STORM TRACK: March 31, 1987 (Volume 10 Issue 3)

Based on my professional computer experience, I'd like to present some information about using personal computers for chasing that you will hopefully find valuable. I have engaged a small computer far the past year to obtain weather data from ACCU-DATA, a database run by ACCU-WEATHER, INC. The convenience of receiving real-time data at home is really worth the cost:, because it allows you more flexibility on a) deciding to chase on that particular day, and b) determining where to chase, and c) finding out what really happened after you chased.

Having access to real time weather information is also convenient for other reasons: a) you don't have to drive over to the weather service which may be out of your way, b) you can access weather information on weekends when no A.M. Weather program is available, and c) during the evenings, when you might want to get more detailed information to get a head start on the next days chase.

Within the last eight months, several newer, smaller portable "lap top" computers were released by different companies. The lap tops are brief-case sized or smaller that one can easily take on the road. When hooked up with the proper auxiliary equipment, chasers could easily access weather data through a normal phone whenever and wherever they wish. Shop around for the right price and let the salesman know what you want to do with the computer.

There are currently four lap tops which I recommend to chasers as the best the market has to offer which may range in price from $1,000 to $3,000. These are the Toshiba 1100PLUS, Zenith Z-181, NEC MULTISPEED, and the IBM Convertible.

You will need a modem which is a separate device that allows one computer to communicate with another via the telephone lines. Modems cost between $100 and $300. There are two types of modems: direct connect and acoustic coupled. The direct connect modem is the most common and plugs directly into the phone line with a normal phone jack. The acoustic coupled modem has cups where a telephone handset can be placed, This type of modem would be useful when pay phones and hotel phones (without a jack excess) must be used.

Finally, you vill need to obtain a language disk which can talk with the language of another computer. These disks are available at most computer stores for about $150.

Now that you have a computer, and practice communicating with it, the next step is to select a data service. ACCU-DATA is an excellent source of weather information. Yes, it does cost. Depending on the type of modem you have, be expected to pay between $45 and $90 per hour of computer time. During an average spring chase season, it will cost me about $250 to access the weather information I need. For mare information about the weather data service you can write ACCU-DATA in care of ACCU-WEATHER, 619 College Ave., State College, PA 16801. There is no question that it costs some dollars to go this route. Sa, make cure you want to make this sort of investment.