BARON SERVICES

Weather Technologies Company

Baron Services is a pioneer in the development of real-time, site-specific weather technologies for broadcasters, emergency management communities, and commercial enterprises.  Our innovations have been instrumental in changing the way the public expects to see and receive weather information.

Baron Services was founded in 1990 with a vision of changing the way the media and viewing audiences would receive severe weather information. Bob Baron, Founder and President of Baron Services and a dedicated meteorologist, wanted to bring this information into local communities and neighborhoods instead of focusing on larger regional areas. This involved placing the proper tools in the hands of broadcast meteorologists across the country that could prevent the loss of life. The philosophy behind our products has been the increasing role that broadcasters play in the detection, dissemination and response process during severe weather events.  Our entire product line is designed to ensure that a community is served with the most accurate, detailed, and timely weather information for their situation.

PRODUCTS

Doppler Radar & Data Products

Baron Services is a leader in the development and distribution of real-time Doppler radar for the broadcast industry.  When severe weather approaches, you can`t afford to wait 6-10 minutes for weather information. We offer a complete family of Neighborhood Radar™ including High Definition and Xtreme Digital Definition Doppler radar. Accurate, timely information gets weather conditions and forecasts to your viewers ahead of the competition and saves lives.

XDD-350C™: The highest powered and most accurate C-band Doppler radar in its class with 350,000 watts and Xtreme Digital Definition

XDD-300X®: Xtreme Digital Definition with the sensitivity of the X-band wave length and the power of 300,000 watts in one Doppler radar.

Network America™
NexRad

Storm Tracking, Detection & Analysis Tools

Along with its sister storm tracker NexTrac®, FasTrac is the nations leading broadcast storm tracking and radar display system. Baron Services is the only company to generate its own algorithms. Backing these capabilities are some of meteorology`s most powerful severe weather detection algorithms incorporated into accurate, site-specific displays; meteorologists can zoom down to neighborhood level, instantly showing viewers a storm`s location, its severity, and its future effects on them.

FasTrac ZT™ / NexTrac ZT™: Entry level systems with powerful storm tracking capabilities.

FasTrac ZT (Zoom & Tracking) is the entry-level FasTrac system, taking care of broadcasting needs at the same time as budget needs. It includes everything professional storm tracking requires, including real-time Doppler radar capability; Baron`s patented storm tracking; and the availability of a number of impressive options.

FasTrac®

NexTrac®

NexTrac and its sister software, FasTrac®, are the nation`s leading broadcast storm tracking and radar display systems. NexTrac ingests the National Weather Service`s NEXRAD data, providing crisp, detailed storm imagery atop Baron`s high-resolution topography and maps.

FasTrac Millennium™ / NexTrac Millennium™

Baron`s FasTrac Millennium is the next evolutionary step in storm tracking. No other radar display system can handle the massive amounts of data that FasTrac Millennium can.

VIPIR®: Maximizes Doppler data in 3D and offers a 5-10 minute advantage over the competition.

VIPIR 24/7™: The power of VIPIR as an every day broadcasting tool.
Snow Machine® - Redefines winter weather coverage showing viewers for the first time the different types of winter weather precipitation, putting an arsenal of winter weather products at your disposal.

Product Options

Advanced Response & Community Service Solutions
  
SAF-T-Net™
Threat Net™
Storm Spotter™
Neighborhood WeatherTouch™

Dissemination Products
 
StormWarn®
IRIS™
Neighborhood Cable Weather™
Neighborhood Weather Net®

Doppler Radar & Data Products

Xtreme Digital Definition™ Doppler Radar

With higher power comes the best data resolution-as much as 50 times higher data resolution than low power radar. With state-of-the-art processing technologies, a higher degree of accuracy and all the tools to complement your investment, the future of Doppler radar is here with Xtreme Digital Definition.

As an outgrowth of our successful VHDD250™ and our continuing commitment to providing the best Doppler radar systems available, Baron Services has enhanced the capabilities of the VHDD250 and introduced a new line of Doppler radar. Realizing that with the highest power comes the best data resolution, Baron has undertaken further development of broadcast Doppler technology. 

