GPS with XM WX

I know the Rand McNally and Garmin units that have wifi capability offer Wx overlays (radar, wind, temp, etc) but you have to have a "hotspot" running in your truck. With this feature you get all sorts of other internet based capabilities, too.

I'm familiar with XM Wx being a part time storm chaser and I doubt you want that, as it's a pricey monthly subscription cost.

 

I use a hotspot plan from millinicom $69 for 20 gigs (verizon 4g/lte), no commitment. Also, I've heard you are not strictly limited to 20 gigs unless you regularly go over, then they may impose the hard cap. So long as you don't stream entire movies , the 20 gig should be much more then adequate for most. Then, move to the lowest data plan on you phone [perhaps] to help offset some of that cost.

The overlays probably won't eat much so long as you don't use them any more then necessary. Millinicom offers unlimited plans for I think $85 month but I think they are Sprint and require a USB connected modem device to a PC (not hotspot capable)

In the winter, I access

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml

a lot on my smartphone and PC for planning reference.

 

Hay STexan how good is that millicom service. do you have any problems with it. and also did you have to install an outside antenna for better signal. or do you just you use the plug in stick. I was lookin into it myself. any info is great. and thaks in advance.

 

I use the remote "hotspot device" (novatel mifi, not the netgear USB stick) I chase with it springs and summers the last 2 years, no issues. Chasing I use a cell booster because we're always out in fringe 3G areas, but not in a truck, but you could. But many of the cell boosters will only work with the frequency that carries 3G, they won't boost the 4G's frequency. That may have changed with newer boosters, I don't know. Booster or not, the mifi device will work flawlessly for the most part retrieving radar updates every 4 minutes, traveling tower to tower, town to town, corn patch to corn patch, all day long.

Millinicom works great IMO. You decide you don't need it for a few months, call them and they'll stop billing until you call them to turn it back on. Customer service is good what little experience I've had with it. If you talk with them verify what carrier you get with what device/plan. I recommend Verizon if the choice is between Verizon and Sprint.

 

Last time I looked into this was about 3-4 yrs ago when equipping motorcycle gps. The service you speak of was available mainly for marine units and was pretty robust, marketed to commercial boaters. That wx service has a bunch of add-on options that are mainly marine-related. On the Zumo 550 m/c unit, wx was limited to warning/watch box overlays, notifications, and a generic conditions and 3-day forecast view. No real-time radar overlay though. On the other hand, much cheaper.

Frankly, my Android smart phone does a better job with weather and traffic than anything I've seen on an xm/sirius service. Probably why they moved off the sat feed over to mobile internet for data feed.

 

agree with red. the weather bug app works just fine. and it's free. and it works off your gps location.

i also have copilot software with active traffic.

 

TND 520/720 - VIA hotspot


Included on device, no subscription cost:

• Weather – Show current conditions and forecast, or choose from 10 different
  map overlays, including precipitation and wind speed
  
• Fuel prices – View fuel prices on the map, or search by price, fuel type, or
  brand Local search
  
• Local search – Find local businesses, restaurants, and more by name or
  keyword
  
• Includes Lifetime Maps

Premium services available for purchase on the Rand McNally
Dock™

• Traffic Everywhere – Get traffic information, even in rural areas