Your chase career (evolution of equipment)

[Jason Boggs]

I was thinking the other day how far along I have come in storm chasing the last 10 years. I also thought of the lack of equipment I once had and the equipment I have acquired over the years. I thought it would be interesting to list the equipment you had when you first started, compared with the equipment you now have. The list is all the chase related equipment that I owned on a given year. Here is the list for myself.

1998- point and shoot film camera

1999- point and shoot film camera

2000- point and shoot film camera

2001- point and shoot film camera
cell phone
sony video camera
wx radio
bag phone

2002- point and shoot film camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
bag phone
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK

2003- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
bag phone
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK

2004- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
bag phone
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK

2005- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
bag phone
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK, KS, CO, NM
kestrel 3000
pocket PC with GPS software

2006- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK, KS, CO, NM
kestrel 3000
laptop
Grlevel3 radar software
Delorme street altas software and GPS hardware

2007- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK, KS, CO, NM
kestrel 3000
laptop
Grlevel3 radar software
Delorme street atlas software and GPS hardware
Canon Xti digital still camera


2008- sony F717 digital still camera
cell phone
sony vid camera
wx radio
monopod in vehicle for vid camera
tripod
window pod
road maps of TX, OK, KS, CO, NM
kestrel 3000
laptop
Grlevel3 radar software
Delorme street atlas software and GPS hardware
Canon Xti digital still camera
Panasonic 3CCD vid camera
Sprint aircard for mobile internet
external antenna for Sprint aircard


It's kind of interesting to see how this list of equipment has evolved over the 10 years of my chase career, and it has been worth every penny I have spent!

 

[Jay McCoy]

OH man Jason not sure if I can make a list like that accurately but worth a try. back then didnt need much equipment since there was no such thing as internet. a few wx maps from the tv station and AM radio so I could hear warnings. I wont even bother to list the small things like tripods or maps.

1985
vehicle (my best friend driving since i was only 15)
CB
am radio

1986
my own car!!
cb
Canon AE1 35mm camera

1991
3w bag cell phone
radio shack scanner (wx radio included)
Magnovox VHS camcorder
CB
portable 5" tv (only way to see live radar in the field via wx cut-ins)

1995
New chase vehicle (S10 Blazer)
Dash mount for camera
2 scanners
wx radio
cb
VHS-c sony camcorder
Nokia hand held cell phone
5" tv

1997
New chase vehicle (explorer)
Fujitsu 2gb HD laptop
Ositech King of Clubs cell/modem card
scanners/cb/tv

1999
Sony Hi-8 camcorder
scanners/cb/tv
laptop
cell/modem card

2001
added ham license and 2m radio

2004
New laptop (HP Z series)
Jotto laptop mount
WxWorx
GPS & streets 2004
2m/scanners/tv/cb
XM radio
anemometer

2007
HP laptop
Jotto laptop mount
GPS (streets)
WxWorx
GRLevel3
Cingular data card
Razr cell with data cable (backup connection)
Hi-8 camcorder
dash mount for camera
Fuji Digital camera
3 scanners
CB
2- dual band HAM radios
tv
XM radio
anemometor
Galls center console (to hold it all)

2008
Will also be field testing new Autonet cell/wifi system through early May

 

[Dean Baron]

2006
Wx Radio
Maps
Nikon N65
2007
Wx Radio
Maps
Nikon N65
Canon Powershot A520
LG VX8300
2000 Ford Focus
Grlevel3
2008
Wx radio
Maps
Nikon N65
Canon Powershot A520
LG VX8300
2000 Ford Focus
Grlevel3
HP Notebook
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008
Handheld Anemometer

 

[Dann Cianca]

2004 and before
1987 Mazda 626 > then > 1994 Nissan Sentra
AM/FM Radio
Delorme & Rand McNally Atlases
Old Minolta SLR (not sure model ... will have to dig it up back at the parents house next time I'm in Montana)
Sony Mavica Digital
Kestrel 2000

2005
1994 Nissan Sentra (35mpg)
Weather Radio
HP Photosmart 435 (point/shoot)
Delorme & Rand McNally
Mobile Phone
Kestrel 3500

2006
1994 Nissan Sentra (35mpg)
Weather Radio
HP Photosmart 435 (point/shoot)
Delorme & Rand McNally
Mobile Phone with MyCast
Roll of duct tape (my hood didn't stay on by itself)
Kestrel 3500

2007
1994 Nissan Sentra (35mpg)
Weather Radio
Canon A710is (point/shoot)
Delorme & Rand McNally
Mobile Phone with MyCast
Tripod
Roll of duct tape (my hood didn't stay on by itself)
Plenty of towels (my windows like to automatically roll down during corepunches)
Kestrel 3500

2008
1992 Ford Exploder (16mpg )
Weather Radio
Canon A710is (point/shoot)
Delorme & Rand McNally
Mobile Phone with MyCast
Tripod
Kestrel 3500
Rain jacket (figured it was time I invested)
Towels ... just in case.

So, yeah ... I'm kind of low tech.

