Baron ThreatNet Plus

  • Thread starter Thread starter Billy Griffin
  • Start date Start date
Go with the Sprint card and an amp. I have the S620 card, which will be changed this week to an S720 or Radio Shack will lose the sale and I'll go straight thru Sprint. I don't have an amp yet or external antenna but service has been real good with minnimal drops between a few areas where nothing is around.
With Baron you wouldn't be able to have internet anytime you wanted would you?
 
I'm kind of leaning that way. I owned the Mobile Threatnet system for about two years, then sold it last year when we made the move to Seattle. Now I'm spending time living in both Seattle and our home here in Norman. My job keeps me between Seattle and Oklahoma City... one week here, one there, etc. etc.

We purchased a new home in Orting, WA and still have our old house here in Norman. In some ways, it's kinda nice, other times... not so nice.

Anyway, back to the WxWorx vs. laptop card and Threat Net Plus (or GR2Analyst)... still the debate goes on. What to do?
ThreatNet PLUS sure looks like one heck of a software suite. Wish there was a trial version! Been trying to get hold of Cliff, but no reply back.
 
If you are debating between Mobile Threatnet and a data card I would have to say that depends on where you do most of your chasing. I have both. The Internet has many advantages over the XMWX package. For example, IMO the most important chase tool, as far as data goes, is the 1km visible satellite images. You cannot get these from XMWX. However here in Nebraska where I do most of my chasing our EVDO data network sucks, I am not sure about Cingular. With the roaming agreements between Verizon and Sprint it has gotten better but there are still a lot of holes. On March 28th I chased in western Kansas for the first time in quite a while and I had data service a 100 miles from anywhere while driving on Bobs road. Therefor my advice would be that if you do most of your chasing in western Kansas or somewhere similar that has good/great coverage you would probably want to opt for the data card, because number one it is cheaper and two it is a lot more helpful especially in refining you target area. Otherwise it seems that Threatnet makes a little more sense so that you have data when you need it.
 
Still a tough decision, because I have (had) BOTH. In other words, I do currently have the Sprint EVDO laptop card with a high-speed data subscription (unlimited). In addition, I've previously owned a Mobile ThreatNet system. While no connection is 100% guaranteed, the debate going on in my head is whether sticking with my laptop card and just spending the $ on the software applications, like GRLevel3, GR2Anaylst, etc. - or just go all out and get the Mobile ThreatNet system again?
 
In brief, the maximum Threat Net PLUS subscription fee is $150 per month payable annually at $1,800 with a one-year minimum commitment. There is also a $318.00 up front start-up fee. There are some special lower cost recurring fee options for a longer term Threat Net PLUS agreement that I would be happy to explain further in a phone call at 256-881-8811 or via e-mail at [email protected]

Here's a rundown of all Threat Net PLUS features:
--Data delivery method for Threat Net PLUS is secure internet connection.
--Whole U.S. liquid data base high resolution mapping with zoom down to 1/10th of a mile or less
--Complete whole U.S. places database with ability to easily modify attributes of existing town and city names, as well as easily add an infinite number of custom place names to the map by lat-lon coordinates
--Quantum topography with display of state and county boundaries and major waterways
--Medium resolution City Streets® data base depicting all Interstate, U.S., ----State Highways, an major roadways
--Every available detailed street of any size for an entire county (Optional at $199.99 per county)
--Depiction of city boundaries and locations of airports
--Base level reflectivity composite radar data display of ALL 145 U.S. NEXRAD sites in the 48 contiguous states with time lapse looping
--High Definition Data Processing (HDDP) which displays a clearer radar image by eliminating blocky pixelization
--Radar display update interval, every 2.5 minutes
--Full Storm Tracking with display of Automated Hail Core storms (potentially severe thunderstorm cells) and Shear storms (potentially tornadic cells) via SCITS (Storm Cell Identification Tracks) with ETA of storms over communities at risk and storm cell attributes
--Number of reflectivity composite radar data color levels displayed is 15
--Radar Data Resolution is 1 Kilometer
--Display of counties under NWS Tornado, Thunderstorm and 2 types of Flood Warnings with color-coded county ID
--Detailed message text regarding each NWS warning and detailed NWS forecasts and special advisories
--Spotter Netâ„¢ text messages from other Threat Net PLUS users plus NWS and other observers with map plot icons
--FutureScanâ„¢ animated projection of storm cell movement over the next 1-hour of time
--Rain Totals displaying inches of rainfall over the past 24-hours
--Snow Depth displaying current depth of snow on the ground
--Nationwide 4-kilometer strike-by-strike lightning data display updated every 5-minutes
--Optional real-time strike-by-strike 1-kilometer lighting data for 75 nautical miles diameter at additional cost of $125/mo.
--Optional single-site Live-Sweep radar from a participating TV station at additional cost of $50/mo.
--Automated U.S. ground-based weather sensor readings display
--Infrared Satellite could cover imagery displayed in 5,000 foot elevation increments from 5,000 to 40,000 feet
--Automated U.S. city forecasts for the next five days
--Marine Zone Forecasts for coastal waters and high seas as well as the Great Lakes
--Automated U.S. coastal waterway buoy readings display
--Marine water temperatures and wave heights
--Display of current hurricane and tropical storm tracks and coordinates
--Display of cloud tops in 5,000 foot elevation increments of the atmosphere -from 5,000 to 70,000 feet
--Display of surface winds and winds aloft in 3,000 foot elevation increments of the atmosphere up to 42,000 feet
--Up front Cost is $318 s plus opne (Including start-up and shipping and handling fees)
Threat Net PLUS includes: Software, User's Guide, plus free technical support Monday- Friday from 8AM to 5PM Central Time except for holidays. You provide the computer and reliable high-speed internet connection.
 
