Elevation Model Tiles. Suggestion for temp solution to NOAA outage

[Dave1]

Hi, As a new and very impressed user of Plan G I am keen to use the Plan elevation functionality.
BUT it remains impossible to download the digital terrain tiles due to the continued unavailability of the NOAA website. (Topic first raised Oct 2013)

There must be a lot of Plan G users who cannot use this functionality due to this continuing issue (I haven't been able to find any alternative means of acquiring the files)

Tim as a temporary solution would it be possible to setup a section within the "Childs Boards" area for example where some key previously acquired tiles can be made available to Forum Members for download ?  (I'm interested in UK & NW Coast USA !)

Cheers
Dave

[w9nwrwi]

Dave,

Is this the NOAA web site that our referring to?  http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/topo/gltiles.html
I just checked it and its working fine here.

Chuck

[Dave1]

Hi Chuck,

Yes that the one. I just tried your url and unfortunately it's still blocked for me.
I see you are located in the USA ? It looks like it may be blocked to non US users (I am in Australia) If that's the case my idea may have some merit.

Alternatively you might like to email me a couple !?

Cheers
Dave

[w9nwrwi]

Hi Dave,

I just sent you an e-mail via this site.  I took a look at the DEM site and did not see any restriction of use.  Maybe your browser is blocking it??

Send me a e-mail back and we can get started on your requirements.

Chuck

[tim arnot]

I just checked, and downloads are working fine to the UK. Chuck is probably right, in that something else is probably blocking it either at your end or somewhere in between.

[Dave1]

Hi Chuck & Tim,

Thanks for the email Chuck, unfortunately the attachments didn't make it.
BUT knowing it worked for you in the US I tried accessing the site with a VPN & YES instant access. I have now successfully downloaded tiles, just need to install them into Plan G.

This topic is now closed from my perspective

Thanks for your responses
Dave
;D

[w9nwrwi]

Hi Dave,

Good deal!! Glad you got it working.    I have to ask though, what is a VPN?

[tim arnot]

Virtual Private Network. It's a way of (e.g.) connecting securely to your office LAN via the internet. It also lets you connect to the internet via a proxy server, thereby masking your identity and (importantly in this instance) location. VPNs are most typically used to get around the annoying region restrictions broadcasters often put on video feeds. (don't get me started on the evils of DRM...)

[w9nwrwi]

Thanks Tim,
Never too old to learn.

Chuck

[Dave1]

Hi Chuck,
Apologies I've been away for a couple of days but I see Tim has given you a great definition of what a VPN does. It comes in handy from time to time !

Thanks again for your response to my query which triggered the idea that a VPN might work.

Cheers
Dave

[tejas123]

Hi
Extremely new user here,

Am interested in learning about these model tiles.  Where do they go and how are they used?  Is there a tutorial somewhere you can point me to?  The reason I ask is because I just discovered Pan-G and the reason I like it is because the background map shows terrain like the map in FSX.  I like to do a lot of "mountain" flying in small aircraft so terrain showing in the map helps a lot.  So are Elevation Model Tiles something I should learn and know about???

Thank you

[w9nwrwi]

Hello Tejas,

They go into your Documents/Plan-G Files/DEM. After you download them they are unzipped into individual items, and show up as a10g, b10g, etc, each one into the dem folder.
They are used to provide elevation data for your flight plan and also for your spot elevation when flying.

I would recommend you look into the Plan-G manual (pdf file) that is located within your Plan-G directory. Specifically Section 12.4 (page 51 & 52) and section 13.1 page 60, and
of course just search within the document for "DEM". 

I think you will find it useful with your mountain flying.

Chuck

[tejas123]

Thank you for the quick response Chuck.  Sounds like something I can use.  I did scan the PDF manual (probably too quickly lol)  but did not relate the information about DEM to elevation tiles.  But now that you have me pointed in the right direction I will get it figured out.  Something new to play around with.

Love Plan-G!!

Thanks,
Jeff

[tim arnot]

DEM = Digital Elevation Model ;)