"Storm Chasers" what freqs? TIV sightings?

[blueangel-eric]

Anyone have freq updates for the TIV crew? It was last reported they used MURS though i monitored the channel and heard nothing though not sure of their wattage and how much they talk. probably have to be real close to hear anything. I see on the Discovery website you can track their location and that came in handy for me and i was able to find the TIV on the highway east of Augusta KS though i didn't make it in time to talk to them at a gas station at Augusta and lost them when turning around in the median. i guess they went south to Winfield to meet with the scout instead of following the storm to the east. would have been nice to follow them and get in on the action since i don't have my own radar capabilties and they have more experience. though i don't know if they would have much time to say hi or not when out in the field.

[rdale]

It's stupid to follow them on a chase. Talk in the gas station? Fine. Head with them into a storm - a hazard to them, to people around you, and to you.

[KB9LIQ]

And stay away from that other guy on Discovery. He will get somebody hurt one day

[NeFire242]

Ha yeah really, why follow people INTO a storm when you have no radar yourself or knowledge, and have no way to communicate with them? Its okay they can probably tap on your window as it blows past their TIV.

You're a ham why not try contacting them on 52 or something or the nationally recognized wx spotter freq. Someone with so much science knowledge on those TIV chases has to be a ham, or at least use that as a a backup communications plan one would think.

[blueangel-eric]

Originally Posted by rdale

It's stupid to follow them on a chase. Talk in the gas station? Fine. Head with them into a storm - a hazard to them, to people around you, and to you.

oh really? Then what is storm chasing then? so i'm a hazard hugh? only select people are allowed to chase storms? you sure have a attitude about it. I guess i'm stupid for bringing it up it sounds like. I've been on 4 or 5 chases this yr for the first time and been studying and i'm learning more and more. I've been to 2 weather spotter classes as well. so i'm not some dum idiot off the street.

[wcu02mpa]

I am going to have to go with blueangel-eric on this. He asked for frequencies, not a lecture. Save the lectures and just give him the frequencies if you have them. If I want to drive into a tornado, head first with my camera rolling then so be it. Let's stick to the question. I would also like to know what freq's they are using.....I would think that 146.520 is a given, but probably not a good choice as they wouldn't want stray radio straffic tying up the channel.

Thanks,

Mike

[KG4WHM]

Originally Posted by blueangel-eric

Then what is storm chasing then?

Not getting yourself into danger. Which you are if you fallowing the TIV.

Originally Posted by blueangel-eric

so i'm a hazard hugh? only select people are allowed to chase storms?

Yes you are a hazad if you are putting yourself in harms way. No anybody can chase storms the people who do it don't follow the TIV into a storm.

Originally Posted by blueangel-eric

I've been on 4 or 5 chases this yr for the first time and been studying and i'm learning more and more. I've been to 2 weather spotter classes as well. so i'm not some dum idiot off the street.

Wow that gives you a lot of experience. The weather spotter classes are for spotting not chasing. Chasing is different from spotting.
I think you are the one with the attitude not rdale.
For your original question search the MURS frequencies both VHF and UHF. I did hear, I believe it was VORTEX2, on a UHF MURS frequency last Sunday in southeast Neb and Northeast MO. Also listen to 146.550 since you are a ham you can talk to other chasers on this freq. I heard some helpfull and interesting coms last sunday on that freq. aswell.

[rdale]

VORTEX frequencies have already been posted, but the experiment ended yesterday so those probably won't be active from here on out.

What I'm saying is that if your "storm experience" consists of simply following other chasers, you could 1) get into a position that's too dangerous for someone with no knowledge of storm structure and 2) get into a position that blocks a speedy escape attempt for the TIV and their team of vehicles.

Neither one of those are a good outcome.

If you want to chase - do it on your own. More power to ya. Make your own forecast, go to your own location, and chase away. I didn't say one thing against that.

But don't tag on to others without their permission, because too many bad things can happen (to you, to them, or to innocent bystanders.)

[w8jjr]

Originally Posted by blueangel-eric

you sure have a attitude about it. .

I would take it more as a warning. RDale knows weaher and danger as he does it for a living.

[blueangel-eric]

I never said that gives me lots of experience. I said i learn more each time i go out and from studying. gosh everytime i post on here everyone has to be so rude. it seems newbie chasers always gets looked down upon. maybe i just shouldn't post anymore.

Originally Posted by KG4WHM

Not getting yourself into danger. Which you are if you fallowing the TIV.

Yes you are a hazad if you are putting yourself in harms way. No anybody can chase storms the people who do it don't follow the TIV into a storm.