Plans to buy:
Inverter
Laptop w/GR software, GPS & mapping software
CB
Camera upgrade
Video camera
A trailer house (for tornado bait)

 

[mike scantlin]

1998(12 years old, neighborhood bicycle "chases")
Shoulder vhs-cam.

2003(2 local chases)
Dad's car
FM radio tuned to local CBS station for cut ins (2 local chases)

2004(2 local chases)
Dad's car
stole my moms Sony minidv cam

2005(first year really chasing,4 successful chases, 2 busts)Sean Simmons drove his CRV
scanner/wx radio tv with external walmart antenna
Moms minidv cam

2006 (4 successful chases, ZERO BUSTS)
Randy Rhea drove his POS mazda car
scanner/wx radio
CB
minitv
mom's minidv cam
canon rebel 35mm

2007(first nader ever March 28th near Hedley, TX, 11 tornadoes all yearl)
My own car!(crown vic p71)
Toshiba tablet PC(wifi)
Delorme GPS
canon miniDV cam
scanner/wx radio
Canon s3-is digital camera, CB.

2008
new 99 4x4 Tahoe(bought it March 20th)
new hp laptop
sprint card
gr3
spotternetwork
Delorme GPS
MobileThreatNet
Vx2000 video camera
canon s3-is digital camera
scanner/wx radio.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

2003
film camera
weather radio
paper map of CO

2004
film camera
weather radio
paper atlas
cellphone

2005
film camera
video camera
cellphone
new weather radio
laptop with wifi
US topo maps on laptop
inverter 100W

2006
same as 2005

2007
digital camera
film camera
weather radio
cellphone
new laptop with wifi
pvc laptop mount
wx worx
US topo maps on laptop
gps (I had this before just never used for chasing)
17Ahr power supply dc
inverter 400W

2008
digital camera
film camera
weather radio
cellphone
scanner
laptop with wifi
new metal laptop mount
wx worx
US topo maps on laptop
gps
gps mount
17Ahr power supply dc
inverter 400W
everything now runs off DC power though

That's everything... I don't think I'll be making much modifications to the system for the next few years(I think). I got new gps and laptop mounts because I will be in a different vehicle this year. Some of the stuff I had from before but adapted it to chasing(like the gps), or purchased for other activities(like the 17Ahr power supply used for astronomy).

 

[Shane Adams]

Some of my chase partners over the years have had their own equipment...I've only listed the equipment I personally owned/used each year. In 2006 and beyond, wx-worx and other software were common on the chases I was a part of.


1996 - Nothing

1997 - 1986 Ford Ranger, bag phone (used for making reports to news station, not nowcasting)

1998 - 1986 Ford Ranger, bag phone, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner

1999 - 1986 Ford Ranger, bag phone, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, RCA VHS camcorder

2000 - 1994 Ford Taurus, bag phone, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch canner, RCA VHS camcorder, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder

2001 - 1994 Ford Taurus, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder, portable TV, Cobra CB radio

2002 - Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder, portable TV, Cobra CB radio

2003 - Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner (SONY TRV-310 was stolen by ex-partner/roommate...but would make a triumphant return in 2004....stupid, stupid thief)

2004 - Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder, 1993 Nissan Sentra

2005 - 1993 Nissan Sentra, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder

2006 - 1993 Nissan Sentra, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder

2007 - 1993 Nissan Sentra, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder

2008 - 1993 Nissan Sentra, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder, cell phone

 

[Dann Cianca]

2008 - 1993 Nissan Sentra, Uniden Bearcat 100-ch scanner, SONY TRV-310 digital 8 camcorder, cell phone

Got'a love the gas mileage on those Sentras Shane ...

 

[Michael Carlson]

2005 - Nothing but could finally go out and chase unlike previous years.

2006 - Used Sony Hi8 from my dad, Rain Coat, Sun Glasses.

2007 - Nissan Pathfinder '92, Nikon D200, Nikon F100, Tripod, CB Radio, Laptop, Delorme, Rain Coat, Sun Glasses, Road Maps - CO - KS - NE - WY.

2008 - Subaru Outback Impreza '00, Nikon D200, Nikon F100, Tripod, Monopod, CB Radio, Laptop, Delorme, GR3, smart phone, Jatto Desk.

 

[JIM SELLARS]

I can't wait till Tim Marshall lists his...
1971-now...Old white truck, AM radio...sometimes a camera....old Texaco road maps....

 

[Jason Foster]

The biggest change

Most everything I've chase with has stayed mostly the same:

Started with in 1997
-Cellular One service with Bag Phone and tons of roaming charges = about $1200 in three weeks chasing annually.
-Laptop a 386mhz that only ran of AC power.
-Ham Radio mobile
-Davis Weather Monitor II
-Gazetteer and Roads of.... paper map books.


These were the only upgrades:
Note: 2002-2003 chase with the Weathervine crew, so some equipment shared. i.e. Chris Collura upgraded the "WeatherLab" each year. Newer Delorme navigation was used each year, and video cameras with better capabilities were added (such as a VX2100 and the Sony FX-1).

