>From: Unidata User Support <address@hidden> >Organization: Unidata Program Center >Keywords: 200009112348.e8BNm5b26728 Unidata-Wisconsin image MCIDAS LWTOA3 >pnga2area Matt, I am under the impression that Oklahoma State is not currently an active participant in the Unidata IDD, but I wanted to send the following information along in case I am wrong, or in case you plan to be in the future. Tom Yoksas I am writing since I fear that you may have missed seeing the three previous notifications (at the end of June and July, and beginning of September) of the removal of delta-encoded satellite imagery from the Unidata-Wisconsin (LDM feed type MCIDAS) datastream. We have been broadcasting PNG compressed versions of the "regular" UW stream images since the end of July. This dual broadcast will cease at 18 Z this Friday, September 15. ************************************************************************* ***** ***** ***** If you have not upgraded your ldm-mcidas decoders to the ***** ***** latest release, Version 7.6.4, you will stop decoding images ***** ***** at THIS FRIDAY! ***** ***** ***** ************************************************************************* 1) Rationale for moving to PNG compression of imagery: Delta-encoding is the compressed format that the images have been in since the beginning of the Unidata-Wisconsin datastream. Switching to the much more efficient PNG compression will allow us to increase the number of images in the Unidata-Wisconsin while mitigating the impact that the increased data volume will have on your network. 2) What to do to continue using Unidata-Wisconsin imagery: You must transition to use of the ldm-mcidas 7.6.4 decoder 'pnga2area' in order to continue decoding imagery. Binary distributions of ldm-mcidas are available from operating system-specific directories of anonymous FTP on ftp.unidata.ucar.edu: Directory Operating system(s) -----------------------------+---------------------------- pub/binary/osf1_4.0-alpha DEC OSF/1 4.0 pub/binary/hpux_11.00-hp9000 HP HP-UX 11.0 pub/binary/aix_4.3-rs6000 IBM AIX 4.3 pub/binary/linux_2.0-i586 RedHat 5.2 Linux pub/binary/linux_2.2-i686 RedHat 6.[12] Linux pub/binary/irix_6.5-mips SGI Irix 6.5 pub/binary/irix64_6.5-mips SGI Irix64 6.5 pub/binary/sunos_5.6-sparc Sun Solaris SPARC Versions 2.6 pub/binary/sunos_5.7-sparc Sun Solaris SPARC Versions 2.7 pub/binary/sunos_5.8-sparc Sun Solaris SPARC Versions 2.8 pub/binary/sunos_5.7-i86pc Sun Solaris i86pc Versions 2.7 pub/binary/sunos_5.8-i86pc Sun Solaris i86pc Versions 2.8 A source distribution is also available in the pub/ldm-mcidas of anonymous FTP on ftp.unidata.ucar.edu. We are available to help you build the decoders from source if your system is not compatible with one of those listed above. In all cases (source and binary), the distribution compressed tar file, ldm-mcidas.tar.Z, should be FTPed in binary mode! 3) What else has to be done to transition to the new decoder: Decoding the PNG compressed products will require that you install and configure pqact.conf for the new ldm-mcidas decoder, pnga2area. The ldm-mcidas distribution contains a file, ldm-mcidas-pqact.conf, of example LDM pattern-actions for the PNG compressed imagery. This file also presents a short description of the product header format that will eventually be used for all Unidata-Wisconsin imagery products. Users should review the contents of ldm-mcidas-pqact.conf; extract and adapt the actions to suit their environment (e.g., GEMPAK and/or McIDAS); incorporate them into the pqact.conf file on their IDD ingest machine; and send a HUP signal to pqact after verifying the entry with 'ldmadmin pqactcheck'. 4) What information is available about the new decoder, and how do I setup my LDM's pqact.conf file to run it: Information on the PNG-compressed image decoder can be found in the ldm-mcidas man pages under the ldm-mcidas Home Page: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/mcidas/mcidd/ldm-mcidas.html Unidata User Support is available to help you in your transition. If you have any questions/difficulties/comments, PLEASE let us know ASAP. Tom Yoksas
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