GR level 3 or GR level 2AE for chasing

[Brian Russell]

I basically use radar to find storms worth targeting and chasing, never really used it as a safety tool, however i will usually core punch as well to try to get the best video for resale as well, and since my chase vehicle is over 10,000 pounds i am not too worried about core punching too much to get the video.

 

[bradjones]

Hey rdale don't get me wrong I use Radar Scope with my IPad Air when I chase and I agree with you as I would never chase without the help of the Radar I have found that in past chases it helped guide me as I closed in on a storm.

 

[Rob H]

I basically use radar to find storms worth targeting and chasing, never really used it as a safety tool, however i will usually core punch as well to try to get the best video for resale as well, and since my chase vehicle is over 10,000 pounds i am not too worried about core punching too much to get the video.

This is the post of the year.

 

[Skip Talbot]

I basically use radar to find storms worth targeting and chasing, never really used it as a safety tool, however i will usually core punch as well to try to get the best video for resale as well, and since my chase vehicle is over 10,000 pounds i am not too worried about core punching too much to get the video.

Not sure if we're being trolled here, or if somebody has an imagination. If not, then I'd guess you're still alive because you don't do much chasing or have a limited range.

How about GrLevel2 (not the AE version)? Level 2 data is actually really handy for picking out subtle boundaries or for seeing some of the finer details in hooks, or other features like mesovortices on the leading edge of a QLCS. That stuff gets glazed over on the level 3 data many times.

I'm not sure why GR3 and GR2 even exist as separate programs though. I've said it a few times already, but it's like having a Photoshop for JPEGs and completely separate Photoshop application for PNGs. It would be nice to be able to switch between the two in the same app depending on connectivity and bandwidth. I usually use GR3 on my laptop, and then pull out Radarscope on my phone when I want a fast, higher resolution scan.

 

[rdale]

Edit: GR2 doesn't exist as separate anymore. V2 is just AE. (Misread your note)

 

[Mike Gibson]

I'm not sure why GR3 and GR2 even exist as separate programs though. I've said it a few times already, but it's like having a Photoshop for JPEGs and completely separate Photoshop application for PNGs. It would be nice to be able to switch between the two in the same app depending on connectivity and bandwidth. I usually use GR3 on my laptop, and then pull out Radarscope on my phone when I want a fast, higher resolution scan.

Why are GR3 and GR2AE separate programs? For users, I think your It would be nice to be able to switch between the two in the same app depending on connectivity and bandwidth sums it up the best. Rather than mash together two very different UIs and modes of operation I maintain two separate programs which the user can run as needed. Each is optimized for its input data and UI style. From an internal standpoint, L2 data and L3 data are very different, the polling is completely different, and what you want to see in the data is different (2d vs 3d, etc.).

 

[Skip Talbot]

JPEGs and vector formats like SVG are internally very different too. You can work with both in the same graphics application at the same time though. Why does the user have to be burdened with these differences? I think much or most of these differences could be handled internally by the application, including the differences in poling and UI control switching. Under the hood there may be major differences, but your average user just sees a higher resolution image being drawn on a map.

 

[rdale]

The user base for each is dramatically different. Probably connected to why there is no L2 app

 

[Mark Blue]

I have used AE when chasing but generally only when in an area that has a reasonably solid data connection. I don't chase near as often as some who go dozens of times per year, but I have used it on a handful of occasions. It would be nice to do a comparison test between GRL3 and AE to see how much bigger the files actually are. It would have to be designed as an apples to apples comparison using the same products for each program in my estimation. Maybe someone has already done this?

Thanks Mike for providing us with these unique tools and all the effort you have put into it over the years.

 

[Brian Russell]

gr level 3 is very good, much better than most of the other radar apps i have tried, it always works. just wish i didnt have to get a better laptop for level 2 ae

 

[Mike Gibson]

Under the hood there may be major differences, but your average user just sees a higher resolution image being drawn on a map.

GR2AE is for those who want to work with volumetric data and is optimized for that task. The majority of users should get GR3. For chasing/mobile, you definitely want to use GR3 since it requires far less data xfer and works better on lower power machines. Personally, I prefer to use tools optimized for the task at hand ... so that's how I create my programs.

 

[Skip Talbot]

The user base for each is dramatically different. Probably connected to why there is no L2 app

RadarScope plots level 2 and level 3 data in the same mobile app. It's probably why many chasers are dumping their GR laptops for RadarScope tablets. They recognize the value of having these products combined, the efficiency that provides, and the common ground they share.

 

[Rob H]

RadarScope plots level 2 and level 3 data in the same mobile app. It's probably why many chasers are dumping their GR laptops for RadarScope tablets. They recognize the value of having these products combined, the efficiency that provides, and the common ground they share.

Low-power consumption of tablets and having touch-screen-friendly apps doesn't hurt either.

 

[Skip Talbot]

GR2AE is for those who want to work with volumetric data and is optimized for that task. The majority of users should get GR3. For chasing/mobile, you definitely want to use GR3 since it requires far less data xfer and works better on lower power machines. Personally, I prefer to use tools optimized for the task at hand ... so that's how I create my programs.

I totally get the extra functionality that the AE version provides warrants a separate application, and how this would be used by a different user base, like nowcasters on a desktop platform, rather than chasers using a mobile setup. However, there certainly is a value and demand for level 2 data in mobile configurations. Perhaps users don't want to see the volumetric plots, but they can certainly benefit from the increased resolution. With the availability of 4G data on the plains, the bandwidth concerns are becoming less of a concern.

Use case: I'm sitting in Ardmore, watching two boundaries drifting north of the Red River. Cells start to pop. Using my 4G connection and level 2 data, I get a great picture of what's happening with the boundary movement and developing cells. Once I decide to move in for the intercept, heading west toward the Wichita Mountains where there is less data availability, I may want to switch over to level 3 data, just to get the latest information even if it's not the highest resolution. Using GR, I'd have to maintain two separate applications, their views, configurations, and GPS connections. This can be done, it's just a lot more burdensome for the user.

 

[Mike Gibson]

It would be nice to do a comparison test between GRL3 and AE to see how much bigger the files actually are. It would have to be designed as an apples to apples comparison using the same products for each program in my estimation. Maybe someone has already done this?

I have a quick comparison of the L2 and L3 file sizes on the Owner forum:

http://www.grlevelx.com/owners/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=7703

The L3 files sizes vary significantly depending on the amount of stuff around the radar but for a typical busy day there's at least an order of magnitude difference in data xfer between GR3 and GR2AE. An L2 volume can easily be 10-15 MB every 4-5 minutes while a few L3 products would only be 500 KB or so.

Thanks Mike for providing us with these unique tools and all the effort you have put into it over the years.

I think it's been 10 years since I first started writing msgw88level3 (I think that was the original name?). Doesn't seem like it. It actually seems like things are accelerating in the weather radar world with Dual Pol and SAILS coming online. We might see low level NEXRAD sweeps every 90 seconds in 2015.