Communication Apps

[Tim Walsh]

I know that a lot of chasers use ham radio to communicate with other chasers but for those that don't have ham license I was wondering if anyone used any of the walkie talki type apps for your phone. I use an app called Zello (Android, iPhone and PC) and found a few storm spotter channels.

I thought it would be great for Stormtrack to have a channel for us to communicate while on a chase...or not on a chase.

Maybe you all have something you already use.

 

[Jay Farlow]

I know that a lot of chasers use ham radio to communicate with other chasers but for those that don't have ham license I was wondering if anyone used any of the walkie talki type apps for your phone. I use an app called Zello (Android, iPhone and PC) and found a few storm spotter channels.

I thought it would be great for Stormtrack to have a channel for us to communicate while on a chase...or not on a chase.

Maybe you all have something you already use.

Zello is popular around here, where cellular data coverage is pretty good.

 

[Tim Walsh]

Is there a particular channel that is commonly used? Im finding some that are more private or member based.

 

[Jay Farlow]

Is there a particular channel that is commonly used? Im finding some that are more private or member based.

I don't know if any particular channel is commonly used nationwide. Perhaps someone else here does. There's an open channel for Indiana spotters and chasers called, "SKYWARN Indiana." Most of the other channels I'm on are closed, except for members. For example, we have one that's just for the people who serve as net control station operators of our local SKYWARN net. We sometimes use it to coordinate shift changes, etc. off the air.

 

[Tim Walsh]

I have" American Storm Chasers" who seem to be very official and use a dispatch and I have US Chasers & Spotters which has a lot of people on the channel but no one talks LOL.

I will keep poking around to see if I can find a good one for amateurs like me. Im going to be heading out some time in the next 2 weeks (if anything actually happens) and it would be good to communicate with some other chasers.