Wow that gives you a lot of experience. The weather spotter classes are for spotting not chasing. Chasing is different from spotting.
I think you are the one with the attitude not rdale.
For your original question search the MURS frequencies both VHF and UHF. I did hear, I believe it was VORTEX2, on a UHF MURS frequency last Sunday in southeast Neb and Northeast MO. Also listen to 146.550 since you are a ham you can talk to other chasers on this freq. I heard some helpfull and interesting coms last sunday on that freq. aswell.

[blueangel-eric]

This post sounds better then the your last one. It's understandable. I just wish i could tag along at least just once. I've watch both seasons of the Storm Chasers over and over and wish i could chase with them. or be part of the action somehow. plus they always seem to find the action. Obviously I'm not going to drive into a tornado. I'm still trying to understand how to make my own forecasts and stuff. i've been studying some websites and reading about meteorology. It's hard without a friend with experience to show me. My friend and I are both trying to learn on our own. I have the internet and he doesn't so i read up and then teach him what i learn.
i talked about this on other threads.

Originally Posted by rdale

VORTEX frequencies have already been posted, but the experiment ended yesterday so those probably won't be active from here on out.

What I'm saying is that if your "storm experience" consists of simply following other chasers, you could 1) get into a position that's too dangerous for someone with no knowledge of storm structure and 2) get into a position that blocks a speedy escape attempt for the TIV and their team of vehicles.

Neither one of those are a good outcome.

If you want to chase - do it on your own. More power to ya. Make your own forecast, go to your own location, and chase away. I didn't say one thing against that.

But don't tag on to others without their permission, because too many bad things can happen (to you, to them, or to innocent bystanders.)

[poppafred]

Newbie chasers are often looked down on because they usually get into "chasing" for the wrong reason. They take chances with things they don't really understand. They DO get in the way, not meaning to, and block emergency exit routes in their excitement to "chase". Most think it is something exciting they can learn to do in a couple of weeks.

Wrong.

I will recommend the Meteorology school at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Learn everything you can about this the right way. Don't try it on your own. I have been a spotter for 18 years and personally know of 6 trained spotters who decided to "chase" that are now dead. None of them intentionally drove into a tornado, they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lightning, hailstones as big as sofballs, storm debris and hurricane force winds are not something to mess with. Mother Nature is a b**** that don't play. Going chasing without really knowing what you are doing is like playing Russian Roulette with 5 bullets in a 6-shot revolver. It WILL get you killed.

Get a meteorology degree. Build your own DOW. Or get an engineering degree and build a better TIV. You are going to need that degree to be able to afford "chasing". The one thing the TV shows rarely mention is how expensive that hobby is. And you have to remember that they condense an entire season of chasing into a few hours of video. Pros usually get an hour or less of tornado footage per YEAR. It is rarely their primary job. They are usually college educated folk with really nice salaries or own their own companies. The guy with the TIV spent over $50k to do two seasons for Discovery Network and they didn't reimburse him for everything.

Buy a repeater guide from the ARRL and look up all the spotter frequencies. Or get on the RR page for your state and see what they have listed for "Skywarn". Do a county by county search for ARES or Skywarn repeaters in your state. Join a storm spotting group and LISTEN to the older guys.

You will find that those who actually spot or chase have little respect for the TV or movie "chasers". I remember the one episode of "Storm Chasers" where the hot-dog "pro" was screaming like a little girl when he was almost trapped by being too aggressive. I'm not a professional but I knew just by watching the TV that he was getting himself into a tough spot he should have avoided. Even Josh Wurman knew he was pushing too hard that day and said something about it ON THE SHOW!

One of the most disgusting moments I ever felt was video of a storm "chaser" watching a tornado going through a town and screaming with excitement. He sounded like he was about to orgasm. Lives were being lost or altered forever and he was absolutely pumped. I wish I could have hit him.

Spotting is NOT an adrenaline sport you do to get a rush. If that's what you are looking for, try BASE jumping. It is a LOT safer and doesn't endanger anyone but you.

[blueangel-eric]

I wish there was a school here. I can't afford to travel very far as i'm on disablity. i don't know if i can afford the class nor able to follow through with it because of my disablity. I think it would be nice to learn meteorology. I've never been good at homework and tests. is there any classes in KS closer to Emporia? do i have to take tons of other classes too or just that one?

and no i am not a thrill seeker. I am take videos and photos of storms, trains and lots of things. I've always had a interest in storms since i was a kid. I see on Noa's site they have Advanced Spotter courses but they never seem to teach those here just the Basic ones. I downloaded the book to study. like to do the Skywarn courses if i can find them close by. maybe Topeka has some since it's closest. though can't find a website for it.

Also our chasing brings us to Butler and Greenwood counties where i can get on the El Dorado or Beaumont Repeaters and talk and listen to the other spotters and the spokesmen from the NWS who exchanges info. so that helps a bit. Those area's get flooded with spotters and chasers when the storms hit but many out of towners don't check in with the nets and stay independent. I like the repeaters as everyone can be on the same page and you can talk further away. I thought i saw a wall cloud but the NWS guy said according to the radar that storm shouldn't have one so i might be mistaken so at least i know if i was wrong or not. how they can tell is beyond me.

