I am considering purchasing a weather radio for my upcoming trip into the BWCA. Two questions: 1) what kind of weather forecast can I expect to get through NOAA, and 2) do you have any recommendations on the type of radio to bring?

I use the Motorola MT350R two-way radios. It has NOAA weather radio channels. I bring one when we have one canoe, two if we have two canoes. Works very well. The NOAA weather forecast is based on the nearest town/city but you can extrapolate from there what your weather forecast is when you are off the grid. I personally find a NOAA weather radio invaluable in the BWCAW and Quetico.

I've had several weather radios and tended to find them too complicated for my taste. Some have alarms and other junk. Having to travel and deal with hard-to-set SAME settings frustrated me.

These days I like the Midland HH50 because it is VERY small and super easy to use - it auto-locates the strongest station when it powers up - I like that. I even bought one for each of my kids in college!

It has just four buttons/switches:
- Power switch: On/Alert/Off ... On plays the radio, Alert is silent until an emergency broadcast - sounds alarm tone for 15 secs and then plays alert message
- Alert/Rescan button: When Power=On, hold for 1 sec to rescan stations; When Power=Alert, hold for for 3 secs to hear the alert tone, press again to turn tone off
- Volume up button
- Volume down button

It does not have SAME, but to be honest I usually I don't really care. If something is going on within station range I often want to hear about it. About $20.

I should add ...

At home I have two Midland HH54VP2 portable weather radios with SAME. It comes with a table stand and can be plugged into AC with batteries installed and left on long-term, but if needed can be unplugged and taken with you when you head to the basement - a plus for me.

The HH50 only runs on batteries.

But the HH54VP2 is one that I feel is overly complicated to set up - I always need to pull out the manual. But once set up and not trying to travel with it - it's fine.

I have one and I use it. Just be aware that you'll also get Lake Superior weather so you might get a warning at 3 AM for gales and 20 foot seas 125 miles from where you are. Consider that if you might want to use the alarm function. Mine is a little bigger than a butane lighter so there's no burden in packing it, but you generally get pretty generic weather reports, the BW is a big place, not much civilization around there and they do the best they can do. Like I said, I take one and will continue to do so but I can't argue that it makes a lot of sense.

Accurate forecasts have been my experience. Allow for some local differences and you should get the general overview you may seek.

C Crane pocket wx radio

I purchased a Kaito KA123 AM/FM Digital Weather Radio several years ago and really like it. It performs well for the cost ... currently on sale on Amazon for $24.97. It is compact and lightweight. It weighs 4 oz. and is 3 1/2" x 2 1/4 " x 1". Reception is pretty good. I can receive ELY and Atikokan radio stations in the middle of Quetico.

There are better weather radios out there but for the money the Kaito is a good deal.

Kaito-KA123 Digital AM/FM NOAA Weather Radio

Whichever radio you choose I'd suggest taking the overall maps of both the BWCA and Quetico. When we checked in the reports would sometimes call out the direction of travel and locations of squall lines even referencing lakes. Only helpful if you know where you are in relation to said lakes.

Lots of good options already mentioned.

especially when east of the snowbank area, its invaluable to know when the next days forecast calls for winds coming from the east (off L. Superior). Anything can happen up there, but wind coming from that direction seems to bring miserable weather pretty consistently in my experience.

North wind 'usually' cooler and drier
south wind 'usually' warmer and wetter
west wind 'who knows'
east wind ' cold and rainy'

I also take the CCrane radio. It has a weather and and AM FM too.

This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well.

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W

quote coastwatcher42: "

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W"

The small size pelican case fits this radio perfectly.

Was thinking of bringing a small radio up on a solo trip, is the reception good with the Sangean radio or would I always have to adjust the antenna and tuner. Would like to listen to talk radio and ballgames in the fall

quote Franzenrp: "Was thinking of bringing a small radio up on a solo trip, is the reception good with the Sangean radio or would I always have to adjust the antenna and tuner. Would like to listen to talk radio and ballgames in the fall"

I've had no trouble in Quetico with it. Especially at night you can tune in many AM stations. I once listened to a white Sox game from Boston.

quote Franzenrp: "Was thinking of bringing a small radio up on a solo trip, is the reception good with the Sangean radio or would I always have to adjust the antenna and tuner. Would like to listen to talk radio and ballgames in the fall"

Mine has picked up well where other small radios would not pick up at all. The earphone cord actually acts as the antenna. If you want to listen to the speaker insted of using the earphones, it comes with a antenna cord that plugs in in place of the earphones. In my opinion, the cord is much easier to fine tune than a regular antenna. Just be careful not to loose it. I keep mine in a Pelican case and never have to worry about where my antenna wire is. I can't remember the ID number of the case that I use and it's out in the garage and I'm too lazy to go look. As far as batteries go, a set will easily last an enire trip, even if you listen to it continually. Take them out when you get home though, because the digital aspect of the radio continually draws a slight amount of power and it will deplete your batteries somewhat between uses.

quote coastwatcher42: "

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W"

+4 count me in on the Sangean as well.

Another vote for Sangean pocket size. sometimes I have to run antenna along the tent pole to keep it vertical for better reception. Only listen to it for the weather. It's stable once you tune-in to a station.

quote DeanL: "

quote coastwatcher42: "

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W"

+4 count me in on the Sangean as well."

+5 great piece of gear when deciding when to have a rest day and wait out the rain/wind

The C Crane Skywave does AM/FM/Weather/Air band and Shortwave. Something like 80 hours of battery life on two AA batteries. They also have a clip on antenna that attaches to the telescoping antenna for a 15ft whip you can throw over a tree branch.

