NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE (NWWS) REPLACEMENT

THE NEW NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE BECAME OPERATIONAL ON JUNE 22, 2000

The Contract for the replacement NWWS was awarded to DynCorp on September 30, 1999. All WFO/RFC hubs and selected National Centers will be receiving the new NWWS. The purpose of this Web site is to keep NWS regional and field offices apprised of the latest developments in the implementation of the system so as to facilitate the transition from the old to the new Weather Wire.  In addition, information to help commercial end users as well as State-designated emergency management agencies transition to the new NWWS is included.
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES

FORMAT CONVERSION TOOL


Table of Contents:  (Click on Section names for direct text link)

1.  Contact Information
2.  Site Implementation
3.  Implementation Schedule
4.  Information and Documentation
    4.1  Pre-Site Survey Information
    4.2  Site Surveys
    4.3  Transition Information
5.  Message Formats
5.1  List of Weather Message Products
5.2  Interface Control Document: NWWS 2000 External Message Formats
6.  System Updates
6.1  SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING DE-ICER POWER REQUIREMENTS (Revised 3/31/00)
7.  System Monitoring Software
 

1.  CONTACT INFORMATION

1.1  Commercial End Users

There are several options available for commercial end users to continue to receive NWS products, and a brief description of each is provided below.  For a detailed description of each system described below, click here.
 

Replacement NWWS

To receive service equivalent to that of the new NWWS, a C-band system is available from DynCorp.  This system provides the most reliable and timely warning delivery system available, and includes significant system enhancements which will allow reception of limited graphic products, an improved user interface, and which allows use of a standard Windows PC to select and monitor weather products.  The delivery time of watches and warnings is specified at 10 seconds or less 98% of the time, which is an improvement over current requirements.

For more information, contact DynCorp at (800) 633-2340.  Information is also available on their website: http://www.weatherwire.net.  They are offering three options for receiving WeatherWire products:  C-band, Ku-band, or Internet service.  If you want service closest to what you currently have on the NWWS, then the C-band option is most appropriate.  The benefits and costs of each option are explained on the Web site.  In addition to a straight purchase, DynCorp is also offering long term financing plans.
 

Other Systems For Receiving NWS products


(1)  EMWIN (Emergency Managers Weather Information Network) systems are available from many private industry suppliers, and they are listed on the National Weather Service EMWIN Web site.  These systems offer an economical way to receive all products available on the NWWS.  Compared to the NWWS, typically, an additional broadcast delay of 5 to 20 seconds can be expected for watches and warnings , as compared to the NWWS delay described above.  The EMWIN system is monitored on a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week basis, and has an estimated availability of at least 0.99.  Being a satellite system, there are short outages of several minutes duration (60 minutes worst case) during a 3-4 day satellite eclipse period which occurs in the spring and fall.  The NWWS has backup provisions for such occurrences, whereast EMWIN does not.  A backup facility, such as the Internet, might be considered during such scheduled outages.  For more information, contact Mr. Ken Bashford at (301) 713-0386 ext. 102, or kenneth.bashford@noaa.gov.

(2)  The Interactive Weather Information Network (IWIN) can be accessed for free over any Internet connection.  This site is maintained by the National Weather Service, and of course is subject to availability of the Internet network.    The contact person is the same as for EMWIN, above.

(3)  The National Weather Service's Family of Services Public Product Service (PPS) disseminated all public watches, warnings, and other meteorological products which are found in the NWWS data stream.  These service is accessible, for an annual fee, directly from the National Weather Service  via dedicated telecommunications lines in the Washington, D.C. area, or from commercial providers.  For more information, contact Ms. Julie Hayes at (301) 713-1741 ext. 205, or julie.hayes@noaa.gov.

(4)  NOAAPORT satellite broadcast receivers are available for lease or purchase.  The NOAAPORT Web site includes a technical description of the system, sample products, and list of equipment manufacturers.  For more information, contact Ms. Julie Hayes at (301) 713-1741 ext. 205 or  julie.hayes@noaa.gov.

(5)  Private sector weather service companies and meteoroligists also provide services.  The NWS Industrial Meteorology Web site provides links to these providor home pages as well as a directory of private weather services organized by State.  For more information, contact the IM staff at (301) 713-0258.
 

1.2  State Agencies

Please note that this information only applies to designated state agencies with a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Weather Service.  There is generally one agency per state that has been so designated.  Those agencies which have been receiving the NWWS at no charge will be provided with replacement service, at no charge, by the NWS.  The process and equipment is described in this Transition Information Packet . If you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for this pdf file, go here:  For those agencies, equipment has already been ordered by the NWS, and installation is scheduled to begin in late April.  By this time, you should have been contacted by DynCorp regarding information required for installing equipment on your site.  If you have not yet heard from them, please call them at (703) 818-4266.  Non-designated state agencies who wish to replace existing or obtain new NWWS service must go through the same channels as commercial end users (see Section 1.1).  For questions, contact the following individuals:
 
 
For States beginning with A-Z Pat Gillis
(301) 713-1743  ext. 104
patrick.gillis@noaa.gov
For equipment installation questions DynCorp:  Frank Wesby
(703) 818-4266

1.3  National Weather Service Facilities

The responsibility for following up at the NWS sites where the new NWWS will be installed has been assigned to three individuals, as shown below.
 
