The WeatherStar has gone through many different generations since it was first put into use by TWC at the channel's beginning in 1982:
- The original WeatherStar (WeatherStar I), like following WeatherStar units, would receive local weather data from TWC itself (which was gathered from the National Weather Service ) via data encoded in the VBI of TWC's video, as well as receiving extra data from an extra Subcarrier transmitted above TWC's video and audio signals on its Transponder on satellite. The WeatherStar I was manufactured and developed for TWC by a company based in Salt Lake City , Utah called Compuvid . Compuvid had already made an earlier and similar product to the WeatherStar (installed at cable tv systems owned by Landmark Communications , TWC's corporate parent) that would display on-screen weather conditions via a set of locally-installed weather sensors at the cable headend, as well as other announcements. The WeatherStar I was an updated version of this unit, in this case receiving weather data from TWC itself, which in turn was received from the National Weather Service . The WeatherStar I was only capable of displaying white text on a dark blue background (or a light brown background during weather watch conditions, and a red background during weather warnings), it had no graphics capabilities. It could also Key its text over TWC's video as well (the same also applies to all WeatherStar models, past and present). Even though the WeatherStar I had met the FCC 's Part 15 regulations for emanated RF interference ( RFI ), it still radiated a lot of it, noted by the WeatherStar I interfering with TV channel 2 (which was a problem, considering it was installed in a cable tv headend). This problem was temporarily solved by having Ferrite chokes attached to all cables & wires coming in and out of the WeatherStar I.
- The WeatherStar II, which had improved RF shielding, as well as having an improved hardware design overall. Otherwise, it had the same text-only features as the WeatherStar I. Dan Chandler's narration is added since 1987.
- The WeatherStar III, which was also called the WeatherStar 3000, was yet another text-only unit identical to the WeatherStars I & II, with more internal improvements. It was completely retired in December 2004 before the New Year of 2005 due to FCC alert regulations (the 3000 and previous units were incapable of generating an audio alert tone during the display of a weather warning). In September 1992, Dan Chandler's one final set for the narration including the WeatherStar 4000, the 36 Hour Forecast have narrated to have come from The National Weather Service .
- The Weatherstar 4000 was the first graphics-capable model of the WeatherStar Line. It was introduced around 1988 and was designed and manufactured by Canadian electronics company Amirix (then the Applied Microelectronics Institute). It also has an improved display font, and the 4000 is still in use in some headends serving smaller communities. The first 4000s that were placed in service were programmed to operate text only like its predecessors (using its improved font instead), but with a graphical radar page displayed at the end of the local forecast. NOAA emblem have been added during the 36 Hour Forecast product from 1992-2002. From April 1995-Summer 2002, many maps and products are randomly selected when the Local Update was introduced. Local Update product takes more than one screen. In 1995, Dan Chandler's narration was discontinued. In 2002, The 36 Hour Forecast begin lowercase letters directly from The Weather Channel because of this, the NOAA logo discontinued, and The Weather Channel logo was modernized.
- The WeatherStar Jr. is a budget model manufactured by Wegener Communications for cable tv headends in smaller communities. It has the same smoother-looking display fonts as the WeatherStar 4000, but is text-only with the same blue, brown, and red backgrounds like the WeatherStars I through 3000. While the WeatherStar Jr. is still in operation, but very few cable companies now use the Jr.
- The WeatherStar XL was manufactured by SGI and introduced around 1997 . The XL has much-improved graphics capability over the 4000, and its on-screen appearance would closely resemble the WeatherStar's successor, the IntelliStar . The WeatherStar XL was also the first platform of WeatherStar to be adapted and modified by The Weather Channel for their WeatherScan service, a 24-hour local weather channel carried on some select cable tv systems nationwide. In addition to the XL, the narration Allen Jackson was added during the local forecast since March 2000. Current Conditions and Extended Forecast information has been read to the viewer. Also, the 75-100 mile Metro Area Forecast map debut since late July 2002 replacing from The Regional Forecast in the top 50 markets. Due to the discontinuation for the 3-day extended forecast in September 2004 welcoming back since February 2006.
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