S144 Non-internet meteorological data reception for emergency and remote applications

Sunday, 10 January 2016
Hall E ( New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center)
Jamison P. McCarthy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; and S. Vaxter, D. Bonnette, D. Conlee, and C. J. Nowotarski

It is almost assumed that high-speed internet protocol communications are available for the retrieval of meteorological data and charts. However, some situations still exist where this is not the case, such as smaller maritime vessels, remote expeditions, and after a significant disaster. We explore two technologies, the decades-old High-Frequency (HF) radio facsimile, and the very new aviation technology known as ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast). Both of these capabilities are free after an investment in receiving equipment, but are applicable in very different circumstances. In the case of HF Facsimile (HF-FAX), modern laptop/phone/tablet and digital radio technology has made reception much easier and less expensive than in the past. Necessary equipment is assembled and reception tests are performed for each, updating the community on the status of the utility of these technologies for operational or even recreational meteorological applications.
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