> ## 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.

# Quickstart

> Connect to the metar.ws WebSocket stream and receive your first message in minutes.

Follow these steps to go from sign-up to a live message on your own WebSocket connection.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an account">
    Sign up at [app.metar.ws](https://app.metar.ws). New accounts start on the free Sandbox plan, no credit card required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create an API key">
    Open the Keys page in the portal and generate a key. The key looks like `mts_live_...` and is shown only once, so store it like a password.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect and subscribe">
    Install a WebSocket client and connect to the stream endpoint with your key, then send a subscribe command for the sandbox channel.

    ```bash theme={null}
    pip install websockets
    python -m websockets "wss://stream.metar.ws/v1/ws?key=mts_live_YOUR_KEY"
    ```

    Once connected, send:

    ```json theme={null}
    {"action": "subscribe", "channels": ["sandbox.demo"]}
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fire a test alert">
    Open the Billing page in the portal and press **Send test alert**. Within a second, a demo METAR observation arrives on your connection, confirming your integration works end to end.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upgrade when ready">
    Go to Billing then Upgrade to Starter to switch from the sandbox channel to live `metar.obs.*` data. Existing keys switch plans automatically, so there is no need to re-issue keys or change your reconnect logic.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Card title="Next: Authentication" icon="key" href="/authentication">
  Learn the two ways to present your API key and how to keep it safe.
</Card>