Darren Stephens
Just wondering how many members will be making major / minor changes to their vehicle or adding equipment to enhance chasing for next season. I intend to have all my hail damage repaired and add a larger inverter.
Rob Wadsworth
EF5
Perhaps making my own laptop stand that has some kind of shock absorbing/spring arrangement for the bad roads of Kansas.
It's gonna take some figuring to make it right; I might buy an off-the-shelf item and modify it to my own standards.
I'll change the spark plugs and put in a K&N hi-flow air filter for the ride.
Call up the insurance company and put full-coverage on it for a few months during the storm season...
It's gonna take some figuring to make it right; I might buy an off-the-shelf item and modify it to my own standards.
I'll change the spark plugs and put in a K&N hi-flow air filter for the ride.
Call up the insurance company and put full-coverage on it for a few months during the storm season...
Jesse Risley
Staff member
I'm installing a low profile tri-band GPS/Cell(wireless)/Wifi gain antenna on the vehicle this fall.
Like Rob, I also plan to make my laptop mount more shock absorbent for the not so neatly paved roads. I also plan to configue some sort of a mount for the video camera that is of more practical use next fall.
Like Rob, I also plan to make my laptop mount more shock absorbent for the not so neatly paved roads. I also plan to configue some sort of a mount for the video camera that is of more practical use next fall.
Jason Young
EF2
Well here is my list.
1. Adding one more 2 meter
2. Dumping the Inspeed storm chaser for a Weather Wizard 3
3. Adding GPS
4. Try to make truck better on gas ( Try to end the $200 chase day while still in Okla )
1. Adding one more 2 meter
2. Dumping the Inspeed storm chaser for a Weather Wizard 3
3. Adding GPS
4. Try to make truck better on gas ( Try to end the $200 chase day while still in Okla )
Benjamin Rock
I already added equipment for the year. i have a desk for the laptop, I will be setting up D-prs and APRS/GPS for tracking purposes. Updating the webcam for live feed, Reprogramming my 2m and the Dual-Band for western chasing. Hope to add a new weather program to the laptop at Christmas. I already have a weather station on top and various wattage inverters. The car is basically set for the next season. Each year during downtime i take all the gear out, clean it up, fix anything that is broken or missing, and place it into storage for the winter, so the weather doesnt cause me grief.. Its a couple month process, so winter is best for it.
Patrick Martin
EF4
Like Rob and Jesse will be making the laptop mount more shock absorbent. Will either get new pads direct from Jotto or fashion my own. The Accord's OEM tires will be replaced (after 59k miles) with a set of Michelin Primacy MXV4's this week courtesy of a great deal from Costco. Tossing around upgrading to a dedicated inverter vs. the 90w portable one.
Cris Schroeder
EF2
I'm looking to upgrade the whole package. I'll miss the 32 mpg, but there just isn't enough room in the Aveo to make it practical for chasing. I'm looking to upgrade to a Jeep XJ Cherokee. I wanted an offroad play vehicle anyway, so it will become my chasemobile.
I'll be a lot more willing to drill holes in the XJ so I'll finally install a laptop mount and decent dashcam setup. I may upgrade my inverter and add HF capability, as well. Longer term upgrades will include a cell phone amp.
I'll be a lot more willing to drill holes in the XJ so I'll finally install a laptop mount and decent dashcam setup. I may upgrade my inverter and add HF capability, as well. Longer term upgrades will include a cell phone amp.
Dustin Wilcox
EF5
I have my work cut out for me, as I have nothing installed in my new car yet. I had a hard time getting too excited about drilling holes and what not when it still had 100 miles on it, but now that I have eclipsed the 5000 mark its fair game. I plan on buying a custom RAM laptop mount, mounting the HAM (likely right behind the center console) I am considering streaming next year so I also want to purchase some sort dash mount for one of my cameras, and I am going to try and squeeze the inverter underneath passenger seat (obviously with fan venting fine). The challenge is installing all this so it can quickly be removed, as often on the longer chases I'll likely be in a rental.
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Rob Wadsworth
EF5
Since I have a Honda CR-V, I have to put the laptop stand between the front seats - but I have to make sure that it clears the air bags for clear deployment.
The mfr's of laptops always point this fact out - but they often build stands that interfere with airbag deployment anyway. Just another factor/reason that I must make sure of is done right by my own re-engineering specs.