For all general program, policy questions, and sites as listed below Doug Walls
(301) 713-1743  ext. 147
Douglas.Walls@noaa.gov

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2. Site Implementation  (As of 8/15/00)


Installation Status is summarized below.  Sites indicated as "COMPLETE" may still need to have a USSI technician visit the site to confirm two way operation with the latest software version.  All sites will have to go through formal Site Acceptance Testing, which will take place after completion of the System Integration Test, which is currently on Hold pending finalization of the software.  IF ANY OF THE INFORMATION BELOW IS INCORRECT, PLEASE NOTIFY THE OSO POINT OF CONTACT.

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3. System Implementation Schedule As Of August 15, 2000


The project implementation schedule is as follows:
 

Contract Award 9/30/99

Preliminary Design Review Completed 10/28

FCC Licensing 9/30/99 to 4/25/00

Site Surveys:  Complete

Critical Design Review Completed 11/23/99

Install NWS Sites:  All NWS installed and operating.  Boston and Salt Lake City operating over dial backup pending installation of RFI shielding

State Agency Installation Status:


System Integration Test:  COMPLETE

Site Acceptance Tests: TBD

Terminate Current NWWS Service:   8/31/00, except for those commercial customers who have ordered their equipment already, and are not yet installed

New NWWS Operational:  JUNE 22

Old NWWS 2-way Sites Disconnected on June 29.   Original data format still broadcast to existing customers by data feed to the old NWWS broadcast hub using data provided by the new NWWS sites.
 


4. Information and Documentation

4.1 Pre-Site Survey Information Package


Click here to access the following docment, formatted in WordPerfect:  NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Pre-Site Survey Information Package.  Note that since the "Sample Site Survey Report" caused some confusion, it has been deleted from the package.
 

4.2 Site Surveys


    Site surveys will be posted here as they become available.

4.3 Transition Information
4.3.1 Information Packet

Click here to access the following document, formatted in WordPerfect:  NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) Transition Information Packet.



 

5. Message Formats

5.1  List of Weather Message Products


        This is the most current listing of PIL headers and  associated product name identification.
 

5.2  Interface Control Document:  NWWS 2000 External Message Formats


    This very important document defines the message formats that the NWWS 2000 "Calypso" DCE expects to see from AWIPS and AFOS, and also the message format that end users will see from the broadcast downlink.  If there are any questions or concerns, please let us know.
 

5.3  Format Conversion Tool


    Refer to this link for information on the format conversion tool, which can be very helpful in implementing message header changes from your existing system.


6. System Updates

6.1  SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING DE-ICER POWER REQUIREMENTS


        DynCorp has advised that the de-ice system will work from a prime power source anywhere in the range of 198 VAC (4.7 amps) to 242 VAC (3.9 amps), single phase.
 

7. System Monitoring Software


All designated State Agencies with an MOU with the NWS, plus all NWS sites, will be receiving software called SKYTAP, produced by Marta Corporation.  Any other customer can buy this software directly from the manufacturer.  The components are FOSRX (weatherwire data receiver), Router (background data processing), and SAND (weatherwire viewer).    This versatile software presents a user friendly interface for selection of products which a site wishes to receive, without the requirement to notify DynCorp, as is required in the present system. Another feature is the ability to select any installed printers(up to four) to print the data output.  In addition, warning alarms, archiving, and the ability to re-transmit data are available for computers operating on Windows NT.   A description of this softare can be found here.  The minimum and recommended computer requirements are as follows:

Minimum System Requirements
                                          Windows-NT - 233Mhz Processor, 64Mb RAM, 1Gb Hard Drive
                                          Windows-95 - 133Mhz Processor, 32Mb RAM, 1Gb Hard Drive
                                          Windows-98 - 133Mhz Processor, 32Mb RAM, 1Gb Hard Drive

                                          Recommended System Requirements
                                          Windows-NT - 450Mhz Processor, 128Mb RAM, 2Gb Hard Drive
                                          Windows-98 - 450Mhz Processor, 128Mb RAM, 2Gb Hard Drive

Please note that for full funcionality, a computer equipped with Windows NT is strongly recommended.  Specifically it must be running NTFS with Service Pack 5 or
later.
 

Contact Information
douglas.walls@noaa.gov
Last Modified:  Septenber 28, 2000
URL:  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oso/oso1/oso15/newnwws.htm