Weather Station

George [Red] GIVENS · 12-12-2007, 02:56 PM

What is the best. what do like and dislike.

Thanks

12-12-2007, 04:20 PM

They are all good but here are my recommendations:

For Trailer Stations it depends on what you need. Altalab is used by every top fuel and funny car team, the Performaire and Computech are popular with sportsman racers. I like a display unit for ease of use, the Peformaire has one as does the Altalab. Prices start at around $1600.

If contingency is important then it will be impossible to beat the Performaire weather stations with huge payouts for NHRA wins and runner ups.

For Hand Held then there is no clear winner, it depends on what you need. Computech and Performaire Eclipse all work well and are accurate. Altronics just announced that the Eclipse has a pop up Wind Meter that will tell you the wind speed and gusts as an option! The Performaire Eclipse has rechargable batteries, and 120 volt power supply, and a better outside but it is $130 more than the rest. A neat little handheld we sell is the Kestrel 4000 and 4250 models. These even have an integrated wind meter for under $249.

I have them all in stock, call if you have specific questions.

Don Higgins
309-208-1486

SSDiv6 · 12-12-2007, 04:39 PM

For weather stations, my recommendations are as follows:

1. Nielsen-Kellerman Company - Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker - it can be also connected to your PC or laptop
http://www.ambientweather.com/ke40hawestgr.html
http://www.ambientweather.com/ke40coin.html

2. Davis Instruments - Perception II - great weather station and widely used by many racers.
http://www.davisnet.com/weather/prod...asp?pnum=07400
http://www.davisnet.com/product_docu.../apnote_14.pdf

For software, I use Patrick Hale's Density program.
http://www.quarterjr.com/density.htm

Nitro Joe Jackson · 12-12-2007, 05:57 PM

I think the computech is the best. Call Jay at Computech and tell him Nitro Joe sent you. He has the best deal and thats all you need just that program.

Computech Hot line: 1-800-870-8383

www.computechracing.com
"Official Weather Station of NJDRS"

Fred Bartoli · 12-14-2007, 02:05 PM

In 15 years I have never commented on a forum to try to promote or argue about any of my products and I am not going to start now.

But I feel that it is important to bring something to the attention of the racers so they can make a more educated decision. Certain cheaper priced handheld devices are not licensed by my patent and calculate a standard aviation "textbook" Density Altitude. These units are made for various uses such as hiking, mountain climbing, biking, etc and work great for that. Internal combustion engines do not care about the true density of the air. Racers are not trying to calculate how much lift can be generated on the wing of an airplane, they are trying to determine the effect the available atmosphere will have on the performance of a motor. Engines burn OXYGEN with fuel. The "density altitude" and correction factors calculated in a racing weather stations measure available OXYGEN and WATER content. Water content contributes to the air's density or weight, but does not add to the performance, and can adversely effect performance. These differences may be subtle, especially when the atmosphere changes slightly, but then again, how many times have you lost by less then 0.01?

So before purchasing something that is not designed for you application you might more wisely spend a little more and get something that will work for you.

Fred Bartoli

Dave Ficacci · 12-14-2007, 02:36 PM

Next time you are at a National Event, take a look and see what's on top of all the Pro rigs... 9 out of 10 is a Computech RaceAir.

12-14-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Ficacci

Next time you are at a National Event, take a look and see what's on top of all the Pro rigs... 9 out of 10 is a Computech RaceAir.

?

That's not what I normally see. Walk the entire Pro Pit area and count again. They build a great weather station but they are not the most prevelant weather station.

Now walk the Sportsman pit area and try that count.

Dave Ficacci · 12-14-2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewchiefpro

?

That's not what I normally see. Walk the entire Pro Pit area and count again. They build a great weather station but they are not the most prevelant weather station.

Now walk the Sportsman pit area and try that count.

Let me clarify. Out of the top 15 in Pro Stock this year, 11 use Computech. I havent been in the Top Fool pits since I was 8 years old so I don't what's on their rigs.... But I do know Team Kalitta and Prudhomme also use Computech.
I would say most people on this board are going to look and see what the Pro Stock boys are using long before (if ever) they check to see what John Force uses.

12-14-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Ficacci

Let me clarify. Out of the top 15 in Pro Stock this year, 11 use Computech. I havent been in the Top Fool pits since I was 8 years old so I don't what's on their rigs.... But I do know Team Kalitta and Prudhomme also use Computech.
I would say most people on this board are going to look and see what the Pro Stock boys are using long before (if ever) they check to see what John Force uses.

Wrong.

I write software for Prudhomme and they have ALWAYS used Altalab, same with Kalitta.

Force also uses Altalab.

I have sold Pro Stock teams weather stations for years, and they are split between both of those weather stations. They love Computech's graphing program and ease of use, they just wish they interfaced with RacePak like Altalab does.

All the Top Fuel and Funny Car Teams, as well as most Pro Mods, Alcohol Dragster and Funny Cars, and Comp Eliminator racers use Altalab.

