Printing DIFAX Data
For a short time (perhaps 6 months or so-document dated December,
1994) the IDD method of DIFAX
delivery is likely to be incompatible with Alden Model D100 systems and
Alden printers. Until Alden is able to resolve this, Unidata--with
community assistance--will seek effective alternatives. Our present view
is
that printing DIFAX data delivered via IDD will require a Unix-based
computer with a laser (or perhaps a dot-matrix) printer attached. This
computer will run LDM and additional software as discussed below. We advise
users without such capabilities, or who wish to continue printing DIFAX maps
on D100s or other Alden printers, to use Alden (Ku-band) satellite systems
for this purpose.
The new contract ensures that DIFAX data can be delivered via Internet
to any subscribing university with a properly configured Local Data Manager (LDM) system. The LDM can
store each DIFAX product in a user-designated file, or the data can be
directed to a process, say to drive a printer. Unfortunately, Unidata
offers no software for such printing at present; it is likely that
freely-available packages (such as pbmplus) can, with modest effort, be used
to solve the problem, but this thesis must be tested. Our hope is that a few
Unidata community members will undertake this work and disseminate the
solution(s) to others. To foster this, we have created a special-interest
mailing list (difax@unidata.ucar.edu) for discussing solutions.
If you are willing to help identify and test software for printing data
in Group 3 FAX format, please let us know (through support@unidata.ucar.edu)
and we will add your name to the mailing list.
Some Relevant Files and Documents
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