xm wx and mobile threat net - comments please

[Greg Johnson]

I am looking at purchasing a subscription to xm wx satelite weather. They indicate that the receiver and antenna need to be purchased through third party supplier prior to activation. Also, they indicate that you need a compatible display device...

Here are my newbie questions.

Compatible display device, does this mean my laptop?

From others experience is the WxWorx bundled kit which includes a portable xm antenna and WxWorx receiver and a usb interface module any good, can anyone currently using this setup comment on its quality?

Is the xm wx weather a good way to go for radar and weather data on the road in places like SD, ND, NE, KS, Canada.? Is there a better option in the same or lower price range?

And lastly, is it worthwhile to get the mobile threat net software to work with the satelite info provided by xm, or is the xm data sufficient for chasing?

If anyone is able to help answer any of these questions I would really appreciate it. I have been so frustrated with chasing using crappy data conncections in the areas mentioned above and need to step it to the next level. Thanks in advance

 

[Paul Stofer]

Yes, you need a windows compatible laptop that is rated to operate the software. XM is great since you don't have to worry about dead spots. The kit will include the receiver, the antenna, software, USB interface, etc. Its a great tool to have. I believe the radar is "composite mode". I personally would just get a data card. It is cheaper per month and you have more tools available to you in the field. There are pros and cons towards both though. I sold my XM unit and got a data account through Sprint.

 

[Justin Avery]

I've had great results with my system. The signal is 100% anywhere you go unless you're sitting under an overpass. The downside is obviously the radar quality. But IMO it is more than sufficient for chasing and helped me bag my first tornado last spring.
If you are worried about the cost of the hardware I've decided to sell my system(just had my first kid and will be scaling back chasing for a while) which works great and am not too concerned with how much I get for it. Just PM me if you're interested.

 

[John Wetter]

In my opinion, unless you've already made the investment into the XM system, I don't see a need anymore. A cellular data card with an AMP will cover almost everywhere you could go and will still allow you to get other internet products besides what Baron offers. For me personally, there was only one small area in the southeast corner of Montana that I lost data this year. I never lost data in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, or in Eastern Wyoming.

If you do decide to go with XM, get the hardware used either through ads here on ST, or on eBay. There are lots of systems out there to get a lot cheaper than a new one.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I've had XM for a long time now. I also have an aircard for grlevel3. If I had to give one up it would be the aircard without a doubt. There is something very comforting about knowing you are always going to have radar no matter where you go.
I have had tons of problems with grlevel3 not updating when I have a weak signal. I have cellular amps in the car too, which is practically a must IMO if you are going to depend on an aircard as your sole source of data. That jacks the price up for the aircard option. An amp will cost anywhere from $200-$500. So even after figuring that in its a lot cheaper than XM.
Which one you go with just depends on your style of chasing and how much coin you want to shell out. I chase quite a ways from home and inevitably some of those chases are in remote areas with little or no cell coverage. Most of the time you will have a cell signal, but there will be plenty of occasions when you can't get a good enough signal for your source of radar to update or you get no signal at all. Now if you are on a discrete storm in the middle of nowhere with no other storms around its no big deal, but if there are multiple storms in a rapidly evolving environment, it is critical to have a source of radar if you want to be successful. Theres no two ways about it.
Not having XM will cost you tornadoes. That is a fact IMO. There are numerous setups every year where there are multiple storms in close proximity. Without radar it is impossible to know how the situation is evolving. It may be time to bail off your storm and jump to another one, but without radar it is difficult to make those kinds of decisions. 80% you'll have a good enough cell signal to have the data you need, but the other 20% of the time you very well may miss out on tornadoes you might have otherwise got if you had radar. IMO XM gets you those extra tornadoes. You just have to decide if you chase enough for it to be worth the $1,000 price tag.
I've had mine for 6 years now and its been worth every penny. I strongly recomend it. It is cartoon radar so know what you're getting. You are paying for the reliability.
Sorry to rant and I don't work for XM btw lol.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

I second XM WXWORX. While I have had my share of problems with it (once shifted radar ~5 miles on map, and some other minor issues), overall it is something I would not think of giving up anymore. There are plenty of places you can't get a cell signal in the plains, and now with the numbers of chasers there are times you can't connect despite having a signal. All you need is the antenna, receiver, and windows laptop and you're good to go. Several times this year XM WXWORX has provided me radar updates when I couldn't get them any other way.

 

[Bill Hark]

I have been using XM WX WORX since 2005 and have been very satisfied. It is easy to use and almost always works. It is easy to zoom in and out and I don't have to worry about loading place files or deciding which radar station is the best to use. I also chase by myself and I find XM is easlier to read and manipulate while on the go. I can turn it on at the beginning of the season and turn it off at the end. I also have GR Lv3 and use it but mainly when sitting at home or doing detailed analysis. If I had to give up one, it would be Gr Lv3.