Since there is a space between the two front seats where I can center the the stand, I will use the both seat mounting brackets to make the stand very stable. Even if I have to cut and drill the added base plate myself. I refuse to drill into virgin sheet metal of a practically-new vehicle as some laptop stand mfr's suggest. On the stand part itself, I will locate the position of the laptop's fan and punch a hole - using a hole saw or a fly cutter for that diameter - in the stand pedestal itself - to ensure direct flow for cooling. Making a clip to hold the screen in a position (about 125 degrees open) that would allow me full access to the keyboard - is a must. Using pads of light foam +/- until there is enough shocking control on top as well.
Putting the spring/shock in the upright support means that I will have to cut it and install a sleeve and a collar. So, it will off to the welder to get some MIG welding done. after I cut and mark it. This is the part that I will need to pay a great deal of attention to - just to get it right...
Since my ride is new - the laptop stand is the only part that isn't up-to-snuff.
The mfr's of laptops always point this fact out - but they often build stands that interfere with airbag deployment anyway. Just another factor/reason that I must make sure of is done right by my own re-engineering specs.
Since there is a space between the two front seats where I can center the the stand, I will use the both seat mounting brackets to make the stand very stable. Even if I have to cut and drill the added base plate myself. I refuse to drill into virgin sheet metal of a practically-new vehicle as some laptop stand mfr's suggest. On the stand part itself, I will locate the position of the laptop's fan and punch a hole - using a hole saw or a fly cutter for that diameter - in the stand pedestal itself - to ensure direct flow for cooling. Making a clip to hold the screen in a position (about 125 degrees open) that would allow me full access to the keyboard - is a must. Using pads of light foam +/- until there is enough shocking control on top as well.
Putting the spring/shock in the upright support means that I will have to cut it and install a sleeve and a collar. So, it will off to the welder to get some MIG welding done. after I cut and mark it. This is the part that I will need to pay a great deal of attention to - just to get it right...
Since my ride is new - the laptop stand is the only part that isn't up-to-snuff.
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Jerry Prsha
EF4
Trying not to hijack this thread...
I've seen a few of you posting about mounting your laptops so that the shock does not do damage. I was wondering if it would be worth it to you to change out your current Hard Drive for a SSD (Solid State Drive)?
I purposely mounted a touchscreen on my dash so that I could not have to worry about the airbags (and having to reconnect my laptop constantly) so, I have a Mac mini mounted under the seat with a security mount (padlocked) and the touchscreen flat on the dash with a wireless keyboard and touchpad on the console.
The only deterrent about having the computer installed permanently is the heat/cold and vibration issues which I solved by removing the Hard Drive and using two Flash Drives instead. We usually have Winter temps that hover in the mid-teens in this area and are near 100 most of the Summer. You'll have thermal calibration issues without a solid state drive of some sort instead of a spinning disk.
I'm about to purchase a SSD drive to install instead for an increase in speed and I'll get back to you as to how it performs. It might make sense for most of us who live a nomadic life to switchover...
I've seen a few of you posting about mounting your laptops so that the shock does not do damage. I was wondering if it would be worth it to you to change out your current Hard Drive for a SSD (Solid State Drive)?
I purposely mounted a touchscreen on my dash so that I could not have to worry about the airbags (and having to reconnect my laptop constantly) so, I have a Mac mini mounted under the seat with a security mount (padlocked) and the touchscreen flat on the dash with a wireless keyboard and touchpad on the console.
The only deterrent about having the computer installed permanently is the heat/cold and vibration issues which I solved by removing the Hard Drive and using two Flash Drives instead. We usually have Winter temps that hover in the mid-teens in this area and are near 100 most of the Summer. You'll have thermal calibration issues without a solid state drive of some sort instead of a spinning disk.
I'm about to purchase a SSD drive to install instead for an increase in speed and I'll get back to you as to how it performs. It might make sense for most of us who live a nomadic life to switchover...
Greg McLaughlin
EF5
I have already done some modifications this summer to my 4runner which I purchased in April. I didn't like the tires it had on it so I got a set of Bridgestone Dueler A/Ts and some blacked out wheels to go with them. I decided to go with a TRD dual catback exhaust and a K/N cold air intake system to open up the throaty V-8.
