What Is the Safest and Best Tool for Viewing GRIB Files ?

[UncleMag]

Can someone point me in the right direction for the best free download for obtaining and viewing GRIB files? Thanks...UncleMag

[Simes]

UncleMag,

Try the "Ugrib" facility. Whilst it is web driven it works OK as long as you are connected to the web.

Just here Downloads

Simes

[Hydra]

I concur. Ugrib changed my life.

It's free, easy to install and it works well for selecting the area, downloading and viewing the data (wind, rain, pressure) from GFS model.

Alain

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by UncleMag

Can someone point me in the right direction for the best free download for obtaining and viewing GRIB files? Thanks...UncleMag

Viewfax is the free viewer from saildocs. Its what we use when we just want to look at the weather and don't want to use a routing program.

Get the 'beta' version (which has now been out for years and is bug free). Then you have either the choice of getting your gribs by e-mail, or by direct web connection.

Compared to Ugribs - its a similar program but offers several grib models rather than just the one (gfs) that Ugribs uses.

[Simes]

Just while we are all here, i.e. talking about GRIB files. I have just become a happy MAC owner, except I can't find a Mac Grib handler. Can anyone help?

Simes

[JamuJoe]

Simes , I use MacENC for navigation and import of GRIB files. Excellent program with very good support.

[brak]

Since no one mentioned it, I'll just say that PolarView displays GRIB data and has a GRIB data download built-in. We provide GFS (primarily "wind"), NWW3 (wind + wave) and RTOFS (Atlantic currents, primarily Gulfstream) model data.

[Greg S]

I use UGRIB when we have WiFi and am very happy with it. Once out of WiFi range we use ViewFax on the SSB.

[Simes]

Hi JamnJoe and Brak,

Just been to the Polar Navy site. Like what I see there. Your "YouTube" demos are pretty good. We will be buying a full copy I think.
Nice looking integration of the GRIB and AIS components.

Brak,

OK if I PM you?

Simes

[brak]

Originally Posted by Simes

Brak,

OK if I PM you?

Simes

Sure thing! The best contact method though is through the web-site contact form or email.

[barnakiel]

We use:

MaxSea,
Ugrib (Grib.us)
Polar Navy.

b.

[gjorgensen]

And remember that openCPN also has GRIB support, with chart overlay. I agree with Evans that the beta version of viewfax is probably the most complete viewer currently freely available.

[Camelot]

Hi,

It surprises me that noone mention zyGrip, as a much more well designed tool. zyGrip offers NOAA-GFS standard, NOAA-GFS altitude and FNMOC-WW3 waves.

Try www.zygrib.org. Current version 6.2.3

zyGrib has assisted me for 23.000 nautical miles and 6 oceans the last two years and it is very easy to upload GRIB files downloaded on file via SailMail. Therefore, satphone or not is not anissue when using zyGrib.
zyGrib also offer a separat service for low capacity communication. This is also email based: http://zygrib.org/index.php?page=gribauto