From: geoff@peck.com (Geoff Peck)
Subject: Re: DUATS question
Organization: Geoffrey G. Peck, Consultant, San Jose CA
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 07:55:00 GMT

			A A R G H ! ! ! ! !

Come on, folks, READ THE FAQ.  This kind of question is precisely what it's
there for, and it answers *ALL* of the questions which have popped up in
this thread COMPLETELY.  For example, one reader asks about how non-pilots
may access DUATS and what restrictions there might be.  Let's test our
reader's comprehension, and see if they can find the answer below.

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Subject: DUATS on-line weather briefings

Q6: 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
	Contel                            1-800-345-3828  1-800-767-9989

    Contel DUATS may be accessed via the Internet; simply telnet to
    duat.contel.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.contel.com (note the "s" in duats), address 131.131.7.106.  You
|   can use e-mail to contact Contel for help at system@gnd1.wtp.contel.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

    Contel's 800-number dial-in lines now support v.32 (9600 baud).  Contel
    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.

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						Geoff