I just wanted to say THANK YOU Cliff for coming over here and offering up your support. I know a lot of people here use your product and appreciate that kind of personal attention!
 
To revive this old thread ... it appears the hardware bundles and subscription offerings have dropped significantly from these 5 year old postings below. (as I write this in early 2013). I think I'm going to go ahead and purchase an ethernet bundle once I can confirm if there is a minimum subscription contract requirement or not. I can live with the $100 activation and $100 month but not if I have to do a full year or more continuos.
 
I beleive XMWEATHER data can be turned on and off without issue or cost. At least that is how they do their marine data package....On for boating season and off during the winter. I have recently heard rumors that they have started charging a $10.00 fee for suspending service.
 
I really can't understand why the "threatnet" subscriptions are so much more than the various pilot and marine subscriptions. Any ideas? Other than they figure various emergency planners and 3 month storm chasers can be be "gouged" a little more.
 
They are pretty much the only game in town when it comes to data and they do seem to gouge you for the ground data package...Some chasers get by with the cheaper marine package but I figure if you're going to run Mobile Threat Net you may as well get the full data package. Personally I'll stick with GR3, a cell broadband card and a cellular amp :-)
 
Well, I believe in redundancy, I have an ATT personal cell phone with data sharing and a Verizon Hotspot with 20g for $60 as a "primary" and a booster. In bad areas, having both can still leave you with nothing (and typically when you need wx data most). So to me, dropping the Verizon Millencom $60 month/plan for a $100 month plan with "always on' reliability is a worthwhile tradeoff. I still have ATT data, regardless for PC connectivity in most areas. At least the wxworx hardware/software bundle will retain a certain amount of "resale value" on Amazon if I choose to abandon chasing in future years. Furthermore, I plan on moving my personal number from ATT to Verizon when the time is right
 
Well, I believe in redundancy, I have an ATT personal cell phone with data sharing and a Verizon Hotspot with 20g for $60 as a "primary" and a booster. In bad areas, having both can still leave you with nothing (and typically when you need wx data most). So to me, dropping the Verizon Millencom $60 month/plan for a $100 month plan with "always on' reliability is a worthwhile tradeoff. I still have ATT data, regardless for PC connectivity in most areas. At least the wxworx hardware/software bundle will retain a certain amount of "resale value" on Amazon if I choose to abandon chasing in future years. Furthermore, I plan on moving my personal number from ATT to Verizon when the time is right

It's becoming very rare when I use my wxworx. Last year when I lost cellular data I found myself in place where I couldn't get radar through the wxworx as well since I was so far from the nearest radar as well (near Big Bend ntl park TX). Only other time I recall was using it in Canada when I couldn't get data. Don't mind the occasion of gaps in coverage/signal, can happen with WXWorx too, p-band which it uses can get cut out from hail.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
To be fair, though, I don't think you can blame the Baron XM WX system for no radar in Big Bend since there is no radar coverage there at all (NOAA or private), even if you could manage to find internet connectivity down there and had GRLevel or other, you still would not have had any radar coverage for the area between Marathon, Marfa, and the Big Bend tip. The best you can do there is to try and find some wifi perhaps at the Study Butte hotel and look at some Mexican radar (Chihuahua) at various websites to gauge arrival of some storms from the SW, then keep your fingers crossed.

I tend to try and avoid the crowds when possible and as such get well off the beaten path often, and take my chances there, and having to rely on cellular data is an exercise in futility once you meander too far away from the larger roads and population areas. Cellular coverage is much better than 5 years ago, but there is still too much area with only voice/text coverage, if that.
 
Back
Top