7.9. Requesting GRIBs

How do I request GRIBs and other layers after signing up for the OCENS service
 
At the base of your SAGA screen:
 
  • Select Map and move and resize your box to the location for which you want data.
     
  • Go to Products and pick your GRIB product set and forecast period.
     
  • Decide if you want text forecasts, buoy data and/or Nexrad radar content and, if so, add products for the layers of interest to you.
     
  • Go to Connect and choose your Communication Method.
     
  • Press Download at the top of the Connect page.
 
Can I choose a rectangular geographic region instead of a square region?
No. All regions are square boxes. Once downloaded, you can zoom within any portion of the downloaded file(s).
 
How come some downloads take a long time over a satellite connection?
Because most handheld satellite phones are SLOW. Remember, Iridium phones and the GO! operate at a speed of 2400 baud. That speed only downloads 18000 bytes in one minute. IsatPhones are even slower. Globalstar phones are a little faster but still nothing like your home internet speeds.
 
How can I speed up the downloads?
Choose fewer days, a smaller box (generally a 10x10 or 15x15 degree box is plenty big) and/or fewer and or one of the preconfigured FAST GRIB product sets.
 
How can I best use the file size estimates SAGA provides to me on the Select GRIB page?
As you add files to your download, change the number of days in your forecast period or adjust the map size, SAGA will show you an approximate file size in kilobytes on the Connect page.
 
Of course, by itself the file size meter can give you immediate feedback on the relative size of your days, map and file selection decisions (bigger numbers of kb will take longer to download than smaller numbers). Taken a step further, however, the file size value can give you a pretty good assessment of just how long it will take you to process a download through your satellite device if you also know the rough speed which your satellite service can process data. What follows are some guidelines on service speed:
Iridium handhelds and GO!: 18 kb per minute
Iridium OpenPort: 960 kb per minute
Inmarsat IsatPhone: 9 kb per minute
Inmarsat Fleet Broadband 150 / FleetOne: 1,125 kb per minute
Inmarsat Fleet Broadband 250: 2,250 kb per minute
Globalstar handhelds and SatFi: 72 kb per minute
VSAT V3: 1000 megabytes per minute