What hardware are you chasing with next year?

[Scott Bennett]

Every time I try a new super cool chase laptop it gets broke or ends in fail.

I wish I could get my old D610 Dell working again it was rock solid.

Now that I talked about not breaking expensive new things...
I will be using my new Macbook pro.
Lighted Keyboard is so FTW and with the VM software I can run GR3.

My new streaming setup no longer requires a computer so I might just wing it with my ipad and radarscope.

 

[J Tyler]

I use a Dell XPS M1530 running Windows 7. It has a built in card reader for my HD camcorder and DSLR camera. I use it to edit HD video, stream, run GR3, Spotter Network, MS Streets/Trips, Verizon aircard software, GPS Gate, and web browsers for data. Running all that, I want a lot of horsepower which is why I dont use a netbook, etc. I don't care anything about trying to figure out ways to make other computer options work. I'm not an IT guy. This setup works perfectly for my needs. As for battery life, I don't use the battery. My laptop is continuously plugged into a power inverter (I have two 750 watt inverters plus a spare inverter installed but not powered up until one of the others fail). My wifes Dell laptop is one year older, but we have the full suite of software installed on it also, setup the same way as mine so we can swap over to hers instantly if mine fails on the road.

I have a powered USB hub mounted under the passenger seat with my web cam, Verizon USB aircard, anemometer, and the roof mounted GPS antenna plugged into it. This way, I can get in my truck with my laptop, and all I have to do is plug the power cord in, and ONE USB plug into it (from the USB hub). The powered USB hub solved a million gremlins, and made it EASY to move the laptop in and out of the truck. All equipment is hidden in the truck. I've also got a ham radio, Max Signal Rockies amp for cellular which is plugged directly into the Verizon aircard and also a cradle for my iPhone using a shielded T splitter all run to an external 9db gain antenna. Pro-107 trunking scanner (national database built in) with external antenna. HD web cam for streaming, HD camcorder, DSLR camera. BUT, the most important piece of gear is my yellow lightbar on the back of my Xterra. It makes everything work better.

 

[Scott Hammel]

My new streaming setup no longer requires a computer so I might just wing it with my ipad and radarscope.

You have my attention...how is this accomplished?

 

[Jacob Ferden]

I'll be chasing with an Android phone with 3G and MyCast, as well as an ASUS Windows 7 laptop that can be used at Wifi hotspots. Low tech, I know, but gas is expensive.

 

[Josh VandenTop]

Last year I used a Dell D830 it worked ok for chasing but was almost completely unable to edit video. So this year I've upgraded to a Dell E6510 with a 256GB solid state hard drive, 8GB of ram, an i7 processor, backlit keyboard, and hd display. I'll be using it to stream, run GR3, threatnet(yeah I still use that), SN, streets and trips, gps gate, and internet via a sprint usb broadband card, although I have kept the old computer up to date with all of the software and plan to have it along as well just in case.

 

[Jeff Duda]

Last year I used a Dell D830 it worked ok for chasing but was almost completely unable to edit video. So this year I've upgraded to a Dell E6510 with a 256GB solid state hard drive, 8GB of ram, an i7 processor, backlit keyboard, and hd display. I'll be using it to stream, run GR3, threatnet(yeah I still use that), SN, streets and trips, gps gate, and internet via a sprint usb broadband card, although I have kept the old computer up to date with all of the software and plan to have it along as well just in case.

I don't use threat net so there are things about it I don't know, but why would you run both threat net and GR3?

 

[rdale]

Threatnet doesn't require Internet access, GR does.

 

[Josh VandenTop]

I don't use threat net so there are things about it I don't know, but why would you run both threat net and GR3?

I ended up buying threatnet a year before I got my broadband card(at the time I didn't want to get into a 2 year contract for broadband), so I already have the hardware paid for. So now rather than sell it I just activate it for a few months during the year and let it run so when I get in an area with no data coverage or if have problems with the inernet i'm not running blind. And it has paid off a few times, most notably 7/23 of this year along the Missiouri river in central SD, I had no cell coverage and it ended up puting me on a tornado. Don't ge me wrong, I definately prefer GR3, but to me the $100/month for three months is worth the piece of mind.

 

[Scott Bennett]

You have my attention...how is this accomplished?

LOL Scott I found a hardware encoder for the video... still working on the details but once I have a good solution I will share it.

Hope to test it mobile over the weekend

 

[Mark Blue]

I ended up buying Threatnet a year before I got my broadband card (at the time I didn't want to get into a 2 year contract for broadband), so I already have the hardware paid for. So now rather than sell it I just activate it for a few months during the year and let it run so when I get in an area with no data coverage or if have problems with the internet I'm not running blind. And it has paid off a few times, most notably 7/23 of this year along the Missouri river in central SD, I had no cell coverage and it ended up putting me on a tornado. Don't get me wrong, I definately prefer GR3, but to me the $100/month for three months is worth the piece of mind.

That exact scenario happened to us last June 16th in SE Montana. There is a huge data hole up there and we had nothing for the better part of a couple of hours. It wasn't until we were close to Miles City, MT, that we had data again. The Baron's Threatnet would have been very useful in a scenario such as that, but it just costs too much if you ask me. I suppose I could look for one on eBay and take my chances and then just activate the Mariner's package for data for 2 or 3 months a year.

Scott, you worked Cliff over pretty good on FB a week or so ago. Maybe they'll take the feedback to heart as you no doubt made some excellent points. If they cut their prices even by 33% they would probably sell quite a few more units. I've given up on winning one of those bad boys at Chasercon. I've been there 5 years in a row and I haven't even won a lame prize let alone a WxWorx!!

 

[James Hammett]

I've chased with various computer setups over the years including a CRT and tower PC on the passenger's floor board at one point. I don't have much room in the car so a 17" widescreen is just too big (I've tried) but it's true that screen area is valuable when the chase is on. I intend to use a under-seat carPC I just built in 2011 with a mounted LCD to supplement my sloooow Dell D430 (it can't handle video at all)

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Not sure I'll be getting new 'toys' for 2011.

Here's a rundown of my Storm Chasing Equipment though