As a driver/tech support / the odd forecasting opinion, I can put my 2p worth!
Last year we opted to go for the unlimited data mobile phone contracts to use as tethering hotspots, which work well and allows everyone including myself to browse the net, look at radar data and when the signal is strong and we are not doing much, looking at whenever we need to on the laptop!
At the peak of the chase on whatever day that is, you can be in the middle of a metro area in OKC or the depths of the wilderness in Montana, the signal does frequently disappear due to overloading of chasers trying to share that 1 bar of 3g or the shear size of a storm has locked off the 4g signals. sharing the data in the cars is a brilliant option for everyone especially on tedious 500 mile drives but when the time comes, all data is reserved for the chasing data and if needed, it will be limited to staff.
the reason for this above, i spoke to EE about my plan and they changed my uk allowance to be available in the USA and Canada (proved helpful last year) it is limited to 15gb a month but thats a lot of data when browsing!
Always worth asking your provider for an allowance just in case the usual wifi options are not available!
boom!
great thread! keep your additional items coming!