Update,

First, thanks for the quick replies.

Since I'm here on dry land, I get the GRIB files on my regular internet
connection. They are named "Pacific.wind.24hr.grb.bz2". That tells me
they are compressed. I'll get the decompressor and see what happens.

My friend is rather technologically challenged in the computing area.
His SSB is probably 15 years old or so and he doesn't own a computer
anywhere.

Where does one find GrADS? I'd ike to give it a shot.

Thanks!