My Jellyfin server now has a 24/7 weather channel, and it's pure 90s nostalgia

Published Oct 30, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT Patrick is a seasoned writer with more than a decade of experience, specializing in any and all things tech. His work has been featured on platforms like CNET, Yahoo, Xfinity, and many other outlets. When not typing away, he can be found with his nose in a book. Do you remember the old weather channels from the 80s and 90s? They were dead simple: a basic interface that displayed the relevant information, smooth jazz playing in the background, and only the most rudimentary graphics. Even though they pale in comparison to modern weather channels, I feel nostalgic every time I see a station like this. In some ways, it's easier to use; I don't have to parse the information or look at fancy animations. I missed that, so I decided to bring that same utility and nostalgia back to my home Jellyfin server. It was easier than you might expect, and the end results are impressive (to me, anyway). If you lived through that era, or you just have a penchant for retro design choices, adding WeatherStar 4000+ to your Jellyfin server might be your next big project. The process begins with Docker Every piece of the puzzle is self-hosted I used Docker to spin up a container for WeatherStar 4000+. It took next to no time at all; a simple docker-compose.yaml file, and I was off to the races. You don't need Jellyfin to run WeatherStar, either. I wanted to add the station to my home server for fun, but WeatherStar can run independently of Jellyfin. If you're curious what it looks like, you can check it out in action at its website. And if that version isn't retro enough for you, WeatherStar 3000+ takes things back another decade or so. Once WeatherStar is up and running, you can change most everything about it. It's essentially a slideshow with dynamic conditions, so you can choose which "slides" you want to see and which you don't. For instance, you might ditch "Extended Forecast" if you're only concerned about the next few days. It also offers five speeds (Very Slow, Slow, Normal, Fast, and Very Fast), four display modes, and the option to switch between US and Metric units. You can also turn on Kiosk mode, which enlarges the display and hides the settings menu. WeatherStar 4000+ can be turned into a TV channel Sharing options make it easy to be your own meteorologist The next step was to broadcast the WeatherStar feed, so it was accessible outside the computer it was hosted on. To do that, I went to the "Share" tab of the settings menu and copied the permalink that appeared there, before editing the docker-compose.yaml file to include the link. Don't let the last step intimidate you; I only had to add a single line and run the file again in the Terminal. Then I ran ws4channels to transform my browser feed of WeatherStar 4000+ into a functional, active stream. Next, I added the channel to my Jellyfin server. To do that, I signed in to Jellyfin as an administrator and opened Settings > Dashboard > Live TV. Jellyfin allows users to add different tuner devices. I selected the M3U tuner from the dropdown box and pointed it toward the M3U playlist generated by ws4channels. After finishing the setup, WeatherStar 4000+ appeared in my Live TV section of my server. My weather channel is surprisingly useful Sometimes simpler really is better I keep the TV on in the background to fill in the quiet. I've never enjoyed a totally silent home. The problem is that I'm also easily distracted, and a TV show often proves too interesting, tearing my attention away from the task at hand. My WeatherStar channel is a continuous loop with only minor updates as the day wears on. There's no breaking news or talking heads — just smooth jazz, a straightforward presentation of the temperature and forecast, and possibly a live radar. It combines the best of both worlds: a retro, nostalgic display with up-to-date weather information and forecasts. If there were severe storms in my area, I'd turn to the current news, but for day-to-day armchair meteorology? WeatherStar 4000+ is a great pick. WeatherStar is fun, but it's not necessarily practical This isn't the easiest way to check the forecast Weather used to be something we had to check on a specific channel (at a specific time of day) to learn anything about, but now it's at our fingertips. I have the current temperature and conditions on my watch. They're also visible in the bottom-right corner of my monitor in the taskbar. I can see weather alerts on my phone's home screen, and I have at least three different weather apps downloaded. All that to say, WeatherStar 4000+ is a fun, enjoyable project, but it's not the most practical way to figure out whether to wear a jacket. There are easier ways. This program exists for people who like to tinker, appreciate retro design, and don't mind spending an hour or so getting everything set up and running properly. Some things are worth bringing back just for fun I enjoyed the time I spent setting up WeatherStar 4000+, and it's cool to see and hear something that feels like such a blast from the past. When I check the weather this way, it teleports me back to being a kid, eating cereal at the dining room table and watching the tiny, slightly fuzzy TV in the kitchen. Jellyfin iOS compatible Yes Android compatible Yes