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.