The XDD-300X and XDD-350C offer more power for even better data resolution.  You can see weather at longer distances with full resolution and minimum attenuation with as much as 15 times higher resolution than NexRad and 50 times higher resolution than low power radar.  Extreme punching power enables you to see through the strongest storms with full resolution and clarity.
  
The Baron line of Doppler radar features fully digital state-of-the-art Doppler processing.  Our superior processing, resolution, and power lay the foundation for a superior Doppler radar. The extreme sensitivity allows you to see light returns, like snow, in amazing detail. The Baron Neighborhood Radar is your all season weather tool. The capabilities of the system allow you to scan simultaneously for rain, winds, and turbulence -- all in one sweep and at full resolution. The high level of coherency maximizes signal clarity and minimizes ground clutter.
 
The advancements in technology that brought about the XDD series of radar have been an ambitious goal for Baron Services.  The XDD-350C is unsurpassed as a live Doppler tool for the broadcast meteorologist. Taking these advancements beyond just the data collection of the radar, Baron Dopplers are coupled with the patented FasTrac® storm-tracking display system. The accuracy of this system represents the cutting edge capability for storm tracking. 

The Baron commitment to technological advancement in meteorology has also led to the development of VIPIR™ (Volumetric Imaging and Processing for Integrated Radar). A vital system for interpretation and display of Doppler data, VIPIR excels at detecting potentially Dangerous Twisting of the Winds™. With startling real-time analysis, VIPIR not only gives you a 5 to 10 minute edge; it also gives you the ability to provide life saving information.

Network America™

Network America™ makes the most of real-time Doppler.  With Baron radar in nearly 80 television stations across the country, this collection, or network, of real-time radar allows meteorologists at participating stations access to live radar data from nearly anywhere.  The data is used to monitor storms in neighboring areas as they move into range of the station`s own live Doppler, and each radar can be shown simultaneously within the Baron display, FasTrac®. In a sense, all the participating stations are then networked together, creating a web of weather coverage.

Network America features optional whole US mapping, US city streets, and access to a maximum of 20 Doppler sites -- delivered through the Internet -- simultaneously. It can zoom in to city street-level detail, and, like Baron`s other products, the data is in real-time.

For stations wishing to cover very local and specific areas, Network America is also presented as a regional package, which provides access to up to four live Doppler sites within a 300 mile radius of the broadcaster. This package includes no additional mapping.

Not only does Network America help monitor severe weather during times of need, it also ties neighboring markets, indeed most of the country, together in a net of weather coverage.  So, whether there is a storm in Seattle, tornadoes in Tulsa, a Northeaster in New England, or a hurricane in Houston -- you can show your viewers what is happening live, down to a local level.

NexRad

In an agreement through UNISYS, Baron Services is an authorized distributor of NexRad data and works cooperatively through UNISYS with other UNISYS vendors including Weather Central and AccuWeather.  Plus, we work cooperatively directly with WSI.  Not only does this enable you to take advantage of our industry leading NexRad display and storm tracking capabilities with NexTrac® , but it also gives you access to StormScan®.

Baron Services` StormScan system manages the National Weather Service Build-10 data from within a graphically-friendly format.  Working in conjunction with NexTrac, your weather reports become more specific, and viewers respect the information as your station out- performs the competition with accurate information.  StormScan maximizes the data from the NWS allowing you to take advantage of NexRad`s storm parameters and attributes.

You can easily view and summarize the characteristics of the storm -- the presence of hail, hail size, storm top height, storm speed, and the direction in which the storm is traveling.  Data including tornado signature, max dBZ, and circulation detection are readily accessible; plus the attribute tables are user definable.

With StormScan, you can easily run a comparison of current and past storm parameters by evaluating two consecutive NexRad sweeps.  StormScan displays the complete makeup of a storm system, including TVS, meso, hail, and VIL classifications.  Storm attribute arrows immediately identify the path of the storm and, with the click of the mouse on the attribute arrow, a storm track is generated and the storm attributes are revealed.

When you add StormScan to the NexTrac system, you are arming yourself with an even more accurate and informative weapon, and you`re making the most of your NexRad data.