Where you located? I have several, due to chronic upgradistis, I could offer them on the cheap as they are doing me no good. The Ambient Weather WR-77 is my second best and then the original Etón SCORPION.

Daniel

quote VaderStrom: "

quote DeanL: "

quote coastwatcher42: "

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W"

+4 count me in on the Sangean as well."

+5 great piece of gear when deciding when to have a rest day and wait out the rain/wind"

Sorry, didn't want to pile in on the Sangean, but put me down for +6.
I also have Sangean rechargeable desktop radio in my off grid cabin.
Sangean truly makes a superb radio.

quote LindenTree3: "

quote VaderStrom: "

quote DeanL: "

quote coastwatcher42: "

quote TomT: "

quote TipsyPaddler: "

quote sdebol: "This is what we bring--about the size of a deck of cards and has worked well. "

+1"

+2"

+3 on the Sangean DT-400W"

+4 count me in on the Sangean as well."

+5 great piece of gear when deciding when to have a rest day and wait out the rain/wind"

Sorry, didn't want to pile in on the Sangean, but put me down for +6.
I also have Sangean rechargeable desktop radio in my off grid cabin.
Sangean truly makes a superb radio."

I won't pile on, I will be the lone dissenter. We had one and it was useless, could not pick up anything. I am sure it was a bad radio, but I returned it and bought a C Crane Pocket WX radio. Nothing but good luck with the Crane.

The Eton Scorpion isn't perfect, but we like to listen to whatever music station comes in where we are. Last week I was surprised to discover that Copper Harbor MI rock comes in better than anything when you're three miles from Canada, north of Grand Portage.

I like the fact that the Scorpion is crank powered, solar powered, includes a built in flashlight, and is capable of powering usb devices. My group ritually takes turns cranking around the camp fire, with periodic breaks for loons, of course.

The Eton Scorpion crank handle WILL break. The knob to be more precise. I drilled a hole where the knob used to be and put a couple small bearings on a screw, it's now way better than new.

The antenna is worthless. I keep a 4-6 foot piece of small guage solid copper wire wrapped around the radio for reception magnification.



If I ever get around to picking up some good two way radios with weatherband I may choose to leave FM radio at home.

RM

I purchased Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Weather Radio a few years ago. Till date its work perfectly. The multi-band radio coupled with LED digital backlight offers uninterrupted information. The superlative radio is designed with a sleep timer, calendar, and an alarm clock. The flexible solar cell can be placed at 180 degrees clubbed with 5 LED reading lights as well as flashlights. if you want you can check this link: The Human Nest

I guess time will tell but I'm leaning toward agreeing with Sentio. I picked the yellow Sangean up due to recommendations here and I cannot get anything weather related here in my small town in south central florida. Sort of a bummer. Not so sure another radio would either but no sense in throwing more money on marginal useless equipment.

I was impressed only with the HAM radio that a guy on Isle Royale had. Quite the powerful gadget. But it was near $500 as well. On the other hand, it actually worked!

Seems impossible... user error or a bad copy or a counterfeit? Did you put the wire antenna in when you used it?

I believe the little C Crane is also manufactured by Sangean. Same guts as the yellow Sangean, just repackaged for C Crane with different buttons.

quote mastertangler: "I guess time will tell but I'm leaning toward agreeing with Sentio. I picked the yellow Sangean up due to recommendations here and I cannot get anything weather related here in my small town in south central florida. Sort of a bummer. Not so sure another radio would either but no sense in throwing more money on marginal useless equipment.


I was impressed only with the HAM radio that a guy on Isle Royale had. Quite the powerful gadget. But it was near $500 as well. On the other hand, it actually worked!"

MT,
Take the radio to another place in your travels, it is possible that there is not any NOAA weather stations near you. If that is the case of course the radio will not pick any up weather reports.

Tell me what town you live by and I can search it out for you.

Hi Linden

I live in the fun and exciting town of Clewiston, the land of red necks and sugar cane.......I must admit that I fit in a little better than I care to admit ;-)

I will drag the blasted little radio along on my travels now and turn it on occasionally. Hopefully I will get a weather broadcast out of Red Lake this summer. If not the occasional tune might be nice.

One thing however is certain. If I were ever to go back to Isle Royale and stay on the outside (Superior) I would definitely have a HAM radio. Knowledge is power, especially when your life might depend on it.

MT,

Look into shortwave radios also, I think you can always get coverage, not sure about weather reports. I'll see what I can find about Clewiston.

MT,
Search in this, click on the Hendry Cty station, maybe even call them and ask how the coverage is in your area.

Hendry Cty NOAA Weather

quote LindenTree3: "MT,
Search in this, click on the Hendry Cty station, maybe even call them and ask how the coverage is in your area.


Hendry Cty NOAA Weather "

Who knows? I thought I had my bases covered while at Isle Royale when I purchased a cheap $15 dollar weather radio. All I got was static. Then this thread comes along extolling the virtues of a more expensive weather radio (better!) and I assumed i would get a report. More static. Hmmmm.........When I had a center console offshore boat and a marine radio sporting a 10ft antenna I could get weather reports all the way to the coast from my backyard. I wonder what the difference is ;-)

Oh well. I will take it into canoe country and see what I get. Stay tuned (pun intended).

The whole HAM radio thing seems interesting. The guy at Isle Royale was listening to folks from all over the world plus he got weather without fail. But I typically just deal with the weather in the back country regardless of what it decides to do. On the other hand knowing a big front is coming might be a good thing.

Thanks Linden.