What are you adding/upgrading for 2011?

[Skip Talbot]

I thought it would be nice to see what upgrades and additions everyone is making going into the 2011 season. So share your plans, whether its covering your vehicle in golf netting, putting a plastic dome on the roof, mobile mesonet, or if you're simply buying your first weather radio for your first chase.

My planned upgrades/additions:

• DSLR. I'm currently shooting with a Sony DSC-H2, an advanced point and shoot that was discontinued in '06. I got a great deal because it was being discontinued, plus I had a coupon. I picked up the camera for only $150. I've pushed the camera to its limits and its showing its age. I can still snap a decent shot with it, but its time to make the jump to a DSLR. I've been reading up on the various reviews here and seen a few go in the Marketplace. Still no idea what I want to get though.
• Better datacard. I was using a Kyocera KPC680 last season. It worked (sometimes), but not well. I got it because I'm using a Kyocera cradle (which does work great) and thought it would be best to keep the same brand.
• Dedicated LCD for monitoring stream. Not sure if I'm going to follow through on this one. I'm currently monitoring my stream via the laptop's screen. It would be nice to have a 7" LCD or something that's always showing the stream for times, when the laptop is otherwise occupied. Since my one and only video source is mounted on the roof of my van, it would nice to have for when the laptop is down too and I'm not streaming but still recording.
• Camera dome redesign. My video camera mount, worked well last season, but there are several issues I'd like to iron out. I'm kicking around a few different designs but haven't settled on anything yet.

Sure, we have two months to go, but I realize now that time is flying by, and chase season will be here before you know it. I need to kick it into high gear and get my stuff together, or I'm going to find myself completely unprepared to chase when the first big setup rolls around perhaps next month.

 

[Rob H]

• Photography: A 17-40mm lens that hopefully has some leftover mojo from the previous owner
• Photography: A monopod to help take shots with less blur when hand held doesn't cut it, and a tripod takes too long to setup
• Video: a GoPro HD Hero to record video of the entire chase. Will be mounting this to the roof, and hooking it up to the laptop for unlimited power and recording time.
• An android phone and tablet for navigation and secondary radar tool(s) and backup WiFi. Yay for longer battery life!
• RAM mount for tablet
• Probably a hail guard for the rear window just for fun

Most of my improvements were in knowledge and finances

edit: We're doing a "dry run" this weekend - hooking up all the gear, picking a hypothetical chase target nearby, and treating it just like the real thing. Hopefully this will iron out some of the kinks ahead of time.

 

[Tyler Burg]

I've got a few upgrades that will help a lot this year. Last year I chased with just a normal phone with only radar for data, and paper maps. This year I've added:

-Android phone (PYKL3 radar - I may end up just using the phone with this radar app and not using my laptop)
-Laptop and inverter
-Mircosoft streets and trips

Other things I was thinking of adding, but not sure I will just yet (or have the money to)

-Anemometer
-Nikon D90 camera body

 

[Mark Ellinwood]

Upgrades I have done recently (trying to make it so I can chase solo if I need to):
- Droid X phone (w/ PYKL3)
- HP Pavilion laptop (w/ GRLevel3)
EDIT: - New tripod

Things I want before the chase season starts:
- Laptop stand
- A new DSLR
- A GPS puck w/ mapping software

 

[ScottKoenig]

Upgrades just Purchased:

Canon HD Camcorder for Dash cam
Cell Phone Amplifier for Blackberry/Iphone/Aircard (The Wilson Sleek)
Hand held Scanner for HAM Bands/NOAA/Fire/EMS/Police and local Electric Utilities
Anemometer

Plan to Upgrade:

Laptop Mount
New Camcorder mount
Dedicated data feed for Radar
Wide angle lens converter for Canon HD Camcorder
New Tripods

 

[Scott Hammel]

My Upgrades:

Biggest one was a new car...2002 Pathfinder retired, 2010 Subaru Forester is ready to go
Parrok RKi8400 deck w/hands free Bluetooth which is super dorky but allows me to continue to chase while doing the occasional phoner.
Upgraded ham radio to Yaesu FT7900 which is now professionally installed in-dash
Went from Canon XTi to a T1i. Sigma wide angle lens should be on my doorstep in a few days!
I'm gonna be on the GoPro roof mounted bandwagon. Still not sure if I will use that as my stream?
Will be buying Moto Xoom Android tablet in a few weeks when it comes out.
Still using my original Droid tethered to my laptop but will buy the Droid Bionic the day it comes out in May/June.

 

[Jason Foster]

Basically the big thing:

an HDSLR

...it's a laundry list if I go back to my last Plains expedition in 2006.

I've actually reduced more than anything. Reduced or combined to keep things simple and focused. Weather station gone, ham radio gone, paper maps gone, and more.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Things I have upgraded so far:

• Knowledge
• Wilson Sleek signal booster
• Old Sony camcorder for streaming
• Sony Vegas software

On the to do list:

• More knowledge
• More experience
• HD Camcorder (Panasonic HDC-SD60K)
• Tripod and windshield camera mount

 

[Chad Berryhill]

Upgrades:
6 inch retractable spikes for the wheels
Push button oil slick
Smoke screen
EMP cannon
A large stick
And maybe a sword for those questionable moments.

LOL!
In all seriousness
Probably another ram mount

 

[Skip Talbot]

Upgrades:
6 inch retractable spikes for the wheels

Oh man you got my hopes up. At first I thought you had an awesome solution for getting unstuck from mud. But I see now its more an anti passing device lol. How cool would it be if you could flick a switch and deploy something like tire cleats when your tires start spinning on a mud road though?

 

[Chad Berryhill]

How cool would it be if you could flick a switch and deploy something like tire cleats when your tires start spinning on a mud road though?

That would be very cool. We need a lab with endless resources!

 

[Verne Carlson]

Upgrades for 2011:

• I could tell you but I'd have to kill you

 

[Wes Carter]

I just ordered a Nikon D7000 to replace my D200.

I am also looking to get a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 before chase season. I just hope the money fairies don't let me down like they always do. It seems I always have a major unexpected expense right before chase season that eats a gaping hole in my budget. Last year it was a central heat and air unit. I don't want to sell anymore guitars or amps to fund my chasing.

 

[Jason Foster]

Oh man you got my hopes up. At first I thought you had an awesome solution for getting unstuck from mud. But I see now its more an anti passing device lol. How cool would it be if you could flick a switch and deploy something like tire cleats when your tires start spinning on a mud road though?

Skip....you could always consider upgrading with a whole road paving crew ahead of your vehicle. That way when fields overtake roads on maps, you can just put them back.

 

[chadvia]

I wasn't going to add or upgrade anything this year, but I guess this is what happens when a person doesn't have any winter hobbies.

This is what I'm working on thus far... just need a warmer day to install it all.

Car PC to replace laptop and mount.
7" touch screen LCD for GRLevel 3 radar and to view web stream
Upgrading stream camera (haven't decided on which one)
Canon GL2 for recording video (really want the XH-A1... maybe next year)

These upgrades will tidy up the inside of the vehicle considerably. Everything will also be powered by either 12V or USB power instead of having several components running off of a power inverter just to be reduced to 12V or less power again.

Skip, as far as a DSLR goes, I own a Nikon and a Canon. Although both perform well, I am very partial to Canon's Digital Rebel series. I've never had any issues and once you can fluently take pictures in RAW format and use the manual settings, you'll be very pleased with the picture quality... especially if you have Photoshop to make adjustments to your liking.