There are a few precautions with WX WORX. Occasionally, it is slow to update. Also, the radar images are not as detailed. Purple is the maximum for reflectivity and it can be difficult judging the difference between a bad and really bad hail core. You still have to chase with your eyes. I'll use my Verizon card for getting data while at rest. The GPS map with it is all right but you should also run Delorme for more detailed mapping.

Bill Hark

 

[Mark Blue]

I haven't ever used WxWorx myself although I seriously thought about buying one many times over the last two or three years. In the end I saw too many chasers selling their unit, so I thought there must be a valid reason as to why they are selling, so in the end I reconsidered and decided to just stick with what I have. What I have is a Sprint data card, a Cradlepoint CTR-500 router, and a Cyfre direct connect amplifier with a 5 db external antenna that mounts on my side window.

This year I bought GRL2AE and had heard that it was a data hog, so I was worried about using it in the field. On a recent chase in Western KS I actually used GRL2AE the entire time and radar updates remained current, so I have to give props to Sprint for their coverage in that part of the Great Plains (or their roaming agreements at a minimum).

During our chase on May 22nd in Northeast SD I used GRL3 and during the Bowdle, Roscoe, Ipswich chaser convergence I still had current data the entire time with no issues as far as connectivity is concerned. Once again Sprint came through when it counted most.

Here's another prop for data cards. The last time I went through the Sandhills region of Nebraska in 2007 I lost data just a few miles north of North Platte and never reconnected until I was between Gordon and Chadron if you know that part of northwest NE. Just a few days ago on 05/29 I chased that region again and had data 95% of the time. Usually the only time I lost data was at the bottom of a hill. As soon as I reached the top it would connect to the internet again.

I do use a Cradlepoint router which I believe has simplified my internet connectivity, but you can just use a data card with the software supplied by the ISP (Sprint, Verizon, ATT, etc.). I use an automobile tote with three compartments to carry all of my gear. I have the Cradlepoint with Sprint card inserted and the amp in one compartment, so that I can place it in the back of our SUV and connect wirelessly via my laptop in the front. This really beats the amp cord getting knocked loose when you connect the old fashioned way. Anyhow, I hope this helps with your decision as there was a lot of support for the WxWorx system and not much being said in favor of data cards.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

I haven't ever used WxWorx myself although I seriously thought about buying one many times over the last two or three years. In the end I saw too many chasers selling their unit, so I thought there must be a valid reason as to why they are selling, so in the end I reconsidered and decided to just stick with what I have. What I have is a Sprint data card, a Cradlepoint CTR-500 router, and a Cyfre direct connect amplifier with a 5 db external antenna that mounts on my side window.

This year I bought GRL2AE and had heard that it was a data hog, so I was worried about using it in the field. On a recent chase in Western KS I actually used GRL2AE the entire time and radar updates remained current, so I have to give props to Sprint for their coverage in that part of the Great Plains (or their roaming agreements at a minimum).

During our chase on May 22nd in Northeast SD I used GRL3 and during the Bowdle, Roscoe, Ipswich chaser convergence I still had current data the entire time with no issues as far as connectivity is concerned. Once again Sprint came through when it counted most.

Here's another prop for data cards. The last time I went through the Sandhills region of Nebraska in 2007 I lost data just a few miles north of North Platte and never reconnected until I was between Gordon and Chadron if you know that part of northwest NE. Just a few days ago on 05/29 I chased that region again and had data 95% of the time. Usually the only time I lost data was at the bottom of a hill. As soon as I reached the top it would connect to the internet again.

I do use a Cradlepoint router which I believe has simplified my internet connectivity, but you can just use a data card with the software supplied by the ISP (Sprint, Verizon, ATT, etc.). I use an automobile tote with three compartments to carry all of my gear. I have the Cradlepoint with Sprint card inserted and the amp in one compartment, so that I can place it in the back of our SUV and connect wirelessly via my laptop in the front. This really beats the amp cord getting knocked loose when you connect the old fashioned way. Anyhow, I hope this helps with your decision as there was a lot of support for the WxWorx system and not much being said in favor of data cards.

While I did recommend WxWorx, I recommend having cell data too. It's quite invaluable to be able to check satellite images, higher res. radar, etc., usually for the few hours before storms fire. I'm not sure which I would pick if I had to give up one. I used to chase only with WxWorx, but until storms develop, I really don't use it. However, I've had plenty of cell connection issues, and I do have an amp with my data card.

