Purpose:
This modification installs the necessary hardware, software, and frame relay telecommunications to transition pre-existing WSR-88D to AWIPS analog telecommunications to frame relay telecommunications. Only the NWS Johnson Space Flight Meteorology Group AWIPS connections to KHDX and KEYX will result in new RPG associations. LAN to LAN TCP/IP connections between the respective RPGs and AWIPS will be established in parallel with this modification. The authority for this modification is ECP 0177R1, Upgrade RPG for Digital or Frame Relay Communications.

Modification Note 75 will need to be completed by each site before an ROC installation team arrives to perform this retrofit.

The ROC installation team will install a new frame relay hub router, unless such has already been installed as a result of a previous frame relay upgrade, configure the frame relay hub router, configure the new AWIPS TCP/IP connection on the applicable RPG narrowband port, and activate the new frame relay circuit to the frame relay hub router. The ROC installation team will work with site technicians to connect the frame relay hub router to the applicable RPG and connect the co-located AWIPS and non co-located AWIPS to the frame relay hub router.

The transition of the co-located and non co-located AWIPS connections to the the frame relay hub router will take approximately two hours. During the transition the applicable RPG will only be accessible via X.25 dial backup. Local POCs will be asked to transmit a Free Text Message in advance of taking the co-located LAN to LAN connectivity down. The authority for this new connectivity is CCR 04-00106, approved July 27, 2004.

RPG and AWIPS communication documentation updates the identifying the new frame relay telecommunications will be made available via the ROC comms documentation Web page as that information becomes available from MCI. A parallel AWIPS Other Modification Note and AWIPS system specific radar file help sheet updates will also be distributed in parallel with this modification. Where applicable, once systems have been successfully transitioned from analog to frame relay telecommunications, their pre-existing analog circuits will be staged for disconnects 30 days after the transition date. In the interim, the pre-existing analog service will remain in place as a viable backup option in the event of a catastrophic problem with the new frame relay circuit.

After successfully transitioning the non co-located AWIPS to a frame relay LAN to LAN connection they will be able to expand their RPS List to 65 products and reliably receive 256-data level/high resolution WSR-88D products.

Revised EHB 6-501, Illustrated Parts Breakdown, EHB 6-525, Maintenance Instructions, Radar Product Generator (RPG), and EHB 6-526, Operations Instructions, Radar Product Generator provide the necessary support documentation for the new hardware and software. If the site needs to replace the new frame relay hub router, for example, the replacement procedures will be found in EHB 6-525. The maintenance concept for the new frame relay hub router is the same as for existing CISCO 3640 RPG routers. The entire assembly is considered one line replaceable unit.

This modification will be coordinated to minimize data loss at each site. If additional information is required, or if in the wake of frame relay transitions subsequent problems should ensue, please contact the Radar Operations Center WSR-88D Hotline.