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+--- Thread: Free Grib Viewers? (/thread-626.html)
- CMiles - November 15, 2008
Pocketbook is tight right now and NavX is on my partner's computer not mine. I'm doing the virtual volvo ocean race and want better wind data. Anyone suggest a free grib viewer for Mac? I guess I could just fire up the old PC....
"They just work"... if there is software
- astrenoir - November 16, 2008
AFAIK there is no free viewer for the Mac right now. There are some java libraries around, but no real useable software.
I currently use Ugrib (http://www.grib.us/) with my Parallels installation.
But, like me, write to the Ugrib team to ask for a Mc OS version of their software. (contact@grib.us) More we are to ask for, more we have a chance to have a Mac version.
- iCoco - February 25, 2009
I've just checked with Ugrib's FAQ and this is what I've found:
Q. Are you planning on releasing a Mac OS X version of Ugrib?
A. Everyone loves the Mac. If enough people ask us we'll do it!
So everybody should contact them and ask for Mac support. I did, of course
- bobetter - February 25, 2009
Not to rain on anyone's parade or dish grib.us in any way (I think they offer a fine product) but I was the first to propose a Mac port over 2 years ago (jagasail immediately after...) and there has been no progress or hint of any in that time. It's really unfortunate as the "Mac version" posts are more numerous than any other on the site.
- jagasail - February 25, 2009
And I think I was #2 or 3... Disappointing.
- brak - February 27, 2009
to create a portable application it has to be designed for portability from the beginning. Porting application that is system-specific is a difficult and tedious job.
Considering the fact that grib.us application seems to use .Net framework, I would say that Mac port is probably going to be very close to a complete re-write. For a free application that is a significant hurdle to clear.
- bobetter - February 27, 2009
Sea Slacker Wrote:to create a portable application it has to be designed for portability from the beginning. Porting application that is system-specific is a difficult and tedious job.
Considering the fact that grib.us application seems to use .Net framework, I would say that Mac port is probably going to be very close to a complete re-write. For a free application that is a significant hurdle to clear.
Very true, but remember, these guys are coding, WX and Sailing rockstars and are quite capable of accomplishing the task.
From their FAQ:
"Q. Are you planning on releasing a Mac OS X version of Ugrib ?
A. Everyone loves the Mac. If enough people ask us we'll do it!"
I guess we just gotta keep requesting it?
- brak - February 27, 2009
so what kind of grib files are you usually using? Wind data? Anything else?
- bobetter - February 27, 2009
Sea Slacker Wrote:so what kind of grib files are you usually using? Wind data? Anything else?
http://www.macwx.com/
just about any GRIB you can imagine
...not free but you get what you pay for
- GPSNavX - February 27, 2009
GPSNavX has the ability to request and display GRIB files. It's a mere US$60
- brak - February 27, 2009
So there *is* a GRIB viewer for Mac
(Of course it is pretty much the same MacENC, still though - here is an option)
- GPSNavX - February 27, 2009
BTW The GRIB files that GPSNavX (and MacENC) request are free.
- bobetter - February 28, 2009
OK, this has gotten confusing...
In answer to the original question, no, AFAIK, there are no "free" GRIB viewers for the Mac.
Both MacENC and GPSNavX have the ability to display GRIBS. They also have the ability to request and display free GRIBS, I believe from the Saildocs site. They also have the ability to view GRIBS obtained from any other source, free or not. MacWX is an interface to the OCENS WX service with which one can obtain a plethora of GRIBS and other data for a fee.
grib.us is a service and app (free) that will download and display (in a customized format) GRIBs on Windows machines. They have not as yet released an OS X version.
- brak - February 28, 2009
so what are good sources of grib files? I found free wind forecast GRIB files on globalmarinenet.net, but they don't seem to have anything else available.
- cyberhusky - February 28, 2009
Sea Slacker Wrote:so what are good sources of grib files? I found free wind forecast GRIB files on globalmarinenet.net, but they don't seem to have anything else available.
These are the links I did find in my bookmarks! I hope they are of some help to you.
http://www.meteo-marine.com/grib.htm
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/franksweather/
http://france.meteofrance.com/
http://www.meteoconsult.fr/mar/grib/sommaire_grib.php?langue=an
http://www-lehre.inf.uos.de/~fbstark/diplom/docs/data/GRIB/index.html
http://www.navcenter.com/newdwnld.ccml
http://www.euronav.co.uk/Weather/gribfiles.htm
Regards,
Manou
- GPSNavX - February 28, 2009
http://saildocs.com/
I set up a request form..
http://www.gpsnavx.com/grib/
- brak - March 2, 2009
PolarView now supports GRIB wind data. We are not as full featured a GRIB viewer as grib.us appears to be but you are most welcome to give it a try.
See post in "announcements".
- cyberhusky - March 10, 2009
Here's another link from MaxSea
http://www.navcenter.com/newdwnld.ccml
- brak - March 10, 2009
Excellent, will test their data today. I've added a pressure display to the grib data as well (making it slightly more useful)
- Strathcarron - March 21, 2009
A fine gentleman called Rogerhq has mentioned that he might be about to develop a Mac version of UGRIB, which for those of us living aboard with low bandwidth satphone connections would be the answer to many prayers. He can be encouraged on the UGRIB forum, Mac OS is the most active thread.
- adjuvantjfoster - March 21, 2009
Strathcarron Wrote:A fine gentleman called Rogerhq has mentioned that he might be about to develop a Mac version of UGRIB, which for those of us living aboard with low bandwidth satphone connections would be the answer to many prayers. He can be encouraged on the UGRIB forum, Mac OS is the most active thread.
Ugrib Forum goes on for 14 pages, please add your request, they may weaken yet....(grin)....
- brak - March 22, 2009
Here is animation of animation
of pressure data by PolarView. http://www.polarnavy.com/img/grib_anim1.gif
(I am not sure I can include image inline, but it is probably a bad idea anyway - this image is about 8Mb in size)
What is you opinion on the visualization style (as opposed to artificial isobars)? Would you prefer isobars to be created instead?
Admittedly it is a lot easier on graphics subsystem to draw many small images than it is to draw and fill polygons and I'd like to conserve CPU, all things being equal. However, first the visualization must be acceptable and useful to users.
- brak - June 25, 2009
An updated GRIB viewer is available in PolarView. Here is an exciting screenshot showing off those wavy lines