I found some sweet aftermarket LED halo headlights for the 03' 4runner and thought they were too cool to pass up. My windhield sustained a nice crack from large hail from a storm on Memorial Day in Kansas. That crack has only grown to reach halfway across the windshield since, so I will be replacing it soon. I have plenty of hail dents, however I won't claim it on insurance until it gets worse.
My chaser equipment setup is quite simple. I don't need much to get the job done. I have a ramdesk and Toshiba laptop with sprint aircard for data. I have my JVC HD camera mounted on the dash (shot great HD video of May 24th tornadoes). I also bought a pressure suction cup camera mount that can fit on the outside of the vehicle for unique camera shots. For streaming I can mount it on the rear window in the back to stream video through the vehicle while we are chasing. I will be adding a ham radio this winter, but otherwise feel my vehicle is decked out as much as I need.
I don't have a bunch of antennas or flashing lights because I like to be low profile when chasing even though the "blacked out" 4runner kinda looks like some sorta government vehicle like FBI or secret service. I just hope one day I don't roll up on a house with a meth lab on a storm chase and the crackheads living their think I'm the law and open up fire on me!
I found some sweet aftermarket LED halo headlights for the 03' 4runner and thought they were too cool to pass up. My windhield sustained a nice crack from large hail from a storm on Memorial Day in Kansas. That crack has only grown to reach halfway across the windshield since, so I will be replacing it soon. I have plenty of hail dents, however I won't claim it on insurance until it gets worse.
My chaser equipment setup is quite simple. I don't need much to get the job done. I have a ramdesk and Toshiba laptop with sprint aircard for data. I have my JVC HD camera mounted on the dash (shot great HD video of May 24th tornadoes). I also bought a pressure suction cup camera mount that can fit on the outside of the vehicle for unique camera shots. For streaming I can mount it on the rear window in the back to stream video through the vehicle while we are chasing. I will be adding a ham radio this winter, but otherwise feel my vehicle is decked out as much as I need.
I don't have a bunch of antennas or flashing lights because I like to be low profile when chasing even though the "blacked out" 4runner kinda looks like some sorta government vehicle like FBI or secret service. I just hope one day I don't roll up on a house with a meth lab on a storm chase and the crackheads living their think I'm the law and open up fire on me!
Jesse Risley
Staff member
I really don't know enough about a SSD, namely because I don't keep up with computer technology like I used to.
I've been pricing another laptop (new Toughbook) simply for the purpose of chasing, although my funds are very limited (no more than $1,000), so these rugged laptops over $1,000 are out of the question. I had to get a new hard drive back in June, but I got such a good deal that it wasn't worth fretting over.
With SSDs being an evolving technology, I learned something very recently about how they are being manufactured. Some of the cheaper SSDs are using flash memory known as MLC (multi-level cell) technology versus SLC (single-layer cell) technology. The more expensive SSDs are using the better SLC flash memory, so if you're in the market for one because of concerns with the shock your laptop takes on the road, make sure you spend the money for a SSD with the SLC technology rather than the cheaper MLC technology. According to the benchmarks, you'll be happy that you did in the long run.
Rob Wadsworth
EF5
Yeah, The SSD run as much as a new laptop would cost - about $750!!
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5275&Itemid=47
Too pricey for my wallet.
I'd rather spend a lot less money and make a useful, somewhat shockproof laptop stand for my ride.
It is true that the SSD would provide a shockproof platform.
Also, the SLC tech isn't as near as fast as my present HDD; maybe in a couple of years they will come down a bunch and be fast enough.
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5275&Itemid=47
Too pricey for my wallet.
I'd rather spend a lot less money and make a useful, somewhat shockproof laptop stand for my ride.
It is true that the SSD would provide a shockproof platform.
Also, the SLC tech isn't as near as fast as my present HDD; maybe in a couple of years they will come down a bunch and be fast enough.
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Alan Broerse
EF2
Ive got most of my toys installed....I suspect we at the TV station will work on getting a digital TV signals converted for either the TV in the car or a modulation/ am radio converter to receive the incoming TV signal. Any of you Electronic wiz-kids got a solution? Im opting for the modulator if I can find one. I have 3 old ones new in box that wont be worth a hoot come february.
