Alert thresholds allow several individual PUPs to select agency unique alert threshold criteria. Alert threshold criteria are broken down into three groups preset at the Unit Control Positions (UCPs):

2. Volume Group These are alerts occurring within a user-defined area requiring completion of a volume scan. Detection is based on meteorological phenomena meeting or exceeding an assigned threshold or algorithm output. If there is more than one storm exceeding a category threshold in the same alert area, the alert triggers on the stronger storm.

3. Forecast Group Alert categories with this group are storm based only and are triggered when phenomena is located in or forecast to enter an active alert area. This group is storm oriented (based on the movement of a storm associated with the phenomena) and requires a complete volume scan..

To enter the alert you first determine which of the three alert thresholds groups correspond to the geographically based alert area(s) you are considering.

The following section will deal with the editing of products, annotations, maps, and alert areas.

In general, there are two types of RCM products sent out by the RPG. One type is the operational RCM, which is called the post-edit alphanumeric RCM. This RCM is available to all PUPS and is displayed only on the alphanumeric terminal via the Display menu. It is requested from the RPG either via the Display menu or the RPS list. This is an alphanumeric-only product that may have already undergone editing at the PUP and been returned to the RPG for distribution. The other type of RCM is the pre-edit version to be edited by one designated PUP per NEXRAD unit. There is adaption data at the PUP which specifies whether the PUP is designated for editing of the pre-edit version of the RCM. This is called the Edit RCM flag. It is located on the RCM Parameter edit screen which is accessible from the Extended Adaption Data menu, which, itself, is accessible via password from the Adaption Data menu. The RPG also has adaption data which specifies which PUP in the NEXRAD unit is designated to receive, edit, and return the pre-edit version of RCM. This adaption data must match the PUP adaption data as to who is to do the RCM editing.

Any PUP can generate free text messages (FTM) and distribute them to other users. Only RPG OP can distribute messages to the RPG. While the message is being generated, it is called a PUP text message (PTM). This generated PTM is known as a FTM by the RPG after it is distributed. When messages are received from any RPG, they are considered FTMs.

Product annotations for graphic products are overlays. These annotations can be selected for display by default whenever the annotated product is displayed using the Overlay Associations edit screen. A PUP or RPG OP can annotate any graphic product Only an RPG OP can send a products annotation to the RPG. When an annotation is generated for a particular product, the annotations are associated with only that one specific version of the product. After generation via the graphic screen, a graphic products annotation can be distributed to the RPG by using an alphanumeric terminal command listed on the Gen and Distribute Products menu. Once the annotations are sent to the RPG, the RPG may distribute the anntated product to the PUPS, and the "Other Users" on its distribution list.

To enable the editing of background maps, the System Option Command (P)ASSWORD, (E)DIT MAPS, (E)NABLE must have been selected previously (since the last PUP restart).

There are two versions of both the low- and high-detail maps; the original (which cannot be altered) and the modified (the latest edited version).

This information is now available on CD in Adobe PDF Printable Format

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