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April 2, 2009 FTS G4 Bulletin FTS has released a G4 Bulletin. The G4’s are from 5-11 years old and will require replacement in the next few years. Replacement is only necessary if the customer has a failure or poor performance. It is recommended that each agency inventory their G4’s and consider prioritizing the G4 into a lifecycle replacement plan. At this time roughly 80% of the FTS transmitters in the field are G5 already. If you have any questions please call FTS at 1-800-548-4264.
April 1, 2009 Vaisala MAWS 120 The MAWS 120 is the principal Data Collection Platform (DCP) offered by Vaisala for their current model fire management weather station. This DCP is offered on both the permanent and portable (IWOS) models. The MAWS 120 offers considerable flexibility with regard to programming capabilities, but requires a higher level of software programming and maintenance skills. Due to a recent loss of personnel, the RSFWSU has very limited capability to address MAWS 120 programming issues. RAWS Help Desk support to interagency customers in the field is similarly affected. Until this issue is resolved, the RSFWSU will be unable to take on further maintenance contracts to service this unit. Please keep this in mind as you consider maintenance service for your agency's RAWS assets. Appropriate notice will be released as soon as this support suspension can be lifted.
August 15, 2008 Laptop adaptors for RAWS DCP and dataloggers For laptop computers with no serial port option, there are now only two options for USB-to-serial communications for Vaisala DCPs and FTS dataloggers:
GOES Channel assignments A comprehensive reallocation and reorganization of all RAWS GOES channel assignments is being conducted by Robbie Swofford. If you have received, but have not used a channel assignment that is over 1 month old, the channel assignment may be changed. Contact Robbie Swofford, via e-mail at: Robbie_Swofford@nifc.blm.gov to verify or receive a new channel assignment. In your e-mail include the following: Station NESID, Station Name, Station transmit time, Channel, and Transmitter baud rate. Also, remember that anytime a channel assignment is changed at your station, you must call the RAWS Help Desk at 208-387-5475 so that information can be entered in DAPS.
May 29, 2008 Scheduled Maintenance NFDRS standards - IMPORTANT!!! All RSFWSU Depot Service Contract customers are reminded that RAWS sensor replacement should adhere to the schedule established by NFDRS standards. That document is available by link to the left of this page, but here's the critical info:
Station Maintenance Information - until CMMS arrives! ASCADS is no longer the system of record for entering RAWS annual maintenance information, but CMMS is still unavailable to field users. Until CMMS is approved for general release, please send your station maintenance information to the RAWS Help Desk (rawsdepothelp@nifc.blm.gov). The most important data to pass is the date the station received maintenance, which sensors were replaced at the station (including old and new ASSET numbers for each component), and any general narrative comments. Sending the Help Desk this information for entry will keep your stations off of the weekly RAWS Non-Compliance Report. March 17, 2008 THS-3/FS-3 Upgrades The Remote Sensing Fire Weather Support Unit (RSFWSU) has a new policy for upgrades to THS-1 and THS-2000 RH/AT sensors and FS-11 fuel sticks. RSFWSU Upgrade and Support Policy Please contact Herb Arnold, BLM Remote Sensing Fire Weather Support Unit Manager, at 208-387-5363 or e-mail herb_arnold@nifc.blm.gov if you have any questions.
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