Most sportsman racers use Performaire, Altalab, Computech and Tag systems, split about evenly on hand helds. Trailer Stations are Performaire, Altalab, and Computech.

All the weather station companies build great weather stations, and since Biondo and I sell most of the weather equipment we have a pretty good idea what works.

fredjohnston · 12-14-2007, 03:52 PM

[QUOTE=crewchiefpro;50593]Wrong.

I write software for Prudhomme and they have ALWAYS used Altalab, same with Kalitta.

I have sold Pro Stock teams weather stations for years, and they are split between both of those weather stations.

All the Top Fuel and Funny Car Teams, as well as most Pro Mods, Alcohol Dragster and Funny Cars, and Comp Eliminator racers use Altalab.

Chief,

you might want to check this again. I spend alot of time in the fuel pits. love nitro.

Fred

12-12-2007, 02:56 PM	#1
George [Red] GIVENS Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Morrow.Ga Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Weather Station What is the best. what do like and dislike. Thanks __________________ George [Red] Givens 2234 STK

12-12-2007, 04:20 PM	#2
crewchiefpro Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Weather Station They are all good but here are my recommendations: For Trailer Stations it depends on what you need. Altalab is used by every top fuel and funny car team, the Performaire and Computech are popular with sportsman racers. I like a display unit for ease of use, the Peformaire has one as does the Altalab. Prices start at around $1600. If contingency is important then it will be impossible to beat the Performaire weather stations with huge payouts for NHRA wins and runner ups. For Hand Held then there is no clear winner, it depends on what you need. Computech and Performaire Eclipse all work well and are accurate. Altronics just announced that the Eclipse has a pop up Wind Meter that will tell you the wind speed and gusts as an option! The Performaire Eclipse has rechargable batteries, and 120 volt power supply, and a better outside but it is $130 more than the rest. A neat little handheld we sell is the Kestrel 4000 and 4250 models. These even have an integrated wind meter for under $249. I have them all in stock, call if you have specific questions. Don Higgins 309-208-1486 Last edited by crewchiefpro; 12-14-2007 at 02:46 PM.

12-12-2007, 04:39 PM	#3
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,044 Likes: 712 Liked 1,579 Times in 582 Posts	Re: Weather Station For weather stations, my recommendations are as follows: 1. Nielsen-Kellerman Company - Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker - it can be also connected to your PC or laptop http://www.ambientweather.com/ke40hawestgr.html http://www.ambientweather.com/ke40coin.html 2. Davis Instruments - Perception II - great weather station and widely used by many racers. http://www.davisnet.com/weather/prod...asp?pnum=07400 http://www.davisnet.com/product_docu.../apnote_14.pdf For software, I use Patrick Hale's Density program. http://www.quarterjr.com/density.htm

12-12-2007, 05:57 PM	#4
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 58 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Weather Station I think the computech is the best. Call Jay at Computech and tell him Nitro Joe sent you. He has the best deal and thats all you need just that program. Computech Hot line: 1-800-870-8383 www.computechracing.com "Official Weather Station of NJDRS" __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

12-14-2007, 02:05 PM	#5
Fred Bartoli Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Weather Station In 15 years I have never commented on a forum to try to promote or argue about any of my products and I am not going to start now. But I feel that it is important to bring something to the attention of the racers so they can make a more educated decision. Certain cheaper priced handheld devices are not licensed by my patent and calculate a standard aviation "textbook" Density Altitude. These units are made for various uses such as hiking, mountain climbing, biking, etc and work great for that. Internal combustion engines do not care about the true density of the air. Racers are not trying to calculate how much lift can be generated on the wing of an airplane, they are trying to determine the effect the available atmosphere will have on the performance of a motor. Engines burn OXYGEN with fuel. The "density altitude" and correction factors calculated in a racing weather stations measure available OXYGEN and WATER content. Water content contributes to the air's density or weight, but does not add to the performance, and can adversely effect performance. These differences may be subtle, especially when the atmosphere changes slightly, but then again, how many times have you lost by less then 0.01? So before purchasing something that is not designed for you application you might more wisely spend a little more and get something that will work for you. Fred Bartoli Last edited by Fred Bartoli; 12-14-2007 at 02:19 PM.

12-14-2007, 02:36 PM	#6
Dave Ficacci Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jersey Posts: 371 Likes: 43 Liked 98 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Weather Station Next time you are at a National Event, take a look and see what's on top of all the Pro rigs... 9 out of 10 is a Computech RaceAir. __________________ Dave Ficacci 1013 STK 1170 SS

12-14-2007, 03:52 PM	#10
fredjohnston Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 341 Likes: 0 Liked 55 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Weather Station [QUOTE=crewchiefpro;50593]Wrong. I write software for Prudhomme and they have ALWAYS used Altalab, same with Kalitta. I have sold Pro Stock teams weather stations for years, and they are split between both of those weather stations. All the Top Fuel and Funny Car Teams, as well as most Pro Mods, Alcohol Dragster and Funny Cars, and Comp Eliminator racers use Altalab. Chief, you might want to check this again. I spend alot of time in the fuel pits. love nitro. Fred