Did somebody say they wanted private L2/L3 data or lightning strikes?

[Tyler Allison]

Just a small bomb to drop :D

http://nexrad.allisonhouse.com/news/01-27-06.php

Let's get this out of the way right now.

No..I don't know when 4.0 is being released.

[Rodney Neff]

This is GREAT news!! Can't wait!! I'll take level two and lightning strikes anyday.

[James A. Ziebarth]

This is very, VERY cool! Now I really can't wait to get the next StormLab version. It will be well worth the extra subscription to get the data they're supplying. Thanks much to Evan and anybody else at Storm Alert who played a part in this!

[Rodney Neff]

Hey Tyler,
Do you have any lightning, level 2 or 3 pics?? You can show us.

Thanks

[SA_Scott]

Tyler is just a provider of the raw data services.

We hope to have some integrated screen shots for you all by the end of February (hopefully sooner, but I'm not going to box Evan in). Like a kid in a candy store :)))))

Also, before the question is asked. StormLab will still continue to provide its current (and several new) data suites free of charge. The AllisonHouse options will be there for those who want those non-free data sets at an additional low cost. For the current StormLab products, this will constitute the "premium" server addition that has been greyed out since V2.1.

Scott

[Richard.Huntington]

Nice!

[Tyler Allison]

Do you have any level 3 pics?? You can show us.

L2 and Lightning isn't available for screenshots yet.

L3 data will look exactly like what you see today...it just won't be slow during large storms since you won't have to compete with thousands of people hitting the public NWS data servers ;)

[SA_Scott]

>L3 data will look exactly like what you see today...it just won't >be slow during large storms since you won't have to compete >with thousands of people hitting the public NWS data servers

True, although recent upgrades and load balancing have made the public servers literally hundreds of times better than they were even a year ago.

Still, looking forward to the additional options!

Scott

[Mark Peterson]

The date on the page says Jan 27, 2005! Am I to assume this is incorrect as if it was the case the Version 4.0 is out and I need to move out of this cave I live in!! :)

[Brian Cross]

Hello there.

I was just a little curious. This afternoon between study periods I took a look at what’s out there as far as lightning data and found that Vaisala, WDT, TDA, and all connected to the USPLN – United States Precision Lightning Detection network all still pretty much rule the lightning detection service market.

Vaisala is still charging $95 per month, and up to $900 per year for lightning detection data services. From what I had seen through the AllisonHouse price-guide located at http://nexrad.allisonhouse.com/buy/ on the web if such data is placed into service and it still exists through the service we’re all in for a real treat. Such information could become very important in my research and other aspects if it can be placed into the StormLab professional structure – BUT do not take this as a rush request. Level III and Level II data will be interesting – but it has to first be added to the structure of the software.

Since they have a subscription service that incorporates everything StormLab would need to build a high-precision map of the image from all data available just $25 a month would get you all you needed. That would eat VAISALA and the other companies alive – with the connection to USLPN still there but at a MUCH lower cost from what I can see.

This question though placed here in the Lightning Data Poll is more a blankit question as to the progress of the overall additions of StormLab version 4.0 – is all going well?

Just a note to the developers and Evan – hang in there and keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Brian R Cross

[Rob Dale]

Vaisala (NLDN) and USPLN are completely separate networks. From what I've seen, NLDN is a bit more reliable as USPLN misses some strikes around me (Mich).

And USPLN does not show individual strike data, it groups strikes into bins. NLDN plots every individual strike exactly where it hits.

[Tyler Allison]

And USPLN does not show individual strike data, it groups strikes into bins. NLDN plots every individual strike exactly where it hits. [/B]

Accuracy is obviously subjective and hard to quantify but who told you USPLN only shows bins? I see strikes down to the 7th decimal place on the raw feed.

[Rob Dale]

I didn't know that's what you were providing SL for $25 a month! I may have to buy both packages ;> What brought out the increased resolution?

[Tyler Allison]

ahh..I thought you were talking about USPLN itself.

the non-commercial USPLN feed is a 2.2mile "bin" of strikes...so we were both right ;)

[Rob Dale]

I feel better now... He was talking about how the $25 package included USPLN and NLDN data by stating how much better it is than getting it from Vaisala - I was just letting him know there's a reason it's much cheaper ;>

[Brian Cross]

A bit of a clarification here LOL.

