• Introduction
• Objectives
• System Requirements
• 1. Radar Data Acquisition
  (RDA) Unit
  • Introduction
  • Transmitter
  • Antenna
    • Overview
    • Volume Coverage Pattern
      (VCP)
    • Operational Modes
  • Receiver
    • Overview
    • Data Recording at the RDA:
      Archive Level I
  • Signal Processor
    • Overview
    • Ground Clutter Suppression
    • Calculation of Base Data
    • Range Unfolding of Doppler
      Data
  • Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM)
    and Monitor Interface
• 2. Wideband
  Communications
  • Introduction
  • Direct Wire Link
  • Private T1
  • Telco (Commercial) T1
  • Microwave Line-Of-Site
    (MLOS)
• 3. Radar Product Generator
  (RPG)
  • Introduction
  • Product Generation
  • RPG Control
  • Product Distribution
    • Overview
    • RPG Base Data Distribution
      System (BDDS)
    • Archive Level III
• 4. Master System Control
  Function (MSCF)
  • Introduction
  • The RDA HCI at the MSCF
  • The RPG HCI at the MSCF
    • Overview
    • RDA Changes Initiated at
      the RPG HCI
    • Optimizing Data Quality
    • Status Monitoring
    • Free Text Messages
    • Product Distribution
      Communications
• 5. Product Distribution
  Communications
• 6. User Systems
  • Introduction
  • Principal Users
  • Other Users
    • Overview
    • Base Data Distribution
      System (BDDS)
    • Radar Product Central
      Collection/Distribution
      System (RPCCDS)
  • Advanced Weather
    Interactive Processing
    System (AWIPS)
    • Overview
    • AWIPS Narrowband
      Communications to
      the RPG
    • RPCCDS and Archive Level III
    • The AWIPS Workstation
• Acronym Listing

Introduction

 

Welcome to the "DLOC Topic 2: Introduction to the Weather Surveillance Radar - 88 Doppler (WSR-88D)" web module. This on-line tutorial contains the same exact content as the documentation in the DLOC Student Guide. DLOC students should only complete either:

1. This web module or
2. The Topic 2 Student Guide.

Note to NWS Staff: To receive credit for the DLOC Topic 2 Training, you must login to the NWS Learning Center and complete all course requirements!

The WSR-88D system is made up of several data processing, control, and display components, with some units employing subcomponents. In order to effectively operate the WSR-88D and produce the best quality data, it helps to have a basic understanding of these units and their subcomponents, their relationship to each other, and the flow of data through the system. This module provides a system description of the five equipment, or component, groups and their primary subcomponents, as well as some of the different user systems that visualize WSR-88D output (i.e., 6 groups total). These different groups are the:

• The Radar Data Acquisition (RDA) Unit,
• The Wideband Communications between the RDA Unit and The Radar Product Generator,
• The Radar Product Generator (RPG),
• The Master System Control Function (MSCF),
• The Product Distribution Communications, and
• The Different User Systems (e.g., AWIPS, OPUP).

NEXT: Objectives

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