Storm Tracking, Detection & Analysis Tools

FasTrac

When severe weather reaches your viewing area, you need a dependable, user-friendly system to help you track the storms. All the different FasTrac variations come equipped with this ability, down to the display of your own storm tracks and estimated times of arrival for communities in your DMA. Higher-end FasTrac systems allow progressively more advanced techniques and capabilities.

Variations of the product like FasTrac ZT offer many functions at a lower price, and can be upgraded according to your station`s budget and broadcasting needs. The system`s graphic presentation is completely customizable, down to the colors, maps, fonts, and configurations that you determine.
 
FasTrac offers you the most accurate, localized storm tracking.

NexTrac

Broadcasters seek out NexTrac because of its easy-to-use, localized storm tracking capabilities. NexTrac reaches unmatched levels of accuracy with COBRA™, Baron`s powerful storm tracking algorithms. The optional COBRA analyzes the information-rich NEXRAD data stream and enhances it, producing a host of new value-added capabilities, like wind shear and hail analysis, improved storm tracking and winter precipitation analysis.  
 
Snow Machine®
Snow Machine® is Baron Services` latest example of pioneering meteorological technologies and setting new standards. With Snow Machine you can show viewers the three different types of winter precipitation.  While winter mosaic products are generally available, they invariably involve hourly surface snow reports.  The Baron approach is different in that it reinitializes a special forecast model every hour to define the snow line in five minute-by-five minute increments.  The result sets a new standard for precision in winter precipitation analysis.

PRODUCT OPTIONS

Storm Tracking - Our patented storm tracking with automatic community identification and storm arrival times - simple to use and provides critical information to the viewers and community.  Automatically included on all FasTrac® and NexTrac® products

City Streets® - Provides a complete database of communities and street names for your demographic area.  This storm tracking system allows you to pinpoint precise locations and mention areas of potential danger with specific street and community names.

Quantum Topography™ - Graphically pleasing actual topography provides ground truth replication of your terrain, providing a truer look at where weather is impacting an area.

TeleTrac™ - Enables the user, with a mouse or computer pen and tablet, to write or draw directly on the mapping display.  Operators are able to indicate storm direction, circle severe areas of storm development, or make other relevant points on-screen.

High Definition Data Processing™ - Smoothes and clarifies radar data to remove the pixilated look of standard radar displays without altering its geographic accuracy.  HDDP enhances the readability of radar displays and assists in the definition of severe weather events.

Street Spotter™ - Street Spotter allows the user to instantly place street names on the mapping displays with no more than a click of the mouse.  It also enables the user to search and query intersections.  A database of icons that identify familiar landmarks or major interstates and roadways is also incorporated. 

Real-time Doppler Radar Data - Real-time data can be incorporated into a multitude of Baron products bringing more timely, accurate information into all aspects of your forecasting and weather broadcast.  Can be used independently or in a composite mode with NexRad data.

NexRad Data Integration - As a licensed distributor of NexRad data, this information from the National Weather Services can be used alone with the NexTrac products or in conjunction with real-time Doppler radar in many other products.

StormScan™ - This feature uses Build 10 information from the National Weather Service to display storm parameters such as the size and presence of hail, storm height, storm intensity, direction, and speed.  StormScan is available on products that incorporate NexRad data.

Lightning Integration - Delivers real-time lighting data from a nationally recognized distributor for a region, or the entire United States.  The data may be displayed as a stand-alone product or integrated into Baron display products.

Sensor Integration - Sensors measure an array of weather data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, dewpoint, wind chill, and barometric pressure.  By incorporating the sensors and their wealth of information into your Baron products, you bring ground truth and an added level of information to your viewers.

Networking - By networking various Baron systems together, you increase your weather arsenal, putting more tools and information at your fingertips. 

COBRA Storm Tracking - Using Baron-derived shear SCITs and the core technology of the tremendously successful VIPIR® system, this product gives you more accuracy than Build 10 and a 5 minute advantage over NexRad SCIT markers.

STAT™ Sequencing - This automated feature creates a storm track with the touch of a button simply by clicking on the Baron shear SCIT. The system analyzes the data and does the work for you; includes updated time lapses and a lapse on demand button that generate the most recent radar time lapses for the duration and from the source that you have pre-set, all from the touch of a button on the main menu bar.

