Re: How does this affect us if at all? (fwd)

===============================================================================
Robb Kambic                                Unidata Program Center
Software Engineer III                      Univ. Corp for Atmospheric Research
address@hidden             WWW: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2000 13:07:05 -0700 (MST)
From: John Snook <address@hidden>
To: Gilbert Sebenste <address@hidden>
Subject: Re: How does this affect us if at all?


I just spoke with Alden Electronics and they said that the new GE-IV 
satellite is positioned in the same location as the old SpaceNet 
satellite.  So, the change should be transparent to users.
Furthermore, the new GE bird should have a stronger signal
than the old one, which provides an upgrade in service.  

John Snook
Colorado Research Associates

> 
> Anyone?
> 
> *******************************************************************************
> Gilbert Sebenste                                                     ********
> Internet: address@hidden    (My opinions only!)                     ******
> Staff Meteorologist, Northern Illinois University                      ****
> E-mail: address@hidden                                 ***
> web: http://weather.admin.niu.edu                                      **
> Work phone: 815-753-5492                                                *
> *******************************************************************************
> 
> NOUS71 KNCF 031721
> ADANCF
> 
> SUBJECT: AWIPS SATELLITE BROADCAST NETWORK CUTOVER FROM 
> SN-IV TO GE-4 SPACECRAFT
> 
> GE AMERICOM IS PREPARING TO TRANSFER ALL C-BAND 
> TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE OLD SPACENET-IV SATELLITE TO THE NEW 
> GE-4 SATELLITE.  APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO, GEA MOVED ALL 
> OF THEIR KU-BAND SERVICE TO THE NEW SATELLITE WITHOUT ANY 
> PROBLEMS, AND THE NEW SATELLITE CONTINUES TO BE STABLE.  
> THE AWIPS SBN IS ONLY ONE OF MANY USERS ON THE C-BAND 
> TRANSPONDERS.
> 
> GEA WILL PERFORM THE CUTOVER OF THE TRANSPONDER FOR ALL 
> FOUR AWIPS SBN CHANNELS ON 04 JANUARY 2000 SOMETIME BETWEEN 
> 0500Z AND 0900Z.  THE ACTUAL TRANSPONDER CUTOVER WILL 
> AFFECT THE AWIPS BROADCAST FOR 30 TO 120 SECONDS.  DURING 
> THIS PERIOD, SOME GARBLING OF AWIPS DATA COULD OCCUR.  
> GOES-E, GOES-W, AND NON-GOES PRODUCT CHANNELS DATA DROPOUTS 
> MAY BE SEEN ON PRODUCTS TRANSMITTED DURING THE CUTOVER.  
> ANY NWSTG PRODUCTS THAT ARE GARBLED DURING THE CUTOVER WILL 
> BE AUTOMATICALLY RETRANSMITTED, SO NO DATA LOSS SHOULD 
> OCCUR.
> 
> IF GEA ENCOUNTERS A PROBLEM DURING THE CUTOVER, THEY WILL 
> REVERT BACK TO SN-IV UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS CLEARED.  DYNCORP 
> (FORMERLY GTE) ENGINEERS WILL BE AT THE AWIPS MASTER GROUND 
> STATION DURING THE PROCESS.  BOTH DYNCORP AND NCF ENGINEERS 
> WILL BE MONITORING UPLINK AND DOWNLINK OPERATIONS 
> THROUGHOUT THE CUTOVER.  THE NCF WILL TRANSMIT AN ADMIN 
> MESSAGE VIA THE WAN AND SBN IF ANY PROBLEMS OCCUR.  A FINAL 
> MESSAGE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE CUTOVER HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY 
> COMPLETED.
>