Your chase career (evolution of equipment)

[Kurt Hulst]

-1999 WX radio, 1995 Cutlas Supreme. (NO I did not start because of the movie "Twister" I actually did not see that movie till 2001).

-2000 same as 1999.

-2001 bought a 35mm SLR, CB, WX radio

-2002 mom's cell phone and used my mom as a nowcaster how frustrating at times. wx radio nikon N65 SLR

-2003 same as the year before.

-2004 Laptop, David Diehls VHS camcorder, my cheap crappy digital video camera, Crappy digital still camera, N65 SLR, 1999 oldsmobile Intrigue.

-2005 2 meter HAM radio and Liscence, HT HAM radio. Laptop, WX Threatnet, N65, Canon Elura 70 Mini DV camera, Delorme GPS, 2 tripods, window mount.

-2006 New d510 Latitude laptop, New Pontiac Vibe 2006, borrowed a point and shoot digital camera, New 3ccd Panasonic 250G mini DV. WX threatnet. New laptop mount for the car.

-2007 same as 2006 other than a new Digital point and shoot camera: Panasonic lumix

-2008 Same as 2006-07 Just had to get a new mother board thankfully it was on warranty. I hope to get cell data some time this year probably not till late though. Looking at alltell. Got GR3 and spotternetwork.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all...

1985
My 12-speed bike!
110 disposable camera
Tape Recorder

1986
84 Chrysler Laser (Mom's)
35 mm film camera
Tape recorder

1987
80 Ford Pinto
35 mm film camera
Tape recorder
NOAA WX Radio

1988
80 Ford Pinto
35 mm film camera
NOAA WX Radio
Tape recorder

1989
84 Chevy Camaro
35 mm Vivitar film camera
NOAA WX Radio
Stereo tape recorder
VHS camcorder (dad's)

1990-1992
83 Chevy Cavalier
35 mm Vivitar film camera
Stereo tape recorder
NOAA WX Radio
VHS camcorder (dad's)
Sony Hi-8 camcorder

1993-1995
94 Dodge Dakota Pickup
35 mm Vivitar film camera
Stereo tape recorder
NOAA WX Radio
Sony Hi-8 camcorder

1996-1999
97 Dodge Dakota Pickup
Home PC (Internet)
35 mm Vivitar film camera
Stereo tape recorder
NOAA WX Radio
Sony Hi-8 camcorder
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder

2000
01 Ford Escape / 97 Chevy Blazer (partners)
Delorme Street Atlas
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (IBM) with cell modem
35 mm Vivitar film camera
35 mm Canon rebel film camera
Stereo tape recorder
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder

2001
01 Ford Escape / 97 Chevy Blazer (partners, plus rentals)
Delorme Street Atlas
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (IBM) with cell modem
35 mm Vivitar film camera
35 mm Canon rebel film camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder

2002
01 Ford Escape (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (HP Pavilion) with cell modem
35 mm Vivitar film camera
35 mm Canon rebel film camera
Fujifilm 3.8 MP digital camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder

2003
04 Ford Focus (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (Sony Vaio) with Wifi
35 mm Canon rebel film camera
Fujifilm 3.8 MP digital camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom 5200 2M car-mount radio
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder

2004
04 Ford Focus (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Davis WX Pro (mobile) platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (Sony Vaio) with Wifi
35 mm Canon rebel film camera
Fujifilm 3.8 MP digital camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom 5200 2M car-mount radio
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder
Hand-held GPS (Earthmate)

2005-2006
07 Ford Focus (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Baron Mobile Threatnet
Sony HDR-FX1 Camcorder
Waterproof cases for camcorders
Home PC (Internet)
Laptop (Sony Vaio) with Wifi
35 Canon digital rebel camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom 5200 2M car-mount radio
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony TRV-110 D-8 camcorder
Hand-held GPS (Earthmate)
Jotto desk

2007
08 Ford Focus (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Baron Mobile Threatnet
Home PC (Internet)
Sony HDR-FX1 Camcorder
Waterproof cases for camcorders
Laptop (Sony Vaio) with Wifi
35 Canon digital rebel camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom 5200 2M car-mount radio
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony DCR-220 Mini-DV camcorder
Hand-held GPS (Earthmate)
Jotto desk

2007
08 Ford Focus (plus rentals)
Oregon Scientific (mobile) WX platform
Delorme Street Atlas
Swift WX
Home PC (Internet)
Sony HDR-FX1 Camcorder
Waterproof cases for camcorders
Laptop (Sony Vaio) with Wifi
35 Canon digital rebel camera
Stereo tape recorder
iCom 5200 2M car-mount radio
iCom T-71a HT
NOAA WX Radio
Sony DCR-220 Mini-DV camcorder
Hand-held GPS (Earthmate)
Magellan 5200 trip master GPS (car kit)
Aiptec HD / DV / Digital compact mem-card camera
Dash-mounted video
Jotto desk

Note: Began driving in 1986. Chased in FL until 2000, then chased in central USA in addition to FL after 2000.

