NOAAs National Weather Service

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NOAAs National Weather Service

• International Satellite Communication System -
  ISCS
• Systems Transitions and
• STAR 4 Workstation Replacements
• WMO Hurricane Committee Meeting
• Mexico City
• April 1st, 2003
• Jennifer Lewis of NWS International Activities
• Voluntary Cooperation Program Analyst

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Presentation Overview

• ISCS System and the RMTN
• ISCS Deployment Goals
• ISCS Transition Time Line
• Plan for Upgrade of VSAT and Ground System
• Funding for Space Segment of Two-Way Workstations
• Benefits to Two-way Systems
• Benefits to Common Workstation
• Funding for Ground System of All Two-way Systems
• USAs Primary Interests for the ISCS Transition
• Important Dates for Workstation Replacement

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The International Satellite Communications
System (ISCS)

• The United States will continue to support
  ICAO/WMO requirements (as a servicing World Area
  Forecast Center - WAFC) with the ISCS.
• The global coverage will continue to span
  approximately from 105 degrees east longitude to
  65 degrees east longitude (covering the Pacific
  Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, North America, Central
  America, South America, and the Caribbean).
• The remainder of the world coverage will continue
  to be supported by the WAFC located in the United
  Kingdom through their satellite broadcast system
  called SADIS (which primarily covers the
  European, Asian, and African continents as well
  as the Indian Ocean).

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REGION IV METEOROLOGICAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NETWORK (RMTN)

• RMTN portion of the successor ISCS will be
  centered around the WorldCom shared Master
  Satellite Hub in Andover, Maine.
• Master Satellite Hub will be linked via a 64 Kbps
  terrestrial (redundant) circuit to the National
  Weather Service Telecommunications Gateway
  (NWSTG) in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• All ISCS data originating at the NWSTG will be
  transmitted, using TCP/IP network protocol, to
  the WorldCom Andover facility for broadcast to
  all ISCS RMTN sites.
• All RMTN sites will uplink their data at 4 Kbps,
  using TCP/IP network protocol, to the NWSTG (via
  the WorldCom Andover facility) for inclusion as
  part of the collective that is broadcast to all
  ISCS RMTN sites.

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ISCS DEPLOYMENT GOALS

• Replace X.25 network protocol with TCP/IP
  network protocol
• All site owned VSAT equipment remains the same
• Additional Interface equipment will be added to
  registered sites
• Phased transition from existing network to
  successor network with minimum site downtime
• Dual operation of current / successor networks
  to reduce impact to users
• Extend system life with a technology refresh
  program to incorporate technology advancements
  for enhanced performance capabilities, as
  appropriate

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VSAT Upgrade for RA-III RA-IV

• All Registered Sites will be upgraded to TCP/IP
  capable equipment by MCI WorldCom Technicians
• Technicians will only need access to the site
  no resources are required
• Each site will be given a date for the hardware
  upgrade procedure and inability to adhere to the
  schedule will result in significant delays and
  costs
• A full schedule will be available on Internet no
  later than June 15th, 2003
• Hardware upgrades for all registered sites in the
  ISCS will most likely occur June - December 2003
• Two-way sites will be upgraded first and then
  one-way sites
• NWS has a Website www.nws.noaa.gov/iscs
• Advisory Bulletins will be posted
• Work schedule with delays or changes will be
  posted

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Funding for Space Segment of Two-Way Workstations

• New contract for Space Segment signed in December
  2002 by NWS with MCI Worldcom will include
  maintenance and will have a significant cost
  reduction for each of the cost-sharing countries
• U.S. will continue to pay 50 of annual costs for
  RMTN Space Segment regardless of number of
  countries participating
• Proposals for Future Collaborations
• If RA-III decides to create an RMTN based on WAFS
  then U.S. agrees to consider funding 50 of new
  Space Segment
• If RA-III and RA-IV all agree to use two-way
  systems for data relay we could further reduce
  costs for everyone by creating a combined RA-III
  and RA-IV RMTN that divides costs of a single
  Space Segment

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Benefits to Two-way Systems

• New workstations have the built-in capacity to
  send and receive data
• Increase data exchange and opportunities to form
  partnerships
• Potentially lower cost for a shared Space Segment
• Increase data transmission speed, reliability,
  and access among two-way users

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Benefits to Common Workstation

• Recommend Purchase of common system in the
  Americas and Caribbean
• Lowers cost if purchased as a group
• Facilitates regional maintenance and training
  program
• Increases opportunities for exchanging data and
  technical experience in the regions
• Improves overall system reliability

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USAs Primary Interests for the ISCS Transition

• Maintain the reliability of ISCS
• Provide accurate and timely meteorological and
  hydrological data and products for all types of
  weather, water, and climate needs particularly
  flight planning
• Continue to have send and receive capability for
  all countries in RA-IV
• Look for cost savings through group purchases of
  workstation
• Promote common system to facilitate maintenance
  and training throughout the ISCS

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Important Dates for Workstation Replacements

• April 1st WMO/SIDS begins review of workstation
  vendor proposals
• End of April Workstation provider for WMO/SIDS
  selected by review team
• May NOAA collaborates with WMO/SIDS and other
  donors on workstation vendor for remaining 2-way
  sites in the RMTN including future training and
  maintenance
• June December VSAT Ground Equipment upgraded
• June- December New workstations must be
  installed and initial training completed
• January 1, 2004 - All workstation capable of
  receiving and sending in TCP/IP should be in
  place and functioning

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Questions?