SpotterNet™ - Creates a database of spotters in your area with icons showing their location.  By utilizing this spotter network during severe weather, you confirm what is really happening in the surrounding area and involve your viewers in your weathercast.

Automated Warnings - This feature automatically processes NWS warning information.  When a warning is issued, the system replaces the topography of your Baron display with a background that you specify for instant notification of areas where there is a threat of severe weather.  By setting the parameters, you control what types of warnings will be displayed and how.

Severe Weather Module - The incredible capabilities of the VIPIR system are now available in a 2-D format.  This module makes use VIPIR`s ability to analyze Doppler radar data and highlight specific danger areas -- wind, hail, and precipitation.  It also includes the trademark ``shear markers`` that are indicative of gate-to-gate shear, commonly known as wind shear, in excess of 50 knots.

Advanced Response & Community Service Solutions

SAF-T-Net™

The county-wide severe weather warning has done much to alert local residents to the threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.  Something traditionally missing from severe weather warnings, however, is accurate site-specificity.  During a severe storm, all residents of at least the affected county are alerted, even though the danger may only threaten a small area.  And due to broadly-defined criteria, only the most severe thunderstorms merit warnings.

Baron Services has always championed an instant, localized approach to severe weather coverage.  As a pioneer in severe storm identification and tracking technology, our approach has reached an even higher level with the new, patented SAF-T-Net™ - the first wireless alert that allows anyone in your viewing area to receive local weather advisories only when they`re directly affected. 

SAF-T-Net transmits localized, text-based weather advisories to a variety of wireless devices.  All a resident has to do to receive these alerts is register.  SAF-T-Net`s patented storm tracking algorithms are constantly monitoring the nation for all rapidly-developing storms capable of predicting lightning, gusty winds and hail.  Once the system detects dangerous thunderstorms, the storm cells` severity is assessed and areas of future threat are discerned.  Before a storm becomes severe, SAF-T-Net sends an alert message only to those affected, specific updates, specifically directed, and all automatically.
 
SAF-T-Net`s severe weather notices can be received through a wide array of wireless communication devices, including pagers and cellular phones.

Threat Net™
Threat Net™ is Baron Services` newest development for the field of public safety. Equipped with storm tracking and HAZMAT capability, it`s part of a new revolution that will give EMA`s not only high-definition radar display and street-level mapping, but also 2.5-minute radar updates; radar projections 30 minutes into the future; flooding analysis, spotter networking and more. Plus, with Threat Net`s localized mapping technology, public safety officials will be able to determine just who`s under threat, and can prepare their resources accordingly.
 
Storm Spotter™
Baron Services` Storm Spotter™ takes all of your station`s advanced weather system features and presents them to your viewers at any local demonstration or from the edge of the storm during severe weather. Storm Spotter is your avenue for reaching out to the public by showing them, anywhere at any time, what your station has to offer and leaves a lasting impression. 

Ensure your viewers ride out the storm safely with the most accurate up-to-the-minute information you can deliver. Keep them ahead of the storm with a Doppler weather center that takes the power of your Doppler radar out into your community.  Storm Spotter actually takes the same advanced Doppler radar capabilities that you have in your weather center and puts them on the street in an unbeatable mobile weather environment. As you track the storm street-by-street your Baron Storm Spotter travels the roadways of your community street-by-street reporting live conditions and delivering so much more.  

On-board sensors and advanced data reception modes prepare your storm team with all the necessary information to make safe and accurate reports from the storm. Storm Spotter is a full-fledged mobile Doppler weather center - - all in one.  At the scene, Storm Spotter`s advanced systems bring the storm details right to your viewers. Mounted to the vehicle are weather sensors that collect data such as wind speed, rainfall amounts, humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure. Inside Storm Spotter a monitor constantly updates and displays this data. You can select all or only a few of the weather data options and integrate them into one complete mapping and storm tracking display in the Storm Spotter.

Neighborhood WeatherTouch™

Baron Services offers a way to take your weather coverage directly to the public - literally placing instant, localized weather information right at their fingertips.