Originally Posted by poppafred

Newbie chasers are often looked down on because they usually get into "chasing" for the wrong reason. They take chances with things they don't really understand. They DO get in the way, not meaning to, and block emergency exit routes in their excitement to "chase". Most think it is something exciting they can learn to do in a couple of weeks.

Wrong.

I will recommend the Meteorology school at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Learn everything you can about this the right way. Don't try it on your own. I have been a spotter for 18 years and personally know of 6 trained spotters who decided to "chase" that are now dead. None of them intentionally drove into a tornado, they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lightning, hailstones as big as sofballs, storm debris and hurricane force winds are not something to mess with. Mother Nature is a b**** that don't play. Going chasing without really knowing what you are doing is like playing Russian Roulette with 5 bullets in a 6-shot revolver. It WILL get you killed.

Get a meteorology degree. Build your own DOW. Or get an engineering degree and build a better TIV. You are going to need that degree to be able to afford "chasing". The one thing the TV shows rarely mention is how expensive that hobby is. And you have to remember that they condense an entire season of chasing into a few hours of video. Pros usually get an hour or less of tornado footage per YEAR. It is rarely their primary job. They are usually college educated folk with really nice salaries or own their own companies. The guy with the TIV spent over $50k to do two seasons for Discovery Network and they didn't reimburse him for everything.

Buy a repeater guide from the ARRL and look up all the spotter frequencies. Or get on the RR page for your state and see what they have listed for "Skywarn". Do a county by county search for ARES or Skywarn repeaters in your state. Join a storm spotting group and LISTEN to the older guys.

You will find that those who actually spot or chase have little respect for the TV or movie "chasers". I remember the one episode of "Storm Chasers" where the hot-dog "pro" was screaming like a little girl when he was almost trapped by being too aggressive. I'm not a professional but I knew just by watching the TV that he was getting himself into a tough spot he should have avoided. Even Josh Wurman knew he was pushing too hard that day and said something about it ON THE SHOW!

One of the most disgusting moments I ever felt was video of a storm "chaser" watching a tornado going through a town and screaming with excitement. He sounded like he was about to orgasm. Lives were being lost or altered forever and he was absolutely pumped. I wish I could have hit him.

Spotting is NOT an adrenaline sport you do to get a rush. If that's what you are looking for, try BASE jumping. It is a LOT safer and doesn't endanger anyone but you.

[burner50]

Originally Posted by wcu02mpa

I am going to have to go with blueangel-eric on this. He asked for frequencies, not a lecture. Save the lectures and just give him the frequencies if you have them. If I want to drive into a tornado, head first with my camera rolling then so be it. Let's stick to the question. I would also like to know what freq's they are using.....I would think that 146.520 is a given, but probably not a good choice as they wouldn't want stray radio straffic tying up the channel.

Thanks,

Mike

When I'm spotting, I sure dont listen to 146.52...


Too much other noise going on... (Weather Net, County Ops, etc. etc.)

[n5ims]

Originally Posted by blueangel-eric

I see on Noa's site they have Advanced Spotter courses but they never seem to teach those here just the Basic ones.

I have been to several of the advanced spotter classes given by the NWS and it's very interesting. Most of the spotter training classes are in the late winter and very early spring since they want the information to be fresh in the spotters minds when the severe weather season starts. Check with your local weather service office to see when they have any classes planned that may be open to the public. Much of the advanced class deals with the storm theory and is pretty technical, but still can be useful to spotters.

They have recently added a class called "Interpretation of Weather Radar Imagery" which is also recommended.

[newsphotog]

poppafred, you summed it up perfectly. Every word there is the truth. John Q. Public sits on his couch and watches the Discovery Channel or storm documentaries on The Weather Channel and all of a sudden they're educated enough to go out and play with mother nature because they think it's cool or they think they're a big shot. They don't know the truth about what it takes, how to do it, or even WHY professionals do it. This isn't directed specifically towards anyone on this forum, I am just speaking generally.

Originally Posted by poppafred

One of the most disgusting moments I ever felt was video of a storm "chaser" watching a tornado going through a town and screaming with excitement. He sounded like he was about to orgasm. Lives were being lost or altered forever and he was absolutely pumped. I wish I could have hit him.

Same feeling here. Or what about the "chasers" that arrive into a town that was just hit by a tornado and all of a sudden THEY start barking out orders to residents, the fire department and even the police department, as if they aren't already aware of the situation. I understand that adrenaline rushes naturally kick in during times like those, but man, you gotta keep it in check or you'll lose your head.

[newsphotog]

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

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