 

[Greg Johnson]

To everyone that replied....Thanks so much. I am relatively new to 'serious' chasing. I have made four trips into the plains from Canada over the past two seasons...May of 2009 sucked for me. And, I have bagged 7 tornadoes on two trips this year. But, I have been struggling with the cell coverage thing. I was sitting in Faith, SD on the 24th trying to find signal when the storm sirens started going off and the wedge was on the ground for 5 minutes already, 8 miles south of town...I targeted two days in advance and knew where I wanted to be...best storm of the day produces a wedge 10 minutes away from my target and I almost missed it, fortunately caught the last few minutes...Felt like a rookie (i guess i am) but dont want to feel that way again.

Great debate I guess, but in the end I feel that the price difference is not that significant so I Like the way Mikey Gribble says "There is something very comforting about knowing you are always going to have radar no matter where you go. "

I have an iphone so stationary cell and wifi coverage is not a problem....

Thanks again to all of you for weighing in and helping me.

Greg

 

[fplowman]

XM is indispensable. Cell data is not dependable. XM is. It really is that simple.

Although it doesnt give you the resolution that GRlevel has, it will decorate any serious storm like a Christmas tree.

 

[Steven Marshall]

Ive used threatnet for years until last year. I got tired of hearing from Baron that threatnet "was not designed for chasers, so we dont care what you suggest". That cocky attitude is now coming back to bite them on the a**. People now have alternatives to that pricy set up. At the moment it is the best set up going but I imagine that it wont be for long as the chase herds migrate to aircards and signals improve out in tornadoland.

Whos using the bluetooth version? Ive always used the hardwired receiver but the possiblities of sharing data with others makes the bluetooth set up interesting.

 

[Rob H]

In the end I saw too many chasers selling their unit, so I thought there must be a valid reason as to why they are selling, so in the end I reconsidered and decided to just stick with what I have.

Threatnet costs an arm and a leg is why. The unit costs several hundred, it costs $100 to activate it for the season, and to get a decent set of functionality you're spending $100/mo. As a quick example, if you chase with it for 4 years, you may end up spending $2000 or more in total.

While disheartening that they won't take feature requests from chasers and that it lacks some very useful features, I love having Threatnet for chases. If GrLevel3 had some sort of "priority mode" where it got data from NOAA/Allisonhouse/etc. by default, and fell back on an XM feed when cell connectivity was weak, I would be ecstatic.

 

[MatthewCarman]

I've had XM for a long time now. I also have an aircard for grlevel3. If I had to give one up it would be the aircard without a doubt. There is something very comforting about knowing you are always going to have radar no matter where you go.
I have had tons of problems with grlevel3 not updating when I have a weak signal. I have cellular amps in the car too, which is practically a must IMO if you are going to depend on an aircard as your sole source of data. That jacks the price up for the aircard option. An amp will cost anywhere from $200-$500. So even after figuring that in its a lot cheaper than XM.
Which one you go with just depends on your style of chasing and how much coin you want to shell out. I chase quite a ways from home and inevitably some of those chases are in remote areas with little or no cell coverage. Most of the time you will have a cell signal, but there will be plenty of occasions when you can't get a good enough signal for your source of radar to update or you get no signal at all. Now if you are on a discrete storm in the middle of nowhere with no other storms around its no big deal, but if there are multiple storms in a rapidly evolving environment, it is critical to have a source of radar if you want to be successful. Theres no two ways about it.
Not having XM will cost you tornadoes. That is a fact IMO. There are numerous setups every year where there are multiple storms in close proximity. Without radar it is impossible to know how the situation is evolving. It may be time to bail off your storm and jump to another one, but without radar it is difficult to make those kinds of decisions. 80% you'll have a good enough cell signal to have the data you need, but the other 20% of the time you very well may miss out on tornadoes you might have otherwise got if you had radar. IMO XM gets you those extra tornadoes. You just have to decide if you chase enough for it to be worth the $1,000 price tag.
I've had mine for 6 years now and its been worth every penny. I strongly recomend it. It is cartoon radar so know what you're getting. You are paying for the reliability.
Sorry to rant and I don't work for XM btw lol.

Mikey, GRLevel3 works fine if you use a private service feed. If you use the free NWS service then you may have issues with it. You have to pay for a private service feed though. If XM works fine then use that unless you want to spend $10 a month for a private feed for GRLevel3 so you can use it with no update problems.

 

[chadvia]

If you don't mind the expense and absolutely need coverage 100% of the time, then go for it. I chased using the XM in 2009 and loved it. Having said that, I sold it last winter and purchased the sprint sierra overdrive and a wilson cellular amplifier instead. It just depends on what your particular needs are. I needed to be able to send data to two laptops (the overdrive can connect to five devices) and stream video to severe studios. Therefor the data card was an absolute must. So far this year I've only lost coverage in north central Arkansas.