Setting Up an iPad for RadarBug

Why Set Up a Dedicated iPad

An older or spare iPad makes an effective always-on weather station once it's freed from the interruptions a normal tablet has: a lock screen, accidental app switches, and a bright screen at night. The steps below walk through each of those settings in order, from disabling the screen lock through starting Guided Access, so the iPad settles into showing RadarBug continuously without drifting away from it.

None of these changes are permanent — every setting can be reversed from the same menu it was changed in, and Guided Access can be exited at any time with the passcode set in step 3.

1Turn Off the Screen Lock

Configure the iPad so it does not require a passcode when the screen is unlocked.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
3. Enter the current passcode.
4. Tap Turn Passcode Off.
5. Confirm.

The iPad will no longer require a passcode to unlock.

Note: Removing the passcode reduces the security of the iPad.

2Dim the Screen at Night

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Display & Brightness.
3. Tap Night Shift.
4. Turn on Scheduled.
5. Select From Sunset to Sunrise.

You can also adjust the Color Temperature toward warmer colors.

For additional nighttime dimming:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Accessibility.
3. Select Display & Text Size.
4. Turn on Reduce White Point.
5. Adjust the percentage to your preferred nighttime brightness.

3Hide or Minimize the Bottom Toolbar

The iPad uses a Home Indicator instead of Android's three-button navigation bar. Use Guided Access to keep the iPad focused on the RadarBug browser.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to Guided Access.
4. Turn Guided Access on.
5. Set a Guided Access passcode.
6. Return to Safari.

Guided Access can prevent accidental exits from the RadarBug display. It also disables Control Center, notification swipes, and the app switcher while active, which is what keeps a wall-mounted iPad from drifting away to the Home Screen after a stray tap.

4Open RadarBug

1. Open Safari.
2. Tap the address bar.
3. Enter the RadarBug address:

4. Tap Go.
5. Wait for the RadarBug weather map to load.

For a cleaner display, rotate the iPad into landscape orientation.

5Turn On the RadarBug Forecast

1. Open the RadarBug Settings panel.
2. Go to Panels.
3. Find Forecast column.
4. Turn Forecast column ON.
5. Close the Settings panel.

The forecast will now appear with the RadarBug weather display.

6Start Guided Access

1. Return to the RadarBug screen.
2. Triple-click the Top button or Home button, depending on the iPad model.
3. Select Guided Access.
4. Tap Start.

The iPad will remain focused on RadarBug, and accidental taps or gestures are less likely to exit the display.

7Final Setup

The iPad is now configured as a dedicated RadarBug weather display.

• Screen lock and passcode disabled.
• Night Shift scheduled for nighttime.
• Reduce White Point available for additional nighttime dimming.
• Guided Access keeping RadarBug on screen.
• Safari displaying radarbug.app.
• RadarBug Forecast column enabled.
• iPad connected to power for continuous operation.

Your iPad is ready to operate as a dedicated RadarBug weather station.

Exiting Guided Access

To leave Guided Access and use the iPad normally again — for a software update, or to adjust a setting — triple-click the same button used to start it (Top button or Home button, depending on the model), then enter the Guided Access passcode set in step 3. This ends the session and returns the iPad to normal use; repeating step 6 restarts Guided Access afterward.

Troubleshooting

• If the map looks blank or frozen, exit Guided Access, pull down in Safari to refresh the page, then restart Guided Access.
• If Night Shift or Reduce White Point don't seem to apply, confirm the schedule in step 2 covers the current time, since both features only dim the screen during their configured hours.
• If Guided Access won't start, confirm it's turned on under Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and that a passcode has been set for it.