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=============================================================================== Robb Kambic Unidata Program Center Software Engineer III Univ. Corp for Atmospheric Research address@hidden WWW: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/ =============================================================================== ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 16:15:42 -0600 From: Unidata Support <address@hidden> To: address@hidden Subject: 20001019: DIFAX dialogue From: <address@hidden> Subject: Re: 20001019: DIFAX dialogue To: Don Murray <address@hidden> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 16:21:47 -0500 (CDT) > > Tony, et al. > > >Don and I aren't the only ones with an opinion on the use of DIFAX as an > >educational tool. But we are both part of the Unidata Users Committee that > >will be meeting in three weeks with this whole topic of DIFAX on the > >agenda. The UPC will not be providing a replacement product, but we'll be > >discussing ways that the Unidata community might find it's own way to make > >and distribute the products, if the demand is there. So, I'd like for as > >many educators and students or former students (are we all former > >students?) to post comments on this topic so we can go to the table as > >well informed as possible. It would be especially useful to hear from > >recent students who may have been taught using a mix of old and new > >technology. > > If you do this (and I encourage you to) please be sure to cc: or send > your comments to address@hidden (since not all User Committee > members are subscribed to difax). > > Don > Don: I'm not a met graduate but I have taken a few met classes. I'm also a Skywarn spotter and a pilot. I'll miss DIFAX. I hope that whatever Unidata or any of the educational institutions do to provide a suitable replacement will consider those of us not able to get products from IDD or other distribution methods. Many of the current Internet Web-based products just do not have the resolution and are not easily received like DIFAX. Many of the GIF graphics are poor quality and do not print well. The NWS DIFAX TIFS printed nicely and the files were small. PDF might be an option like many of the graphics on the WW2010 site at University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It should not be too difficult to make AFOS/AWIPS graphics available - a limited selection is presently available on the EMWIN service but here again it is difficult to get access, especially in the field. If Unidata could provide some means for the Skywarn community to access data that would be greatly appreciated. The NWS gives Skywarn no financial support yet thousands of spotters nationwide provide countless hours. Access to a tool that would help us would be most appreciated. Steve -- Steve M. Kile, AB0NV address@hidden