Data transfer averages

[D. Hayes]

Has anyone gauged the amount of average data they use in a month when using GRlevel3 and/or GRlevel2?

Reason I'm bringing this up is because with the 5gb limits Verizon has I'm wondering if busting that limit is going to be common place or not. Any other weather software transfer rate averages would also benefit the thread.

Thanks Guys.

 

[Jason Foster]

Has anyone gauged the amount of average data they use in a month when using GRlevel3 and/or GRlevel2?

Reason I'm bringing this up is because with the 5gb limits Verizon has I'm wondering if busting that limit is going to be common place or not. Any other weather software transfer rate averages would also benefit the thread.

Thanks Guys.

I can tell you there is no worries for GR3....that is nothing. I'm sure you're fine all the way around. Things like streaming video, looping lots of satellites images, uploading large photos or videos is what will kill your bandwidth.

 

[rdale]

I've never come close to busting Verizon's cap while using AE. It's not continuous, certainly more GR3, but still wasn't a big deal for 3-6 chases.

 

[Mark Blue]

I used my Sprint service for the better part of a month in May and June and I think I wound up somewhere between 1 and 2 Gigs for the period and I didn't limit or watch what I was doing very closely either. I basically browsed the internet whenever I wanted, ran GRL3 when storms were active, downloaded Norton Internet Security updates as needed, heck I even paid a couple of fuel credit card bills when I had a spare moment (those were way too high!). I was worried about the cap when it first came out but I think it would actually be hard to exceed it now that I've had a go at it and didn't even come close.

IIRC I even installed Vista SP2 when the day was done, so I am of the opinion that it's a non issue. If you stream that's on the upload side so that as far as I'm aware doesn't count in your overall total.

 

[Bryan Stokes]

Thanks for your insight Mark. I'm worried about this too. In 2010, I will be using an air card for the first time, but I will be chasing almost full-time and am concerned about the limits too. (almost full-time means that I will be available to chase 20-24 days each month)

I won't be streaming while I chase. I will only be using it for decisions on target area adjustments, GR3, and other real-time resources. Any uploading of pics or watching of other's videos will probably be on wi-fi at the motel.

Sounds like I should be good to go...
Bryan

 

[Mark Blue]

You're welcome. One weird thing that did happen when we were driving between Shreveport, LA and Lufkin, TX is there were some odd ball connection charges as if I had dialed the operator for help in connecting on my bill. It amounted to another $19 on my bill and I never called customer service to complain, but I often wondered what those were.

I use a wireless router and not the Sprint Smartview software, so it's a little hard to tell when I'm roaming, but operater assisted connection charges - give me a break. The one cap I do worry about exceeding somewhat is the 300 Mb roaming limit when off network. There's not much wiggle room when the limit is so low.

 

[David Drummond]

Even streaming, which I do a LOT of while I am chasing, never even came close to 5gigs. My entire streaming archive for 2008 was less than 2 gigs, as archived on the receiving server end. Even if you account for some overhead over the actual file, no way I was going to even come close to 5 gigs a month.

I believe those limits were put in place to punish file sharing. Normal use most likely would never be an issue.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I personally had two data systems for most of May - June (well, for V2) -- a Sprint data card and my AT&T tethered phone; our radar truck also had a Verizon data card that I used as a backup when the Sprint card had no service or when the Verizon side had the fastest connection (primarily in parts of Nebraska, where we spent quite a bit of time). I tried to put most of my web traffic through the Sprint card since AT&T tethering is only "allowable" when one signs up for the Data Connect plan (or whatever the equivalent is now) in which I was not enrolled. I think I ended up with ~300 mb on the AT&T side (mostly using it as a backup when my Sprint card had no service), and a couple of gigabytes on the Sprint side. Of course, this was chasing about 75% of the days during V2, and using the card at the hotels that didn't have free WiFi.

 

[Scott Hammel]

I ran GR3 and streamed a decent amount with the Verizon 5GB plan and never came close to hitting it in a month...

 

[D. Hayes]

I'm more worried about the high res level 2 data than anything else. I'm going to be taking several weeks off to chase in the beginning of the season.

I might be in luck though. When I upgraded my phone I was able to stay with my Alltel plan that actually has unlimited data.

 

[John Wetter]

I've never worried about the 5gb limit much, but I have worried the 500MB roaming limit...