2002 saw the following changes/upgrades
-Verizon Wireless with a unlimited non-roaming plan costing about $60-$100 per month.
-Upgraded to Delorme Street Atlas with GPS, in place of all the paper maps.
-Digital Video camera
-Digital point and shot camera (for web and document shots)
-Compaq Presario Laptop (Pentium II)
-HF ham radio (2002 only)

2003 Upgrades/changes
-New Sony Laptop (Pentium III)

2004 Upgrades/changes
-added Sprint Wireless Card (in place of Dial-up)
-Digital Camera SLR(Canon 30D)
-new Sony Digital video (Chris C. remember the buzzer camera in 2003, LOL)
-New ham radio dual bander

2006
-new Dell Laptop (Pentium 4)
-new digital point and shot (for document and web shots)
-new Digital SLR Camera (Canon Rebel XT)
-new Sony Digital Video
-Delorme 2006
-DVD player

2008 (so far)
-New Digital video (pending)
-New Laptop (pending)
-New PC Wireless Data card (still will be with Verizon)
-WX Works (XM/WX)
-field lights and strobes (although I might not wire them up....don't really like the idea of using these)
-fully integrated communications systems (HF, VHF, UHF radios, VoIP, Winlink, etc.)
-APRS TinyTracker3 (ham radio Automatic Position Reporting System)
-automobile upgrades (to current 1996 Dodge Caravan).
....and more if budget allows.

As far as vehicles go:
1996 & 1997: 1983 Chevy S-10 Blazer
1998 - 2000: 1986 Cutlass Ciera
2001-2004: 1999 S-10 Extreme
2002: 2002 Chevy Blazer (rental)
2003: 2003 Chevy Blazer (rental) in the Plains
1999 S-10 Extreme for hurricanes
2004: 2005 Chrysler Town & Country (with Stow & Go)
1999 S-10 Extreme for hurricanes
2006-2008: 1996 Dodge Caravan

Thinking about all this makes me want to create a new webpage for my site document all the items I've taken chasing over the years (I've left off the small items, clothing, tools, etc so not to make the post too long.

 

[Laura Duchesne]

The equipment that I've owned for chases:
1998 to 2004 - SLR film camera, paper map, Ontario road atlas, old Velbon tripod, pen and notebook, binoculars
2005 to 2007 - Upgraded to Canon Digital Rebel, Panasonic PV-GS250 camcorder, old Velbon tripod, Ontario road atlas, pen and notebook, cell phone
2008 - Canon Digital Rebel, Panasonic PV-GS250 camcorder, Manfrotto 190XProB tripod, Ontario road atlas, pen and notebook, Sony Vaio laptop, Kestrel 4000, cell phone

 

[Adam Lucio]

It really is amazing to see everyones upgrades, and I had to laugh at the roll of nickels comment.

Heres mine that is constantly growing.

2004 and before:
-My '97 Ford Aerostar
- Desktop weather radar from weather.com [ I saw RED and off I went...go ahead and laugh, I deserve it]
- Disposable cameras.

2005:
-Cell phone radar.
- Sony hi8 video camcorder [had it since '04 but never used it for storms]

2006 [The year I had my major epiphany and said this is what I REALLY want to do.]:
- NOAA radio
- All sorts of road maps.
- Acquired a partner and started using the aid of NOWcasters.
- the "brick" [A really old handed down digital camera that took 4 AA batteries and weighed about 2 pounds]

2007:
- Laptop complete with air data card, GR3, spotter network and GPS
- CB radio
- Garmin GPS to use with GR3.
- Nikon Coolpix SL digital camera
- 2 tripods, 1 mini travel-pod.
- Sony mini-DVD camcorder [to replace busted Hi8]

2008 [so far]:
- Still rockin the '97 Aerostar
- Laptop mount [purchased not yet installed]
- Dash cam mounts.
- Hopefully HAM radio and police scanner.

 

[cedwards]

Well, I don't keep a diary on what all I had so I won't post the LONG list of changes. Basically I started out through 1993 with:


1978 Mercury Cougar
Vivitar 110 camera
Paper map
CB Radio
anemometer made from plastic easter eggs and a dc motor. (It lasted longer than some of the commercial ones made now)





Since then I have upgraded some things and done away with others. Now I use:


2004 Chevy Express
2 HD camcorders
3 GPS units
Delorme Street Atlas
Mobile Threatnet
GRLevel3
spotter network
Roads-of series maps or Delorme state maps.
1 scanner
2 2-meter ham radios
cell phone
aircard
Cannon DIgital Rebel w/ several lenses
2 tripods
Clamp mount
window mount



This is just off of the top of my head. There may be more to this list.

 

[Maggie Kahman]

well, im a new chaser this year, so i dont have much as of now. I do have:

Car ('95 Pontiac Bonneville)
Cell phone
Digital Camera (Canon PowerShot S5 IS) which is an upgrade from my old camera, an HP PhotoSmart M517
"Hail"met
map (paper)
Chasin' Buddy (Jeff Miller)

Iv been taking pictures of severe WX since about 2003, and am going to start chasing this spring. im so excited