> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.metar.ws/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FAQ

> Quick answers to common integration questions.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I need an SDK?">
    No. The API is plain JSON over a standard WebSocket connection, so any client that speaks RFC-6455 works, including Python, Node.js, Go, and a browser tab.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if my connection drops?">
    Wait a few seconds, reconnect, and re-subscribe. Last-value replay means you receive the current state again immediately; see [Heartbeats & Reconnection](/protocol/heartbeats-reconnection).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why did I get the same station's weather twice?">
    You're likely subscribed to both `metar.atis.<icao>` and `metar.obs.<icao>` for the same station. Deduplicate using the pair of station and report\_time; see [D-ATIS Fast Lane](/channels/atis-fast-lane).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use my API key directly in a browser app?">
    You can, for internal dashboards and demos. For public-facing products, proxy the stream through your backend instead, since anything shipped to a browser is visible in DevTools.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens when my subscription ends?">
    The account returns to the Sandbox plan. Existing keys keep working, scoped back to the sandbox.demo channel and basic-tier forecasts.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I know my account's current limits?">
    Read the ack frame sent right after connecting. It always reflects your effective plan and limits, which is more reliable than hardcoding the plans table.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is it safe to subscribe to a station I'm not sure is covered?">
    Yes. A channel that doesn't exist yet fails with a channel\_format error rather than closing your connection, so probing is safe.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Card title="Still need help?" icon="envelope" href="mailto:hello@metar.ws">
  Contact [hello@metar.ws](mailto:hello@metar.ws)
</Card>