Backpacking Radio

“I know that the words "Backpacking Radio" are an incongruous juxtaposition to many. In fact, I've hiked for decades disdaining the idea of radio in the wilderness myself. I hiked with a friend though who had an FM radio about the size and shapeof 5 guitar picks stacked together (earphone separate). He can't tell me where to get one because he tells me that somebody at the LDHA meeting at Dartmouth gave it to him coupla Octobers ago. I tried it out and was pleased that I could keep up with the baseball scores. Please understand that I usually hike alone and get bored with my own contemplations. Any ideas?”

“On long solo trips I take along a shortwave AM/FM that is about the size of a pack of cigarettes to listen to BBC, CBC, and NPR. If somebody is camped within earshot of me, I ask whether they mind. If so, it stays shut off. Most don't mind hearing "All Things Considered," "The World at Six," or "Newsdesk."”

“I like NPR its fun to listen to anytime but I have never had it on the trail with me.

8)”

“BASEball scores? not very snobby. you should've used...you know, polo or golf or something.”

“Acadamy Sports Carries those radios.”

“I like to get a weather report now and then, especially on longer trips.”

“Get a NOAA Weather Radio Skully. Light and you can get the report whenever you need it.”

“If you don't mind carrying the extra weight you could also pack your cell phone, palm pilot and laptop to keep up on your e-mail posts.

Your lack of contemplation is boring me.”

“Sorry Indiana. We'll try to conform to your vision.”

“Sorry, Maybe too harsh. I understand weather radio, ....but baseball scores??”

“To each his own. Sometimes I like to contemplate, sometimes I like to do a little geology, sometimes I like to do photography, sometimes I like to just hang out, sometimes I want to know what's happening in the world out there. Doesn't harm anybody so long as I ask anybody within earshot whether they mind, and if they do I don't tune in.”

“Point taken”

“NOAA radio is nice if you're within range, but too many times I haven't been within range, so the added weight isn't worth it.”

“Re NOAA, I can usually pick it up on peaks or ridges, but then I hike in the east. Out west you might be WAY out of range.”

“Thanks, guys, esp. Rabittman for knowing exactly the radio I'm talking about (runs on a hearing-aid battery). I'll try a search of "Academy Sports."”

“My brother gave me an FM radio made for a Microsoft promotion that weighed almost nothing. No buttons. It scanned to the next station by finger pressure.

I usually carry a small shortwave/AM/FM. You can pick up shortwave almost anywhere in the world. When we were on the MRT last month, I was listening to the Australian Broadcasting Company.

Oh, yeah, NPR rocks.
rl”

“while in the sipsey my motorola talkabout couldn't pickup the NOAA channels..but it could pick up the rap station out of HSV”

“Grundig G-2 AM-FM NOAA radio = 200 grams. (from Campmor)

Radio Shack Optimus TV AM FM WX radio = 136 grams.

Both will get you a weather forcast from NOAA if in range, otherwise from a local radio station. The weather forcasts have been invaluable in planning what time to leave camp, to build your campfire, how tight to tie down your tent, how hot will afternoon hiking be, etc.

If a single person in the group or campsite doesn't want to have some background music, the radio stays OFF.”

“I think it would be cool to hear NPR while in the backcountry!

8)”

“I tried a NOAA radio but didn't like it. I used my first radio with a small speaker in the hopes it would scare away critters sniffing at my tent at night. Didn't work. Now, I carry an AM/FM with earbuds which I remove when I occasionally meet people on the trail. While I don't usually like Sony products, they make a nice small (cig pack sz) AM/FM digital weather resistant radio. It comes with an armband but I usually drop it in my front loaded map case or shirt pocket. Wouldn't hike without it. Helps me get up the steep parts with Rock & glorious in the woods with the sun streaming thru the trees (pref around a body of water) with classical playing. Occasionally I get very close to large critters without hearing them.”

“Yeah, I've used an NOAA radio in the past but as already stated you have to be in range of a broadcast tower to recieve a signal. The rest of the time it's a brick in your pack. I like the shortwave radio idea alot though.”

