Data Failure in Storm Proximity

[Stephen Locke]

I often lose data when I am in or near a storm. I am using a MaxSignal amp and whenever I check I have an 80-100% signal so it does not seem I am losing a connection all-together. If my signal drops to zero it is doing that while I'm not looking. In any event I lose internet data and Gr3 won't update. So,
I am asking some general questions about how and why this equipment loses functionality near storms. Is it simply that severe downdrafts disrupt the cell tower signal? Or are there other issues like chaser convergence taxing the cell towers? I usually avoid the convergance. Is Sprint dumping me temporarily? Also, even when I regain an internet connection GRLVL 3 update failures can persist for hours after a big storm. Even a hundred miles away from storms. Do the NWS radar servers routinely crash? Should I subscribe to a pay-type weather data service? Lots of questions here so looking for general advice from those of you who know more about this.

Thank you!

 

[Tony Cook]

I have the same issue with Alltel. It seems to happen independently of my proximity to a storm, though I certainly notice it more when I am in the vicinity of a big cell.

Last year, it happened so often it was almost comical. I was using tethering at that time, using a Max signal amp and Alltel's tether plan. The amp seems to keep my signal up consistently, so I don't think that was it. I suspect maybe a heavy load on the towers (due to other chasers, etc), but never pinned it down. Sometimes, it may be an issue of leaving Alltel coverage area, and towers of different providers not playing well together.

The worst part with my tether system last year- about two times per chase, I would get a system lockup (i.e. Windows blue-screen-of-death). That *did* seem to happen with alarming frequency when I was in the heat of battle with a tornadic HP cell. Normal power-off sequence of the laptop would not even work. The only solution at that time was to pull off the road, literally pull the power cord and battery for 5 seconds, and plug it back in. Then restart GPS, GR3, etc.

Yesterday was my first run with a USB modem and a dedicated Alltel data line. Guess what. Still plenty of data dropouts. I was tailing the Central TX cell from Junction almost back to Austin during this time, so I think some of that was simple lack of coverage. At least I did not have a system lockup, so that much is a little better.

All of this brings up a related question I have. The setup I have now uses Alltel's "QuickLink mobile" software. I talked with tech support and have it configured to reconnect if it loses the line, but that did not really work too well yesterday. How do other chasers handle the reconnect issue. My goal is complete hands-free data access. The last thing I want is to have to punch keys just to reconnect. Surely there is a simple solution just to have things "always on".

Thanks for the topic, Stephen. Was getting ready to post about this very thing.

TonyC

 

[John Wetter]

I haven't really had the issue you're speaking of... But it does slow down around storms. But it's not the storm, it's the other chasers. In more rural areas it doesn't take much to saturate the back-haul channels for towers. Going from a couple calls at a time on them to a couple hundred people trying to push streams of data through a tower is bound to choke it. A good way might be to have a couple providers and to also rely less on data when you're right on a storm.

 

[Jesse Risley]

It probably is the fact that you are in a more rural area and there are other weather weenies who are using plenty of bandwith in the vicinity. I have had this happen before, naturally near a convergence.

I suspect that these "data blackouts" will become more common this year as seemingly more chasers are hitting the road, data cards in tow, with plenty of folks streaming too.

 

[Stephen Locke]

Is Grlvl3 more reliable and current if I subscribe to a data service like AllisonHouse ?

 

[Stephen Locke]

It probably is the fact that you are in a more rural area . . . I suspect that these "data blackouts" will become more common this year as seemingly more chasers are hitting the road, data cards in tow, with plenty of folks streaming too.

I was in Winfield, Kansas and could not get data. Winfield has a population of 12,000 and is the county seat and most populous city of Cowley County. Hard to imagine a few dozen chasers passing through overloaded the system. Maybe . . . I don't know enough about that. My MaxSignal showed 100%. It was as if Sprint cut me off temporarily.

 

[CZandbergen]

Is Grlvl3 more reliable and current if I subscribe to a data service like AllisonHouse ?

Having not chased with the regular NWS level 3 feeds I can't comment on that. I can say that on the chase earlier this week I had very little problems with AllisonHouse data feed via ATT Aircard and a good antenna and amp. I had a couple of drop outs or so over a 8 hour chase. Both of those were signal related. I had no issue with through put while I had a signal. I was actually pretty surprised I was able to stream and get all the GR3 data on edge service in such rural areas.

EDIT: And we had one heck of a convergence on the cell that ran from Medford OK to east of Arkansas City...

 

[Mike Cox]

The air card I use from US Cellular has the Quick link mobile software. I've found the software to be extremely buggy and causes multiple issues with my air card. (losing connections, won't reconnect, etc) I have basically stopped using the software except to update the prl of the card, etc. I set up a dial-up connection in windows using the air card and found it to be a little more stable. This year, I purchased a cradlepoint router for my air card in hopes of doing less babysitting of my data connection.

As for using Allisonhouse data, radar data is not always current, etc from the NWS servers. I believe the NWS upgraded their radar servers over the winter, so maybe they'll be more reliable this year. I've had an Allisonhouse subscription basically since Tyler started it and have been very happy with the service and products offered. What few issues have arisen have been taken care of quickly.

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

This happened to me a number of times last year. I use a sprint card. (GRLEVEL3 failed to update despite a strong cell signal.) The only solution that seemed to work was to restart GRLEVEL3..and it would generally at least give me one updated radar image before going out again. I suspected a datafeed problem with GRLEVEL3 data service when there is heavy usage from chasers for a particular radar site..and suggest try pointing datafeed at http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/nexrd2/raw/ instead if normal data feed doesn't work.