 

[Ron_Jarrell]

1994-1996
89 Camaro Z28 IROC
NOAA Radio
Scanner
35mm Kodak SLR

1996-2003
94 Toyota Camry
NOAA Wx Radio
Uniden Bearcat Scanner
RCA VHS-C Camcorder
Canon EOS Rebel 35mm SLR
Velbon Tripod

2004-2006
99 Toyota 4Runner
NOAA Wx Radio
Bearcat Scanner
Cell phone radar
Canon EOS Rebel G 35mm SLR
Canon Powershot Digital
RCA VHS-C camcorder
Dell Latitude laptop
GR3 radar
Velbon tripod

2007-present
06 Nissan Titan
Sony Digital8 camcorder
Sony Cybershot Digital
HP Pavilion DV6600 laptop
Verizon Data card
Freedom 2000 GPS
Blackberry 8130 Pearl (uploads GPS data from keychain to GPSgate)
Yaesu FT8800 2m/70cm
Comet M24M
GR3 radar

 

[Jim Leonard]

I started out in 1974 with a canon silent super-8 movie camera, I forget the model number.
1975 I was using a Bauer, a German made super-8 silent movie camera
1976-1979 I went back to a canon super-8. Also canon AE-1 for stills began in 1978.
1980-82 I was using a canon super-8 sound camera.
1983-84 was the first year I got into video taping, JVC GZS-3 and shoulder mounted recorder 20 minute TC-20 compact VHSC.
1985-87 Really expensive in its day a shoulder mounted camera plus seperate recorder GSX-700 JVC.
1988 first year, camcorder, RCA super VHS
1989-90 first year I went to 8mm video sony F-40.
1991-97 Sony Hi-8 camcorders Sony V-99 and TR-81.
1998-2000, Sony VX-1000 3-ccd digital camcorder also TRV-900.
2001-now, Sony VX-2000.

 

[Simon Brewer]

1999:
'93 Saturn
U.S. Rand McNally Road Map and Delorme OK and Texas topo Maps
Olympus (auto) point and shoot still camera
small gray 3 channel weather radio
Quarters to call nowcaster from payphone

2008:
06' Cobalt (36mpg highway in Oklahoma, 43mpg on 55mph State Routes in Nebraska)
Delorme Topo Maps of all Plains States (still no GPS)
Cannon Dig. SLR
Sony Vid Camera
35 Watt Power converter
Cell Phone (used quarters and payphones till April 2005)

-still chase pretty simple; no antennas, internet, or GPS and even lost my old weather radio, so I don't even get warnings anymore- I just rely on my forecast and still call a nowcaster to keep me informed

 

[Marko Korosec]

Here is my list...

1998-2004
Renault Clio
Canon EOS 500N SLR
no maps, no GPS

2004-2006-EU
Volvo 440
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon EOS 300D DSLR
paper road maps

2006-US
rental car 4WD SUV
Canon EOS 300D DSLR
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon MVX450 videocamera
Delorme Street Atlas + GPS
laptop
paper road maps
NOAA WX radio
GRlevel3 software
Mobile Threatnet

2007-EU
Volvo S70
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon MVX450 videocamera
laptop
paper road maps
cellphone for internet

2007-US
rental car SUV
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon MVX450 videocamera
Delorme Street Atlas + GPS
laptop
paper road maps
NOAA WX radio
GRlevel3 software
cellphone
Mobile Threatnet

2008-EU
Volvo V50
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon MVX450 videocamera
laptop
paper road maps
GPS
handheld anemometer
cellphone for internet

2008-US
rental car 4WD SUV
Canon EOS 30D DSLR
Canon MVX450 videocamera
Delorme Street Atlas + GPS
laptop
paper road maps
NOAA WX radio
handheld anemometer
GRlevel3 software
cellphone
Mobile Threatnet

Its great to look back and remember "old school" chasing at the beginning. Hopefully purchasing a new DLSR in the next couple of months.

 

[Michael Stanga]

2006-

1993 Ford Taurus
GR3
Cingular Tethered Internet
Wilson Amplifier
Nikon D50

2007-

Same as above, dropped Cingular internet for Sprint

2008-
Nikon D80
Sigma 10-20 Lens
Canon Powershot PAS camera
Quantaray (cheap) 70-300mm
2003 Ford Taurus

http://www.thewxpage.com/stormchasingequipment.html

 

[Cameron Redwine]

When I was a kid, I harassed the nice folks at NWS Pueblo and they were gracious enough to help me with data for a few years (I worked the radios during svr wx sometimes, so that probably helped)

1997 (16 years old)
Bright green 1994 Ford Tempo - named "Speed Racer" (Engine was like two mice on cocaine on a treadmill) But hey, not a bad car for a 16 year old.
Paper map of Colorado
Minolta 400si 35mm SLR
Scanner/Weather Radio


