Re: 20000826: Comments on Alden solvency (fwd)

===============================================================================
Robb Kambic                                Unidata Program Center
Software Engineer III                      Univ. Corp for Atmospheric Research
address@hidden             WWW: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/
===============================================================================

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 17:06:14 -0600
From: Dave Fulker <address@hidden>
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: 20000826: Comments on Alden solvency  (fwd)

Hi,

This was intended for all LDM users, but my typing...

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Monday, August 28, 2000 5:01 PM -0600
From: Dave Fulker <address@hidden>
To: Gilbert Sebenste <address@hidden>
Subject: Re: 20000826: Comments on Alden solvency  (fwd)

Dear Gilbert,

I write in response to your recent question:

> So my second purpose in writing is to ask if WSI or another
> vendor would pick up when Alden leaves, by providing DiFAX at a
> reduced rate to the UNIDATA community via the LDM? I know it will
> be tough to do, since DiFAX will be gone in a year or two anyway
> (if not sooner). But it's worth a try.

Perhaps you already were aware of this, but Alden's provision of
DIFAX was not based on any formal relationship with Unidata.  Alden
simply chose to continue utilizing LDM-based delivery of DIFAX after
we concluded our contractual relations, following the deployment of
NOAAport.  As your note suggests, other companies could do the same
thing (if they are motivated to do so), and this could occur without
involvement from our office.  However, I read your note to suggest
that perhaps we _should_ get involved.

As indicated in the appended message from 25 July, we have been
trying to help Unidata users prepare for the inevitable demise of
DIFAX by offering a variety of work-arounds.  This stance was
endorsed by the Unidata Users Committee and the Unidata Policy
Committee, and I believe it remains our wisest course.  More
specifically, trying to strike a DIFAX deal with some vendor would
consume staff resources for short-term gain and necessarily would
detract from other important advances.

To help mitigate the burden that has been so rudely imposed by the
failures of Alden's DIFAX service, our user support staff is willing
and prepared to provide assistance to any department that has
immediate need for one of the work-arounds that have been devised in
consultation with the Users Committee.  I hope this offer is at least
partially satisfactory and will help Unidata participants prepare for
the not-too-distant day when DIFAX is completely unavailable.

Sincerely,
Dave

========================================
Dave Fulker
Unidata Program Director
University Corp for Atmospheric Research
----------------------------------------
Mail:  PO Box 3000
        Boulder, CO 80307-3000  USA
Email: address@hidden
Phone: 303-497-8650    Fax: 303-497-8690
========================================

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 14:09:14 -0600 (MDT)
From: Jeff Weber <address@hidden>
To: address@hidden, address@hidden
Subject: DIFAX Alternatives

DIFAX community,

The National Weather Service has informed Unidata that the DIFAX
service will be terminated eventually.  Alden has encountered some
problems with the DIFAX service via the IDD, that they currently are
providing.

Unidata has tracked these issues and coordinated some options that
can be utilized when the DIFAX service ceases to exist or Alden
continues with idd transmission difficulties.

Unidata is generating .gif imagery of these products via Redbook
Graphics and can be viewed or downloaded at:

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/chiz/redbook/

The University of Wisconsin is also generating DIFAX type products
which are available for viewing and download in postscript format at:

http://mapmaker.meteor.wisc.edu/difaxmaps/

NOAA also offers DIFAX type products for viewing and download in
compressed (G4) .tiff formats at:

http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/graph.shtml

and

http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/wefax/products.htm

DIFAX will cease operations in the near future, we offer these
options as interim solutions.

-Jeff
____________________________                  _____________________
Jeff Weber                                    address@hidden
Unidata Support                               PH:303-497-8676
NWS-COMET Case Study Library                  FX:303-497-8690
University Corp for Atmospheric Research      3300 Mitchell Ln
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/jweber      Boulder,Co 80307-3000
________________________________________      ______________________

---------- End Forwarded Message ----------


---------- End Forwarded Message ----------