“One neat thing about NPR is you also get the local flavor. In the Daks it's North Country Radio, while in Virginia there is a regional network serving Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley into eastern West Virginia. But there's also a West Virginia network that I can pick up in some spots but not others.

Shortwave is not what it used to be. Most countries cut way back on SW funding.

Best stations are the BBC (Newsdesk), Radio Canada International (The World at Six and As It Happens), and Radio Nederland (news and analysis). All those have pretty strong relays to North America.

If anyone wants to get into SW radio, pick up a copy of Passport to World Band Radio at a bookstore or order through amazon.com. It not only lists frequencies and schedules, but has hints for beginners and equipment guide with recommended buys.

I will never ever buy anything with the Grundig nameplate again. I bought one that lasted until a couple of days after the warranty expired, then went belly-up. My small portable Sony analog is sturdy, dependable, and fits into a shirt pocket or belt pouch. I've had it for years and it's been a pleasure.”

“Found a great radio for christmas. 4.7 oz!



http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47840653&parent_category_rn=4500615 Cool Radio![url]”

“SW too nigal, that v cool.”

“But it's such an ugly color...”

“you can get blue, white, red or yellow. Comes with ear buds, case and manual for $39. I like the external speaker.

BTW- hopw the hell do you do links now?”

“I dunno, I still use HTML to insert links.”

“nigal, click on the url button, then paste the link, then url button again. but add a / before the secong u, this [/url]. Well that's what I do anyway.”

“OK, I thought html was out now. Thanks.”

“Nigal, let me know how you like it. That's an analog radio, and analogs on shortwave are notoriously hard to tune and keep on frequency. If you plan to do a lot of shortwave listening, you'd do better with a digital tuner. There are some that are pretty small and light. Go to Universal Radio and click on portable shortwave radios.

On Friday, XMRadio will come out with the MyFi, which is a portable radio with earbuds as well.

There are all kinds of radios out there suitable for backpacking. For years I carried a little Sony shortwave job with AM/FM. It is analog tuning, but pretty precise.
last edited: 12/06/04 12:50:39 PM”

“I am going to be all over that MyFi. What a godsend for baseball season.”

“I should have added that the MyFi also works on your car and home stereos.”

“"That's an analog radio, and analogs on shortwave are notoriously hard to tune and keep on frequency. If you plan to do a lot of shortwave listening, you'd do better with a digital tuner."

It's got digital readout. Isn't that the same? I'm not into the SV much but I'm sure once I have it...

I can just see you sashaying through the house with your Myfi in your ears like Elton John..."I listen to it when I'm cooking, I listen to it when I'm walking the dog, I listen to it when I'm working in the garden...". LOL! I don't like ear buds in general but when it's for hiking I have to have the external radio. I am on the fence though on getting XM and the Myfi is the way I'd go. Thanks.”

“YOU all rave so much about ultralight and yet you'll carry a radio...too funny. you all must be doing your excersises now and getting in shape, so that you can afford the extra 4.7oz that that thing weighs.

Way to go. I'm proud, and that should make you happy.”

“That's why you see so many radios lying by the side of the trail stik. People just can't carry the weight so they ditch them.

Those Grundigs have a digital readout, but I do believe they work on analog principle. I did not get the latest copy of "Passport to World Band Radio," so I'm not absolutely certain, but I'm pretty sure I'm correct. Some analogs do hold a station pretty well, but I think most of the good ones will bottom out in the $100 price range.

In the long run, if it suits you, it's a good buy. But if you get really serious about shortwave, digital is the only way to go.

Shortwave schedules are all over the spectrum. They broadcast on higher frequencies during the day, lower at night.

5975 kHz is the BBC in the evenings on the East Coast. Radio Canada International can be found on 5960 and 9755 kHz around 6 p.m., Eastern time. If you find a station you like, note the time and frequency so you can get back to it.

The MyFi will retail at $350, but as pig-guy noted, it can be used as a personal or with auto or home radio. Both kits come with the radio. It looks to me like the most versatile, portable XM on the market.”

“Actually stik, I'll be using my MyFi ay work. I've got to have something to keep me entertained on the job because thinking isn't a big part of the work. Gots to keep my mind occupado.”

