Dear IDD Community,
I am writing to inquire whether it is possible for a non-university,
independent researcher to obtain access to the IDD network for receiving the
DDPLUS feed (IDS|DDPLUS) — specifically METAR/SPECI surface observations.
Background:
I am an independent researcher working on real-time meteorological data
analysis. My project requires monitoring global METAR observations with
sub-minute latency. I currently rely on the NWS AWC cache files, which
introduce a 5-10 minute latency compared to primary data sources. I understand
the IDD/LDM network can reduce this to 10-60 seconds.
Current Setup:
- LDM 6.14.6 is installed and configured on my server (IP: 70.34.201.38,
Stockholm, Sweden)
- ldmd.conf, pqact.conf, and registry are all properly configured
- I am ready to configure an upstream ALLOW entry as directed by any willing
provider
- I am self-sufficient in LDM administration and will not require ongoing
technical support
Technical Commitments:
- Bandwidth: ~10-50 KB/s (DDPLUS only, no high-volume feeds)
- Will maintain rtstats reporting to the IDD community
- Will comply with all IDD usage policies and acceptable use guidelines
- Will configure appropriate scouring to prevent excessive disk usage
Questions:
1. Is it possible for a non-university user to join the IDD network?
2. If so, what is the formal process? Is there an application or approval
procedure?
3. Would any existing IDD relay site be willing to provide an upstream feed to
my server?
4. If direct IDD access is not available, are there recommended alternatives?
I have also opened a support ticket with NSF Unidata (Ticket #XVF-9299792)
through the Support Portal, but I wanted to reach out to the broader IDD
community as well, since many of you manage relay sites and may have experience
with non-university access requests.
Note: I previously attempted to post to this list before completing my
subscription, which resulted in my message being held for moderation. I am now
properly subscribed and resending this inquiry.
I greatly appreciate any guidance, suggestions, or leads the community can
provide. Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Chaobo Wen
Email: wenchaobo06@xxxxxxxxx
Server IP: 70.34.201.38
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
LDM Version: 6.14.6