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FAMILY OF SERVICES

(FOS)


Since 1983, the National Weather Service (NWS) has provided external user access to U.S. Government obtained or derived weather information through a collection of data communication line services called the Family of Services (FOS).

NWS Family of Services (FOS) was established to make weather information available to external users. The FOS provides users access to near real-time weather information on the Telecommunications Gateway using the Office of Operational System Network (OPSnet) located at NWS headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.

Users may obtain any of the individual services from the NWS for an annual user fee. Several private companies subscribe to the FOS and then resell the data as received and/or provide value-added information services for their customers.

Additional Data and Products

Some WMO Member countries have defined a set of products which must not be re-exported back to the country of origin. Lists of these products, which are expected to be received at RTH Washington (the NWS Gateway), are provided for your information [ reference Additional Data and Products, WMO Resolution 40 (Cg-XI) ]. These lists also denote which data and products are currently carried on the FOS.

FOS Data Streams

  1. (SAS) Server Access Service
  2. (RPS) Radar Products Service

RADAR PRODUCTS SERVICE - RPS joined the FOS offerings on October 1, 2000.

Communications Parameters -

The Radar Products Service (RPS) provides direct user access to WSR-88D products in real-time. All radar products that the NWS is centrally collecting will be available on the RPS. You can obtain additional information about RPS from the Radar Product Central Collection/Distribution Service web site.

SERVER ACCESS SERVICE - SAS joined the FOS offerings on October 1, 1998.

Communications Parameters -

The NWSTG will provide a router port for a serial interface at speeds up to T1. The customer has responsibility to provide the circuit and CSU/DSU or any other circuit terminating equipment that will reside at the NWSTG. If there are any special adapter cables, they should also be provided by the customer. Installation should also be provided by the customer and should include any configuration that is specific to the equipment provided.

The Server Access Service (SAS) provides access to the NWSTG networks and resources that reside there, in particular the File Server. Since no other routing is necessary, we will not automatically provide routing information and will not accept routing information on these lines. All routing should be performed by means of Static Routes.

Any points not covered will be worked out between the NWSTG and the customer.

Contents -

  1. ARGOS DATA
  2. CANADIAN DATA
  3. FACSIMILE DATA
  4. FOUS14 DATA*
  5. GTS FAX DATA*
  6. HONGKONG DATA
  7. HURRICANE DATA
  8. HYDROLOGY DATA
  9. METAR SA DATA*
  10. METAR NON-SA DATA*
  11. NCDC DATA
  12. NCEP DATA
  13. NIC DATA
  14. RADAR CODED MESSAGES*
  15. SAUS70-80 DATA*
  16. SNOW AND ICE DATA
  17. SURFACE WEATHER DATA*
  18. TDL BUFR PRODUCTS
  19. TSUNAMI DATA
  20. UPPER AIR DATA*
  21. WARNING DATA GRIB DATA
    (AVN MODEL*   ETA FORECAST MODEL*   MESO-ETA MODEL*   MRF MODEL*   NGM MODEL*   RUC MODEL*)
  22. BRAKNELL GRIB DATA*
  23. WAFS DATA*

*GENERIC

Please note that the contents of these files are subject to change.

FOS AVAILABILITY -

External users may choose to be a direct subscriber to one or more of the Family of Services connections. Direct subscribers are responsible for the communications cost of their direct connection. As an alternative, external users may choose to have their needs satisfied by contracting with one of the weather information service companies that are already connected to the Family of Services. A list of the current Subscribers is available upon request.

USER CHARGES -

The FOS system is intended to be operated on a cost-recovery basis. There is an annual maintenance fee to recover FOS costs to the Government for operating this system. FOS costs are reviewed annually and fees are adjusted accordingly. Annual maintenance charges are due to the NWS each year by October 1, and cover a one-year period from October 1 through September 30 of the following year. Subscribers are notified annually of the fees due for the coming year. A list of Current User Fees is available.

DIRECT SUBSCRIPTION TO THE FAMILY OF SERVICES FOS Agreement

Your agreement should include:

  • (1) name of your company, and;
  • (2) which service(s) you want, and;
  • (3) the signature, printed name, title, and date.

    • Please contact Data Management at NWS.HQ.OPS31.DM@noaa.gov for further instructions.

    The NWS will process and return to you a properly executed copy of the agreement form and will retain a copy at the NWS. The agreement form will be the authorization for you to negotiate with the communications carrier for connection to the Service(s).

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -

    FOS Specification Information

    POINT OF CONTACT -

    The current Program Manager is Ms. Julie L. Hayes
    E-mail: julie.hayes@noaa.gov

    US Dept of Commerce
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration
    National Weather Service
    Office of Operational Systems (OPS31)
    1325 East West Highway
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    Page last modified: July 26, 2012
    Page Author:     Data Management
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