“I wasn't sure if just having a digital readout ment it was digital or not. Thanks.

"The MyFi will retail at $350, but as pig-guy noted, it can be used as a personal or with auto or home radio. Both kits come with the radio. It looks to me like the most versatile, portable XM on the market.”

The whole package? That's what I'm looking for! Once you buy the Serius unit for $149, then the boom box for $100 or the 450 for the home kit, then the kit for the car and you can't use it as a walkman, the choice is clear.”

“The MyFi does not attach to a boom box. From what I gather, it transmits to an FM radio over freqs that are not in use by stations.”

“That's the Grundig M300 Mini World Analog AM/FM/SW-7. It has analog tuning with a digital frequency readout.

Radios come as complete analogs, complete digitals, or analog with digital readout.

The difference is that digital radios hold the exact frequency, while analogs tend to drift in and out. In the old days of SW, I used to go nuts trying to hear weaker stations as they drifted around. Digital was a godsend.

But it's a good way to get a light, cheap radio that probably will do the trick. Most people expect shortwave to be much like FM or AM. It is not, because they change frequencies to get signals to distant places during optimal periods of the day or night. So schedules are a bit goofy.

If you enjoy the shortwave and want to learn more, let me know. You can get anything from lightweight digitals to table models costing thousands of dollars.

The problem though is that shortwave broadcasting has been steadily decreasing since the cold war ended. It used to be a battle on the airwaves, with propaganda flying in both directions. There were notable periods when shortwave had some dramatics, such as the 1968 Czech Spring when the Czechs began lightening up and tried to break away from the Communist bloc.

Still, from time to time I like to tune in and follow it for a month or two to see what's cooking.”

“Just a little more than two ounces heavier at about 7 ounces is the Kaito KA105. It is no larger than an audio cassette. It has full coverage on AM and FM, slightly less than what I'd like on SW, but costs just $49 and is fully digital.

For more details go to http://www.radiointel.com/review-kaitoka105.htm”

“Hell, I just ordered one myself to replace the Sony analog I carry on BP trips, assuming my legs get working again.”

“Am I reading this right that the radio is 6 inches by 2.5 inches?

That means it's about the same size as my Grundig Yacht Boy 300PE.

That's a great radio, but it's not really pocket-sized.

And that Kaito kind of looks a bit chincy. I've got a casette-sized SW, but it doesn't get great reception.

I'm thinking that maybe the best radio to buy is the yacht boy with single sideband reception so you can pick up ham radio broadcasts. Then, if the volcano blows up while you are backpacking, you can monitor your rescue.

BTW, one of the great inventions of recent years is the amplified TV/FM antenna. I get 30 over the air stations for a one-time cost of $35 with my Jenson 45db amplified antenna. So, for the price of 3.5 months of lifeline basic, I get twice the channels for ever. Screw cable. Screw dish.”

“I got carried away after a five hour delay at heathrow once and came out with this.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006IS4V/ref=ase_insideairpo02-20/102-5411534-0045708?v=glance&s=electronics

I've had it a few years now, so it's not so bad. Serves as my clock radio in the morning too. It is fantastic radio though.”

“I think you're looking at the Kaite 150 RL. The 105 is 2.75"h x 4.25"w x 0.75"d.

For $50, I'll give it a test whirl. The Grundig is probably just as cheap.

I have a Sangean that is larger, and the old Sony analog that is small and dependable, but not very precise in frequency selection. The Kaitos got good reviews in "Passport to World Band Radio."

That little Sony is supposed to be just great ynami. And like I say, my analog is a well-built radio. Sonys are solid.”

“I'd buy anything Sony.”

“I've got this nice bridge Nigal. I just renamed it the Sony bridge, just for you.”

“why did the OBGYN use two fingers???


So that he could get a second opinion...

god, I crak myself up.”

“My buddy bought me the Grundig 300 for christmas. What a sweet little radio. I like the fact it has a clock with alarm on it but I do wish it had a light on the clock.”

“my christmas present to myself:


Cool little data storage

Radio and 2GB of hard drive.
good part is i can also use it for any other date files, like my pics on the camera.

love it, love it!!”

“That's a SWEET little toy, Gem!”