Need something mobile...

[Shawn Gossman]

So I am recently getting more and more into storm chasing (mainly in my local region though due to work scheduling). I am wanting to add radar capabilities to my chasing adventures and wondering if yall can point me in a good direction of software used for tracking storms on a laptop in a mobile environment? i.e. my truck!

I think I can hook my blackberry up to my laptop which is a Dell Inspiron 5100 xp pro edition and get internet that way. Now I would just need a good software used for tracking storms with radar and that.

Hopefully this doesn't cost an arm and a leg, so point me towards the cheaper ones and something easy enough to understand... I cant do math, so nothing like that, LOL!

If I have to install anything on my truck itself for the software, its fine as long as I can put it in the bed. I chase in a covert style meaning I don't really want people to know what I am doing so I don't get chasers behind me following me around because I like to get extremely close and dont wanna risk getting others killed, aint worried about me tho lol

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Hello Shawn, I recommend StormLab which you can find at http://www.interwarn.com/sldesc.html. I use it quite a bit while chasing and love it. It's a one time purchase and as long as you have an internet connection you can use it.

 

[Skip Talbot]

The most popular radar software for mobile use is GrLevel3:
http://www.grlevelx.com/grlevel3/

There are other options like StormLab, Storm Predator, and Baron's Mobile Threat Net. Threat Net is quite expensive though so you'll probably want to look at the other options first. Here are a few threads that debate the various options:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19563
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6824
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12503
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7689
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11188
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3102

 

[Joey Ketcham]

The most popular radar software for mobile use is GrLevel3:
http://www.grlevelx.com/grlevel3/

There are other options like StormLab, Storm Predator, and Baron's Mobile Threat Net. Threat Net is quite expensive though so you'll probably want to look at the other options first. Here are a few threads that debate the various options:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19563
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6824
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12503
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7689
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11188
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3102

Yeah I'd stay away from ThreatNet, it might just be me but I like my radar to be more than a 16-color display. I used ThreatNet for a very short period of time, in all honesty it is WAY overpriced.

StormLab and GRLevel3 are the top two radar software, I put StormLab above GRLevel3, one reason being you can pull Level2 data through it whereas with GRLevel3 you only get L3 data and have to buy a whole other software to use L2. Both are great though, I actually own both and use both equally.

 

[Jason Boggs]

I'll pitch in another vote for Grlevel3. I've owned it for about 5 or 6 years and I love it. One time fee of 80 bucks and you're good to go.

 

[David Wolfson]

I've been very happy with WeatherTAP for many years. Their Radar HD is full-featured, with some Level 2 products, GPS location, SpotterNetwork locations display, Linux support, lightning history, local METAR, background topography, storm tables and tracks, etc., etc. It doesn't require DirectX -- only a Java Virtual Machine -- so it's not tied to Microsoft and less demanding on your hardware.

The WeatherTAP service also provides a full range of other products like satellite, local forecasts, NHC advisories, and aviation weather analyses you can use even when you're not chasing. The service costs $7.95/month with no up-front software, hardware, or enrollment fees.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Hello Shawn, I recommend StormLab which you can find at http://www.interwarn.com/sldesc.html. I use it quite a bit while chasing and love it. It's a one time purchase and as long as you have an internet connection you can use it.

This looks really cool. I like the little voice warning feature. I get lost in the storms a lot of time and drive right into the middle of stuff I shouldn't have drove into so that could come in handy for me

This software is pretty much what all I need then right?

 

[Joey Ketcham]

This looks really cool. I like the little voice warning feature. I get lost in the storms a lot of time and drive right into the middle of stuff I shouldn't have drove into so that could come in handy for me

This software is pretty much what all I need then right?

Yup, if you have StormLab and internet connection you're set. I highly recommend StormLab, I got the Professional version and it was well worth the money. Here is an old radar upload from StormLab back when we were getting pounded by a winter storm, http://www.kschaser.com/radar.jpg

That was with Level 2 data which is higher resolution than your standard Level 3 data.

 

[Jason Boggs]

This looks really cool. I like the little voice warning feature. I get lost in the storms a lot of time and drive right into the middle of stuff I shouldn't have drove into so that could come in handy for me

This software is pretty much what all I need then right?

Not trying to be harsh or to derail the thread, but if you have to depend on a computer voice to keep you out of danger, then you might want to reconsider a few things. Again, no trying to be harsh, just trying to help out.