From: geoff@peck.com (Geoff Peck)
Subject: Re: DUATS?
Organization: Geoffrey G. Peck, Consultant, San Jose CA
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 00:27:27 GMT

In article <By6pFz.Epx@mail.boi.hp.com> calvin@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com asks
about DUATS.  While some of Calvin's questions can be answered by reading
the FAQ (hint hint), there are a few new ones...
> My instructor just mentioned DUATS to me today but didn't have a 
> lot of details on what it is (having never used it himself).

Horrors!  You should show your instructor how to use it!

> 1.  What type of weather info can I get using DUATS?

You can get all of the teletypewriter weather products for free, plus,
for an additional charge, graphical weather maps.  The graphical products
vary from supplier to supplier.

> 2.  Is this service free?  If not, how much?

The basic service is free from both GTE Federal Systems and Data
Transformation Corporation.  A similar service is available at a
nominal charge from Jeppesen as their "Jepp-Link" service.  Graphical
products cost money from all suppliers.

> 3.  Is the info in standard "unreadable" format and if so is there
>     a software package that can translate it to English?

Both GTE and DTC provide translation at no charge.  Try out both systems
and see which one you prefer.

> 4.  What are the phone numbers to use this system and are they 
>     different for different baud rates?
> 5.  Is there a better way to get weather info via computer (net or
>     modem) than DUATS?

From the FAQ ...

Q7: Tell me about DUATS on-line weather briefings.

A: If you can dial a U.S. (800) number, or you have access to the Internet,
    you can access DUATS, the FAA's Direct User Access Terminal System,
    at no charge.  DUATS service is provided by two commercial vendors:

					    voice info      data line
	DTC (Data Transformation Corp.)   1-800-243-3828  1-800-245-3828
 	GTE Federal Sys Division (Contel) 1-800-345-3828  1-800-767-9989

    GTE (Contel) DUATS may be accessed via the Internet; simply telnet to
    duat.gtefsd.com.  If your machine seems to be brain-dead in the name
    server department, try 131.131.7.105.  Non-pilots must use the machine
    duats.gtefsd.com (note the "s" in duats), address 131.131.7.106.  (The
    old addresses, duat.contel.com, and duats.contel.com, will continue to
    work for several months.) You can use e-mail to contact GTE for help
    at system@gnd1.wtp.gtefsd.com .  A shell script which allows an entire
    briefing to be obtained using a single command to the shell is
    available by request from geoff@peck.com

    GTE's 800-number dial-in lines now support v.32 (9600 baud).  GTE DUATS
    may also be accessed via SPRINTNET; call the voice info line for a
    local access number.  For DTC, 243-3828 is "AID-DUAT" and 245-3828 is
    "CHK-DUAT".

    If you're a U.S.-licensed pilot (student pilots and glider pilots
    without medicals included), it is to your advantage to obtain a DUATS
    user I.D. and to use that I.D. whenever you obtain a briefing.  Users
    who sign on without giving an I.D. cannot file flight plans, and the
    briefing will not be recorded for the purposes of counting as a "legal"
    briefing.

    If you haven't used DUATS before, you can simply call the data number
    (300/1200/2400 baud, with MNP level 5 available) and register on-line.
    When registering, student pilots should use their student pilot
    certificate number which is also the medical certificate number; it
    begins with "BB" or "DD", and you need to type in the "BB" or "DD" as
    well as the digits.  If your medical is less than about three months old,
    or you are a glider or other pilot who doesn't have a medical
    certificate, you may need to call the voice info numbers to get them to
    add you to the database.  You must register with each provider
    independently; they provide similar levels of service.

    Several commercial weather vendors also exist, and each of them provides
    additional services which may not be available on DUATS.
    Jeppesen-Sanderson has two different services, Jeppesen DataPlan at 1-800-
    358-6468 [voice] is designed for "big guys"; Jepp/Link at 1-800-553-7750
    [voice] is an enhanced version of DUATS for "the rest of us".  CompuServe
    Information Services (buy a starter pack from a local computer store,
    type "GO AWX") has local data access numbers throughout the country.
    WeatherBank, Inc. of Salt Lake City, UT, which also has more specialized
    information such as ROAB soundings and farm forecasts, as well as a
    longer online "history" (up to one year) than other vendors.

						Geoff
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