I should have done so when I wrote out the first message. The package included through AlisonHouse is a RADAR DATA and LIGHTNING DATA package. It includes the high-resolution radar and lightning data package - I hope I left the link in the origenal message foryou to view the pricing guide.

No, the service does not use the LDN service - it does use the USPLN service. They provide raw data that must be downloaded and then of course manipulated to provide the rendering of data.

I've seen the LDN service but only for the live web version. But at $99 a month and $900 a year $25 a month is a much better deal than that.

Based on what I am seeing some people from the USPLN are seeing some problems. So that bring up another question.

What levels are there in the data from USPLN -- and keep in mind that AccuWeather is charging $199 a month in addition to the $49.99 a month RadarPlus charge to use their lightning data system. And there are no free trials.

Others have purchased the BulTek system and have Lightning 2000 installed. Miami Oklahoma's OEM has BulTek installed and uses it for lightning detection.

Hope I haven't stired up something here.

Have a great night.

Brian R Cross.

[Rob Dale]

AllisonHouse is the only provider of USPLN data that I know of. That's the "binned / not individual strikes" data. You might contact USPLN directly if you need more info.

[Tyler Allison]

I sell commercial USPLN feeds too (individual strikes). Send me an email off forum if you'd like to discuss particulars.

tyler@allisonhouse.com

[Chris_McCray]

Hi here! Can't wait, i just have a few questions. If we were to get the "Storm Spotter" Account with NO radar feeds, could we still use all the features of the storm spotter and put that on a gov't radar image downloaded in SL? Also, with the satellite data on that plan, would those sat. images be able to be viewed in SL? The same goes for the F5 mesoanalysis , could that be viewed in SL itself? Thanks for the clarification!
Chris

[SA_Scott]

We don't plan on including all of the data available into StormLab, since some of it is already provided internal to the existing software. I would certainly wait until the release before purchasing any package, as the packages/pricing may be different at that juncture.

Scott

[Brian Cross]

I would agree there.

I've been looking at the options - and have found that there are various level II and level III data packages that may or may not be available.

K just pulled the unified data via the NWS FTP servers -- see parent directory http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/nexrd2/raw/ for free level II data, and first you should know that there are times when it becomes vary large. Take a look at the latest data feed through the KLVX directory - it is 1.5 MB or there abouts. But it does have all of the data available. That's just one of the "configurations" as I'm learning could become available.

I'm jumping the gun and that isn't fare here - but my point is that we simply don't know what is to come yet. Based on what Evan and Schott have said there are changes to the program coming.

AlisonHouse does provide level II data and other packages - but if lightning strike feeds and manipulation are not YET ready for any reason you'd be jumping the gun before you know what is available.

Wait until everything is known before joining, become a part of, subscribing, or using any software - and that goes for StormLab too.

I've been researching lightning data feeds lately and what I'm learning is that we STILL don't have a good market for real-time non-commercial "strike-by-strike" plots that are not expensive yet. AlisonHouse would provide good "generalized information" and it would work well with StormLab for those that are into near positioning. But I've talked with both interested and active commercial industries who use lighting data and have learned that of the two ONLY lighting data providers who still have the market captive very little can be done as of yet to lower the cost of commercial-grade strike-by-strike real-time precision lightning data that doesn't cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

I've been involved in a general study of the "need" -VS- availability and found that we have a long way to go before real-time single strike and polarity information is available.

I'm sure it's discouraging to some - we all have those "fancies" and single-strike lightning data is similar to the "sports-car" we want when we have an old beat-up car we drive - or in my case a new 12-speed bike to replace the 25 year old 10-speed that is falling apart.

I'd LOVE TO HAVE single strike lighting data - and real time plotting. BUT, $99.95, $199.95, $299.95, and $900 is just way too much. The $80 a year for what AlisonHouse has with lighting data would do - but first you have to plug it in.

And I'm sure that plays on Evan's and everyone's mind when building a LOW-COST or FREE program that uses the lowest cost services available to you and still gets the best information out there.

Lots of choices have to be made - and I'm sure that Evan wants to release something that meets as many "demands" and ideas as he can humanly put into a program.

Sincerely,
Brian R Cross