Note: Using a Barrons Mobile Threat Net SAT system...you can get the same type of problems...sometimes their datafeed fails to update at the worst possible times. Also, if you have a thick anvil canopy-especially towards the South....it will block the Sat signal all together just like with a TV Sat signal.

 

[Stephen Locke]

This happened to me a number of times last year. I use a sprint card. (GRLEVEL3 failed to update despite a strong cell signal.) The only solution that seemed to work was to restart GRLEVEL3..and it would generally at least give me one updated radar image before going out again.

Yes! This is exactly what has happened to me twice this year. I get one update after restart then no more. This goes on for hours after . . . basically the entire trip home. Irritating because I use GRLVL3 on the way home to avoid major areas of precip and hail cores at night.

 

[Lou Ruh]

I suspected a datafeed problem with GRLEVEL3 data service when there is heavy usage from chasers for a particular radar site..and suggest try pointing datafeed at http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/nexrd2/raw/ instead if normal data feed doesn't work.

Isn't http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/nexrd2/raw/ a NEXRAD Level 2 data source? How does that work with GRLEVEL3?

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

Isn't http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/nexrd2/raw/ a NEXRAD Level 2 data source? How does that work with GRLEVEL3?

Thanks for catching that. Yes..that trick will only work on the Gr2 version.

 

[Adam Lucio]

I have the same issue too. My crappy Cingular air card has full signal but wont connect sometimes. My guess is all the streaming is munching up the available data, this wasnt as big of an issue a couple years ago before the streaming craze really caught on. I may invest in a boost kit and see if that does anything, Ive heard good things. I also may contemplate switching providers but if the same issues happen then whats the point?

I have the same problem with GR3 as well, it seems that if GR3 falls 20 minutes behind it tries to catch up every update rather than skipping to the latest update...restarting it works well as far as fixing that problem....I also found that its a good idea to sit in a spot where you have data for a couple minutes, get the updates you need, make a plan and move on....that is of course if your not already on the storm where seconds are precious.

 

[Tony Cook]

I have the same issue too. My crappy Cingular air card has full signal but wont connect sometimes. My guess is all the streaming is munching up the available data, this wasnt as big of an issue a couple years ago before the streaming craze really caught on. I may invest in a boost kit and see if that does anything, Ive heard good things. I also may contemplate switching providers but if the same issues happen then whats the point?

Yeah, I have the signal booster amp and Alltel, and the same issues occur. I think you hit the nail on the head with the streaming craze. That has to be bandwidth intensive, and seems like a ton of folks are doing it now. Granted, I am liking it on those days I have to stay home.

I have the same problem with GR3 as well, it seems that if GR3 falls 20 minutes behind it tries to catch up every update rather than skipping to the latest update...restarting it works well as far as fixing that problem....I also found that its a good idea to sit in a spot where you have data for a couple minutes, get the updates you need, make a plan and move on....that is of course if your not already on the storm where seconds are precious.

I don't see that same issue. When mine drops, GR3 drops all frames until it comes back on, and always gets the latest data available. Maybe it is a config issue somehow. What version are you running? I think the latest is 1.52. Sounds like a GR3-owners-forum question might be in order:
http://www.grlevelx.com/owners/index.php

Agree also that when you are in relatively close proximity, and these problems occur, you just have to forget about the data and deal visually. There will always be time down the road a little ways to stop and screw with the connection, and figure out how the storm has morphed on radar compared to what you are seeing in the field.

TonyC

 

[Tony Cook]

The air card I use from US Cellular has the Quick link mobile software. I've found the software to be extremely buggy and causes multiple issues with my air card. (losing connections, won't reconnect, etc) I have basically stopped using the software except to update the prl of the card, etc. I set up a dial-up connection in windows using the air card and found it to be a little more stable. This year, I purchased a cradlepoint router for my air card in hopes of doing less babysitting of my data connection.

Okay, thanks. I suspected that the software was part of the problem. I will try configuring the connection with windows and see if that helps matters. I have looked at the Cradlepoint, but they seem a little pricey, and I've pretty much already eaten up my equipment budget for the year. I seem to recall some chasers getting the same results using old Linksys routers, which you can practically find on the side of the road these days. Anyone have experience with that route?

As for using Allisonhouse data, radar data is not always current, etc from the NWS servers. I believe the NWS upgraded their radar servers over the winter, so maybe they'll be more reliable this year. I've had an Allisonhouse subscription basically since Tyler started it and have been very happy with the service and products offered. What few issues have arisen have been taken care of quickly.

I think on Wednesday's chase, KEWX (San Antonio) may have been having problems, although not sure it was the radar or my feed. I should look at Allisonhouse again, I guess.

I know during yesterday's event, with my home RoadRunner high speed and sitting comfortably at my desk, I had practically every radar in Texas, up, as well as Lake Charles, Fort Polk and points east later in the day. Had 3-4 instances of GR3 running constantly and nary a dropout that I noticed. Strangely, I just popped up GR3 this morning with my home internet connection, and suddenly not getting data from any radar site. Internet is working fine, too, so this is a NWS server feed probably. But yesterday, it was flawless.

[Edit] Data feed is alive again for all radars, so downtime < 5 minutes there...[/Edit]

Thanks,
TonyC