The Neighborhood WeatherTouch™ kiosk gives you this unique capability. You can place it anywhere you like:  malls, banks, stadiums, or any high-traffic location.  Using the optional free-standing version or an integrated unit, the public can access all the latest weather updates quickly and easily via a 17-inch, touch-sensitive screen.  It`s both easy to use and informative. Post live Doppler radar, for example, or local temperature, humidity and rainfall information. Even include your own forecasts. With Neighborhood WeatherTouch, the options become endless; the choices, yours.

The systems live Doppler radar or NEXRAD mapping displays are provided on attractive county maps that let you include localized icons for landmarks, highways, and interstates. This means you can customize your kiosk`s display to complement that of your televised weathercasts. Most importantly, your Doppler radar and sensor data are always current, so citizens are kept up-to date as a weather event approaches.  That`s an imperative feature, whether a severe storm is invading the city or a light snow is blanketing the ground.

Dissemination Products

StormWarn®

Baron Services provides revolutionary products that give you the leading edge in your market. StormWarn® (Patent Pending), our EAS compatible, next generation product, is the most advanced instant alert system available to the broadcast industry.  Now you can zoom directly into the individual counties affected by severe weather and display current radar time-lapses at the same time -- a feature only Baron Services offers.  This should come as no surprise from the leader in site-specific radar mapping!

With our new StormWarn we offer the technology that enables you to automatically air watches, warnings, and other critical information, including school closings, during threatening weather. Localized details beyond county information give your audience the best information available when severe weather approaches.  The display of current radar lapse offers you real-time weather information and is one of many features available on our new system.

IRIS™

With Baron Services` IRIS™ (Internet Radar Imaging Server), you have yet another opportunity to maximize your real-time Doppler radar investment. What better way to keep your viewers in touch with your station and local weather conditions than by offering live Doppler on your website? Using clean, crisp radar images from 24-bit graphics, your real-time radar image goes directly to your web page.

Neighborhood Cable Weather™

Neighborhood Cable Weather™ is an automated weather channel for broadcast stations and cable networks that provides continuous, 24 hour-a-day weather coverage.  Radar maps, current conditions from weather sensors, local forecasts and other relevant or promotional information are cycled through with attractive graphics.  You can also show current precipitation information with radar time lapses.

Neighborhood Weather Net®

There`s no better way to build viewer loyalty than by delivering the most personalized weather coverage possible.  Because the weather affects people on a very personal level they seek out the most detailed information they can get. As a result, your meteorologist has a direct connection with viewers.  Why don`t you take advantage of that connection?

Now, with the Baron Neighborhood Weather Net, you can provide your viewers with the most site-specific weather coverage in your DMA.

Built around a network of weather sensors, the Neighborhood Weather Net operates first as an information-gathering tool. The sensors measure an array of weather data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, dewpoint, wind-chill, and barometric pressure.  This information is collected and sent--via the Internet--to your Neighborhood Weather Net computer, which becomes a source for broadcast-ready graphics.  Furthermore, the sensors themselves will serve as a tangible reminder of your presence in the community as you introduce them to your viewers.  The sensor information can also be incorporated directly into your FasTrac® or NexTrac®.

Mobile Threat Net™

Emergency situations are often caused, hampered or complicated by encroaching or severe weather. Keeping informed with current weather situations is imperative. Mobile Threat Net delivers revolutionary continuous access to the most comprehensive and reliable weather information in the field for quick and accurate decisions. State of the art S-Band satellite transmission gives you the most reliable 24/7 signal available.

Mobile Threat Net Features:

• High-Resolution NEXRAD, (whole U.S. - updated every 5 minutes)
• Patented Storm Cell Identification and Tracking with 15-minute storm path projection
• Shear detection denoting the most Dangerous Twisting of the Winds
• County weather warnings with audible alerts
• Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression Tracking
• Lightning data (whole U.S.)
• Winds aloft
• Echo tops
• High Resolution U.S. Quantum Topography, County, State Boundary lines and Waterways. (optional)
• METARS (Graphical and Text based Surface Observations)