Author Topic: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI  (Read 12366 times)

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jwyman

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Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« on: February 28, 2008, 02:43:15 PM »
Well, I must have done somthing right. Received an unexpected cash award today and now.. Lookout Boltek, here I come ! Question is, I see a variety of prices on the Boltek PCI Storm Tracker card. Where is the best place to order from? I have seen some picture of the cards and the ones selling around 350 (Provantage) don't look like the PCI on the Boltek page which runs close to 500. Any reason why? Are they different?

Thanks,

Jim

Offline racenet

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2008, 04:00:48 PM »
The image they show on Provantage isn't the actual card, it is the antenna that comes in the kit.

That aside, yes, that is what you need to get.



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Offline SLOweather

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Re: Where To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2008, 05:55:58 PM »
And... Most places use the image of the old Boltek ISA card, not the PCI card.

PCI



ISA


Offline kray1000

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2008, 06:00:12 PM »
Also make sure your CPU is physically large enough for the PCI card to fit.  Some newer systems aren't big enough.

jwyman

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2008, 06:49:57 PM »
Great! PCI is what i figured, but what about the price? Am I wrong or is Provantage selling the PCI version for ~ $350? That's my take unless I am missing something....

Offline capeweather

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2008, 09:01:29 PM »
It appears that way to me but I would confirm that it's shipped with an Antenna.

Chris
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jwyman

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2008, 09:58:44 PM »
Thanks Cape,
  It does come with the antenna.... Just ordered it.... Now it's like being a kid at Christmas time..... ye ha!

jwyman

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2008, 07:08:11 AM »
Well get the unit installed and finally ran the antenna and line up to the attic. Couple holes here, couple holes there.  :lol:..... Now for some storms to come around. BTW, how far must be the antenna from most electrical sources? I have an air handler unit 1 floor below and about 15 ft away. wondering if this is going to cause problems......

jim
« Last Edit: March 10, 2008, 08:44:58 AM by jwyman »

Offline Anthony

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2008, 08:22:03 AM »
I don't have a lightning detector. But based on what I've read. The farther away from metal the better. This also includes electrical lines. If I were to burchase one. I would not buy one that required me to install the antenna in the atic.



Thanks,
Anthony
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blackjack52

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2008, 09:40:06 AM »
You'll be OK with the attic setup.  Mine is located in the attic; about 30 feet off the ground.  Maybe consider using squelch setting of one.  I used plastic ties to fix it to the 2x4.  The cable runs down through the wall.  I recommend not cutting the cable.

Before making anything final make sure you're not getting interference.  To do this, look at the screen for any noise while cycling heat/lights.

I'm getting very accurate ranging between 400 and 500 miles using my LD250 with this setup.




Offline capeweather

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2008, 10:00:05 AM »
I have an air handler unit 1 floor below and about 15 ft away. wondering if this is going to cause problems......

jim

You may want to try cycling the power to the air handler a few times just to confirm that noise isn't being picked up.

Chris
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jwyman

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2008, 10:24:56 AM »
You'll be OK with the attic setup.  Mine is located in the attic; about 30 feet off the ground.  Maybe consider using squelch setting of one.  I used plastic ties to fix it to the 2x4.  The cable runs down through the wall.  I recommend not cutting the cable.

Before making anything final make sure you're not getting interference.  To do this, look at the screen for any noise while cycling heat/lights.

I'm getting very accurate ranging between 400 and 500 miles using my LD250 with this setup.





Thanks. I have the antenna inside the attic ~ 25-30 feet right at the crest. The first day I had it up it detected a strike all the way in northern NY state. Yesterday I had about 19 strikes to the southwest in TN... I live in southern MD. I looked at the nationwide lightning strike map and saw only strikes in TX in TSs. So I don't know if they were real strikes or noise that appeared 100's of miles away....


Jim

blackjack52

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2008, 11:01:31 AM »
Just remember not to make any adjustments on ranging until the trac is formed.  Depending on the storm strength and atmospheric conditions, it is quite possible that strokes can be detected well beyond 500 miles.

jwyman

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2008, 01:06:19 PM »
Thanks Mom!  :grin: :-P :-P

Jim

blackjack52

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2008, 03:56:53 PM »
Yeah right!  There jerky. :-P

Offline Curly

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #15 on: March 10, 2008, 10:17:24 PM »
Thanks Cape,
  It does come with the antenna.... Just ordered it.... Now it's like being a kid at Christmas time..... ye ha!

Since it's after Christmas and way too early for the next one, I've been debating on getting one myself for a St Patricks Day present.   :lol:
Will this be needing additional software like everyhting else?

Offline capeweather

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #16 on: March 10, 2008, 11:19:02 PM »
Thanks Cape,
  It does come with the antenna.... Just ordered it.... Now it's like being a kid at Christmas time..... ye ha!

Since it's after Christmas and way too early for the next one, I've been debating on getting one myself for a St Patricks Day present.   :lol:
Will this be needing additional software like everyhting else?

I believe all new orders are shipped with Nexstorm light instead of the original Boltek software. If you want to post your data to the internet then you would need to get the full version of Nexstorm which I believe is around 140 bucks.

http://www.astrogenics.com


Chris
Cape Coral, Florida
Website: http://www.capeweather.com
Website: http://www.fortmyersweather.net

Offline Cienega32

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2008, 12:44:44 AM »
I believe all new orders are shipped with Nexstorm light instead of the original Boltek software. If you want to post your data to the internet then you would need to get the full version of Nexstorm which I believe is around 140 bucks.

Is that what makes the price difference - one comes with the full software and the other doesn't?

Pat ~ Davis VP2 6153-Weatherlink-Weather Display-StartWatch-VirtualVP-Win7 Pro-64bit
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Offline jgillett

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2008, 11:36:11 AM »
Ambient has the PCI card, antenna, and nexStorm for $508.
John
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Offline Curly

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #19 on: March 12, 2008, 02:03:36 PM »
I believe all new orders are shipped with Nexstorm light instead of the original Boltek software. If you want to post your data to the internet then you would need to get the full version of Nexstorm which I believe is around 140 bucks.
http://www.astrogenics.com


Is the light version worth installing or should I wait until the full version arrives?

blackjack52

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Re: Wher To Buy/ Least Expensive Boltek PCI
« Reply #20 on: March 12, 2008, 02:26:47 PM »
This is what I would do.  Install the light version so you can start your calibrations and antenna alignment, then when the full version arrives you'll at least be ahead of the game.

In the meantime, goto http://forum.astrogenic.com/index.php set up an account, and ask if you can install the beta version 1.6 on top of the light version.