 'Use Cellular Data'. So I actually had both cellular settings turned on.

See my latest response to pigoo3 to see what I have later discovered.

 

[bobtomay]

In that case, would suggest the power was also out at the cell towers close to you - hence no service.

 

[durango]

My question back to you is. When your WiFi is working…what device do you usually use to get weather data?

The reason why I ask is. If these 7 weather apps you tried on your iPhone are NOT your regular weather data source. Maybe the weather data they provide is always less than what you expect. And you're only finding this out now when you're in a "compromised" situation with your WiFi & TV signal (Disk) are both out.

- It may not be a matter of the the of connection. It may be that the weather apps on the iPhone are just lacking or underpowered.
- OR. There are tons & tons of people doing EXACTLY the same thing you are (you're not the only person in your area in the same situation)…and the cellular system in your area is overloaded. Which is why your getting the timing out problem.

- Nick

OK, Nick - as promised, I did some experimenting this morning (results shown below). I have come to the conclusion that your thinking was correct.....the cellular system in my area was overloaded during the storm and power outage.

Here's what I did this morning during good weather (no storms and no power outage):
(1) With my Wifi turned on, I tried all 7 weather apps and got excellent results (radar maps, current conditions, forecasts, etc.). This was really the first time that I had done this, because as previously stated I normally use my Win 7 PC for weather data.
(2) I then went to Settings and turned Wifi off and Cellular Data on; I immediately noticed the LTE icon. I then repeated trying all 7 weather apps and again got the same excellent results.

So I conclude that my cellular system was indeed overloaded; I assume phone calls had higher priority with AT&T than did cellular data. All this is kinda disappointing to me, since I really need weather data when I don't have Wifi. But during the power outage, I was able to make phone calls and send messages on my iPhone......I just couldn't get the weather apps to work.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[durango]

In that case, would suggest the power was also out at the cell towers close to you - hence no service.

Good point. But since I was able to make phone calls and send messages, I'm suspecting overload. We are due another storm tonight, so if I lose power again, I will repeat my actions and see if I get same results.

 

[pigoo3]

So I conclude that my cellular system was indeed overloaded...

I thought maybe this was the case. With so many smartphones out there... people's dependence & addiction to the internet…and in your area only having a cellular network option during the storm…definitely shows the cell network can get overloaded.

The same thing happens with websites and the app store when Apple releases new products or a new version of the Mac OS or iOS. Apple.com and the App Store can get "locked-up" with so many folks trying to access these places at the same time.

Just in case. Don't forget…you could always go "old-school" and use a battery operated radio with a weather band on it. It's just basic weather info…but maybe better than nothing when you get into the situation you were yesterday.

- Nick

 

[durango]

Just in case. Don't forget…you could always go "old-school" and use a battery operated radio with a weather band on it. It's just basic weather info…but maybe better than nothing when you get into the situation you were yesterday.

- Nick

I'm old enough to go "old school", and I do have a battery operated weather radio. I also subscribe to two weather-alert call systems. So during yesterday's storm, my radio and both my phones (land and cell) were going off. I have all of this capability because I live in an area prone to tornados.

But nothing beats a good radar screen, so I can "see" what's coming. And that's what I was missing yesterday.

 

[pigoo3]

But nothing beats a good radar screen, so I can "see" what's coming. And that's what I was missing yesterday.

No disagreement there. The radar info can give you a better idea of your risk level during a storm.

But just as a point of discussion…what did you & your family do in the 50's and 60's when this sort of weather hit? This is mostly a rhetorical question. I pretty much know what everyone did. You basically "hunker-down"….hope for the best…and ride the storm out.

My point is…I think that we're "over-informed" these day's with all of the technology. We have more info (radar for example)…but what would you actually do differently in the same exact situation in the 1950's?

If there was the possibility of a tornado coming (1955 or 2015)…I'm guessing that you would just "hunker-down" and ride it out. Most folks don't jump in their car to outrun a tornado. Since tornado's are so unpredictable.

The radar info definitely helps let you know your risk level. But you're still going to stay in your house/basement…and just ride the storm out. Having that battery operated weather radio is definitely something to have.

- Nick

 

[durango]

Nick, in the 50s and 60s, we mainly looked at the sky and turned on the AM radio for storm information. At home, we would seek shelter in the interior of the house. Except when I was visiting my aunt/uncle in the farm country of central Texas. My aunt could sniff a storm when it was still 15 minutes away. My preference was then just to ride the storm out in the house. But oh no, my aunt made us all retreat down into that dusty, spider-infested, maybe-some-snakes storm cellar.

Today it's just me and my two dogs, and we retreat to the basement. My dogs are the ones who want to look at the radar screen.......I can do without.

 

[pigoo3]

But oh no, my aunt made us all retreat down into that dusty, spider-infested, maybe-some-snakes storm cellar.

Yes…I was going to mention the "storm-cellar". I can just picture the cobwebs, bugs/spiders, dust, and musty odor!

Just think of it. If Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz)…had been in a storm cellar during the tornado…there never would have been a story to tell! The house would have been gone…but Dorothy and Toto would have been safe in the storm cellar!

My dogs are the ones who want to look at the radar screen.......I can do without.

Ha Ha. High-maintenace dogs!

- Nick