Mark, I have had a look at the comments to date. There is no doubt that people are getting value from the information you put out in an easily digested format. As one correspondent pointed out, current availability timing of the output is an issue, but there is not much we can do about that! To further delay the output would be a pity, if it could be at all avoided.
In the interest of just throwing ideas about for a possible alternate solution, here are two that would maintain the status quo: 1. Negotiate at the highest level (Director/Senior Policy Adviser), with the BoM to obtain an (ongoing), exemption from the registration fee, on the basis that you have historically provided a well supported service to the entire Australian gliding (in its various forms), community, and that you are prepared to continue this service. The BoM likes to see its services used. You may be aware that in the past they have provided (free of charge), senior forecasters and equipment to State and National Competitions. I would be somewhat surprised if you did not get at least a very sympathetic hearing. 2. Negotiate an annual grant to cover the fee - maybe even from the BoM itself! Keep up the good work. Regards, Gary -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Newton Sent: Wednesday, 20 August 2014 4:50 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: [Aus-soaring] BoM data feed to Australian Atmospheric Soundings website G'day. I've recently received email from the Bureau of Meteorology to say that the data feed they've historically provided to make http://slash.dotat.org/cgi-bin/atmos work will, in future, cost $1125 per annum. Or, more to the point: The data itself will continue to be free, but there's a $1125 per annum fee to be a registered user of it. I can get similar data at no cost from University of Wyoming's Upper Air Project. In my experience, the sounding data from there is delayed by an hour or so, because they get it from the BoM too, then process it before they make it available. I see a non-trivial number of HTTP server hits on my website, so I know people are still using the facility. But server hits don't tell me if they're getting value out of it. So: Is it still useful? My options, as I see them, are: 1. Pay BoM, 2. Refactor the code to fetch from UoW, and accept that it'll run a little bit late; or 3. Shut down the site. Currently leaning towards (2), but nobody is getting value out of it then (3) is clearly my path of least resistance. Thoughts, comments, requests? - mark _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 4007/8066 - Release Date: 08/19/14 _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
