Chase Setup Simplification

[Sam Barricklow]

Again this year, the amount equipment required (cameras, camcorder, GPS, PC, MTN, ham radio, cell phone, etc.) and the time needed to install my "temporary" chase setup was a burden, significantly delaying my departure on the few chases I went on.

Although I envy those chasers who have taken the time and made the effort to permanently install their chase equipment, I just don't want the worry when not chasing that someone may steal my stuff. Like Johnny Winter said, Dallas is the meanest town I know, and Garland, where I live, is running a close second.

Here's the issue. A few chasers use a suction cup mounted GPS unit that integrates mapping and satellite weather radar into one small unit, without the external antennas, a PC, an external GPS hockey puck, nor the need for an inverter and all of the associated wiring.

Faidley was using one of these GPS / satellite radar receivers last year or the year before. The downside was no meso indicators (i.e., whirlies, spinnies, etc.) and the resolution was not as good as the excessively smoothed MTN / PC combination. But, the size of the GPS / satellite receiver package makes it tempting for the sake of downsizing and simplifying my chase setup.

I currently use a windshield mounted GPS in addition to having a PC with Delorme mapping software. The detail available with the suction cup mounted GPS is not nearly as good as that available with the Delorme software. But, it serves the purpose during at least 80 to 90% of most chases. It also drives the APRS function of my 2 meter radio so that I can show up on SpotterNetwork if I want to.

Also, the lure of streaming video is calling me, but before I can add that, something else will have to go. I do realize that to support streaming video, I'll still need a PC and will need to add an "air card", which would support Internet radar, but I would rather have the satellite radar / GPS combo instead to avoid chaser convergence induced Internet latency issues that I've heard can be quite severe at times.

Has anyone heard of any plans for an improved windshield mounted GPS / satellite weather radar combination? And, does anyone have experience with a GPS / satellite weather radar unit that they can share?

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

My chase setup is very simple and refined over the years. I have two setup types, first the all-out equipment, with weather station on the roof and such, which I mainly use for hurricanes on my own chase vehicle, and second, a more portable unit to fit to a rental car and such. The former does not fare well when flying out to chase with an airline, so I use the more limited setup with the bare essentials.

I have a 1,000 watt invertor and designed a 15 foot cable from extra 12V lighting wire I had with it's own 50 A fuse and alligator clips - Right on to the battery. The other end goes into the invertor (mainly for laptop), and a 3-outlet 12 V plug on the same circuit (for HAM radio, chargers, etc). The window mount GPS just mounts to the windshield. I use just the dewpoint / temp sensor for my old WM-918 display.

All this fits, with all my clothes, in a carry-on bag, has no tools (to be confiscated), and sets up on a rental (only the HAM antenna and DP sensor is mounted) in about 20 minutes.

Above: My 2-week chase gear and clothes packed into carry-on bag in May 2008.

 

[Jason Foster]

I've started following Chris example, having chase a few times with him. While simplifying sometimes takes extra money, I think it is a great idea. Flexibility is key.

Sam, I don't know about the GPS/Satellite systems that you may be trying to combine, but if you don't find an answer there, don't hesitate to look elsewhere for slimming down. That could be anything from a smaller laptop (physical size) or simply throwing out something that is hardly used. I'm not sure if possibly you were talking about the AVmap system with the Kenwood TNC radios or possibly the XM WX non-baron based product?

Also like Chris I travel two ways, with my chase vehicle and without. I prefer to be with my own vehicle, but there too I've had to slim down...going from a Dodge Caravan now to a Subaru Legacy GT wagon. In vehicle I've stopped taking all the tools and spare parts to fix the vehicle on the fly should I need to. Keeping a vehicle in top shape, and after that, just have multiple road side assistance programs. Also, it is a lot easier to carry a good credit card and make purchases as necessary rather than bring every single thing you might need. When I fly, I'm starting to just take the min. amount of stuff, and buy a lot of things once I'm at my destination.

One other simplification is to also have everything pre-wired and cords bundled. Zip ties are great for this. I always carry extra ties too, in case I need to adjust the bundles, but most of the time I can keep things organized in multiple vehicles (rentals, chase buddies, etc.).

 

[Sam Barricklow]

GPS

Jason, The windshield mounted GPS is the AVmap and it is coupled to a TMD-700 Kenwood for APRS.

I use a laptop for mobile Threatnet, and for the Delorme mapping software, with a small "hockey puck" GPS receiver. In addition, I usually also take the following:

- Police scanner
- Camcorder
- Digital SLR
- other stuff

I'd like to eliminate the AVmap, and the laptop, plus the items connected to the laptop (e.g., ThreatNet receiver and antenna, inverter, GPS hockey puck, and all of the wiring associated with this setup).

I'm pretty sure that Warren's GPS / satellite receiver did use non-Baron XM Weather, which doesn't provide meso indicators, and the resolution is not great, but it does provide radar reflectivity info. However, the ThreatNet responder package and the meso indicators, have proven to be very helpful, especially at night, during poor visibility, or when there are multiple storms to sort through.

More detailed level III radar via the internet might be OK when not driving, or when teamed with a knowledgeable chaser who can correctly interpret the radar, but it's not as useful as ThreatNet when chasing solo. So in a perfect world, any replacement, such as the one used by Warren, must provide at least as much information as ThreatNet, but using a windshield mounted GPS display, and without all of the clutter.

But, if this cap and trade bill makes it through the Senate, expect our world to rapidly change for the worse, with fuel prices going through the roof. Chasing, and life as we have known it, will quickly become a memory and this discussion will be irrelevant.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

I like to travel light. Saves space in the vehicle.
Just a camera bag with a XTi, a laptop w/GPS puck, and a bag for clothes and personal items. I also keep a small box with software and DVD's - so I can watch a movie while waiting or in my motel room after the chase. I recently have changed this line-up to include a 2 meter radio and a 10/11 meter radio. My 2 meter radio (Yaesu FT-8800R) also has scan capabillities - but has some limitations.

It works for me...