1998 (First tornado in Kiowa County, near Eads)

Yeasu 2M Mobile Transceiver
2 scanners
Borrowed cell phone from my pops when I went out
Maps of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming
Fujichrome Velvia
Tripod
Minolta 800si 35mm SLR w/ 28-105, 75-300, and 50mm


1999 (First chase east of I-35 on April 8th - missed big tornadoes in Iowa by 40 miles)

Got my blue 1994 Nissan Altima ("Speed Racer 2")
Stole Dad's old VHS-C JVC camcorder (and broke it when RFD knocked down the tripod in TX)
iCom 2M/70cm HT
Roads of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming


2000 (Still photography only from this point) Also, I wrecked the Altima on the interstate in early April, so I had to use "The Little Mule" - a 1991 2x4 Ford Ranger, five-speed. Now, THIS truck's engine was like one mouse on cocaine on a treadmill. If I had a head wind, I was in trouble. Good thing though, I didn't feel bad about hail.

Yeasu 2m HT added
New tripod with ball head
Spent all of my money on chasing, not equipment


2000-2002, same equipment


2003

2001 Ford Escape, new Yeasu 2m transceiver in vehicle
New Tripod


2004

Same as 2003, except using cell phone all of the time, got rid of land line


2005

Sold Escape and used a 1998 Ford Ranger 4x4
HP Pavilion laptop w/ wi-fi


2006

Sold Truck and bought 2001 VW Jetta ("The Yellow Submarine") in the interest of gas mileage
Added Microsoft Streets and Trips w/GPS


2007

Bought new dual band 2M/70cm Yeasu for the Jetta


2008

New Dell Inspiron 1420 w/ upgraded battery, memory, Wireless-N card
Just bought Delorme Street Atlas and Topo w/ GPS hardware
Planning to finally purchase DSLR, but will continue to shoot slides as well.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

1983



2008


and a Canon HV20.

 

[Patrick Martin]

Not a long list as I started in 05.

2005 Rode along w/ a tour group and was hooked.
Minolta 35mm film SLR
Borrowed VHS video camera from neighbors

2006:
2005 Honda Accord EX (30-40mpg + 500 mile range on 1 tank)
Minolta 35mm SLR
AAA map of Colorado
XM WxWorks - won it at convention, sat in box unopened until 2007.

2007:
2005 Honda Accord EX
HP notebook computer
Canon P&S S3is digital camera
XM WxWorks
cheapo wx radio
Cheapo tripod
power inverter
Streets & Trips w/GPS
AAA Road Atlas of US (paper)
Roads of CO (paper)

2008:
2005 Honda Accord EX
HP notebook computer
Canon P&S S3is digital camera
Raynox 0.66 wide converter for the S3is
XM WxWorks
power inverter
Cheapo wx radio
Cheapo tripod
Streets & Trips w/GPS
AAA Road Atlas of US (paper)
Roads of CO (paper)
laptop mount

 

[Brian Kluck]

2006/2007
Taurus SHO
Sony digital point and shoot
Dual band Icom HAM radio
My VHF Fire Radio
Uniden Bearcat scanner
Cobra 75WXST citizens band radio

2008
Taurus SHO
Sony digital point and shoot
Dual band Icom HAM radio
Motorola MCS2000 VHF analog radio
My old VHF Fire Radio
My new 800MHz digital fire radio (metro area only)
Uniden Bearcat scanner
Cobra 75WXST citizens band radio
Samsung Blackjack II w/data for internet
MacBook
Nikon D80 w/18-135 lense
Panasonic MiniDV digital camcorder

 

[B Doss]

Up to last year my main vehicle was a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado C2500 ton but this has become impractical. I navigated by paper maps collected from various gas stations along the way but these have also become unreliable. I used various cameras but this has always taken on greater importance to me each year. In 2008, a new Sierra so far. I'm looking at getting a Sony HDR-SR12 in addition to updated road atlases for my main chase states.

 

[Tony Perkins]

2005:
98 Honda Civic
Radio Shack Battery Powered Weather Radio
Rand McNally Road Atlas
JVC DV Camcorder
Nikon Coolpix 4500

2006:
Added:
Hail dents to 98 Honda Civic
HP DV4000 Laptop
Power Adapter Power Inverter
Orinoco Gold WIFI card w/external antenna
GRL3
Street Atlas 2006
Unreliable tethered Verizon 'backdoor' internet access

2007:
Added:
More hail dents to 98 Honda Civic
Icom Dual Band Radio
Legit Verizon EVDO tethered phone internet access
Panasonic 320GS (old cam died, not really an upgrade)
Nikon D40
Holux Bluetooth GPS

2008:
Added:
Nikon 70-300mm VR lens (for non chasing, but it will be with me)
Planned Additions:
Hardwired Power Inverter
Dashcam mount