|
06/28/2018 09:32PM |
|
06/29/2018 10:34AM |
|
03/05/2015 03:21PM |
quote boonie: "quote cyclones30: "We never had trouble getting NOAA stations on our little Midlands walkie talkies. Plus you get the area weather observations every time thru. In Duluth, it's 50 and sunny, in Grand Marais, it's 45 and foggy, in Ely it's 63 and partly cloudy.
Tonight, a chance of thunderstorms, mainly south of Duluth. Tomorrow, northwest winds 5-10, chance of rain 30%. The current time is....12:23. (we heard it a lot when listening for the time)
Everything gets more specific if severe weather is involved. AM/FM stations don't always care, get something w/ NOAA stations. "
:) HaHa, yeah, that's it - I can just hear that voice in my head right now too. What's that guy's name . . .? :)."
The guys voice is "TOM"- or "Paul" and to be = there is the occasional "Donna" and for our Spanish speaking friends there is "Javier". Paul and myself go way back. :O)
Voices heard on NOAA weather radio--
|
03/05/2015 05:13PM |
quote caribouluvr: "quote boonie: "You may have found this in an old thread, but here's the one I take. It is only NOAA weather stations - no AM/FM.
Midland weather radio
It is small and light. The antenna does not extend very far. You have to find the right spot and turn just the right direction and . . . well I can usually get a station and forecast. I think the only time I didn't was on Alder lake."
I have that exact model and it is terrific. I've used it all over the BWCA already and never have trouble getting a clear signal. The big windstorm that came through last July was predicted by the forecast on this radio starting 2+ days out (although we left the afternoon before), so you would definitely know if something big was coming. It also has the alert feature for warnings that come up in real-time or at night, but I haven't been out in severe weather with it yet so I haven't tested that."
I have a Midland similar to this one, if not a bit smaller that I've been using for two years now. I also received the weather report in the afternoon out of Fort Frances for that nasty late-July storm. I was in the Pickerel Narrows on a small island site. My new tent fly had leaked a couple days prior, so I was using my CCS tarp as the fly. I spent some extra time that evening putting extra guylines on the tarp and tent. The storm hit in the middle of night. Huge wind gusts, loud and bright lightning strikes all over, sideways rain, pinecones raining down all over. If I hadn't been ready, I probably would've had a trashed tent and tarp.
So I find these simple small radios well worth their weight.
|
03/04/2015 09:33PM |
|
03/04/2015 09:59PM |
|
03/04/2015 11:40PM |
quote LindenTree3: "I did a search of past posts on radios, but I would like some current info.
Here is my story first, then my question.
I solo canoe with my dog, and last June/2014 I was camped on Finger Lake, I hade a small AM/FM Radio with NOAA stations with me. This radio has no factory made antenna and only comes with head phones. I could not get many weather stations well and could only get WELY on and off.
I knew the weather was not supposed to be great that day, but packed up and headed out of camp anyway instead of sitting it out. I no sooner got to Thumb Lake when the wind and rain hit me. (Gusts to 40 MPH, this was the day that the Boy Scouts had to be rescued from Basswood Lake).
To make a long story short I paddled and portaged, (without swamping) and lined my canoe, while my dog walked on shore, about 6 miles total that day and managed to set up a fairly dry camp. (It was not safe to be canoeing that day, and I was on small Lakes)
Because of this limited radio, I was not paying the proper amount of attention to the forecast that I normally would. (IE: having to wear ear phones and no antenna)
Question,
What kind of radios do you use to get updates on weather in the BWCAW.
Here is what I want.
4 - 8 ounce AM/FM radio with NOAA stations, and an extendable antenna, battery powered. Price range 20 - 40 bucks. Any Ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Linden "
I was out at the same time, but on Knife lake. We were heading in as opposed to being already camped. We simply did not have a sufficient forecast heading in and got caught up in the weather. Had we been in, and then gotten the update I could see how having the radio would help. You just hang on instead of pushing through. Nasty storm, glad you made it!
|
03/05/2015 12:30AM |
quote yellowcanoe: "I've taken a weather radio that gets NOAA on Lake Superior. Remember none of them do truly local forecasts.
It's a good investment of time to learn to "read" clouds and wind shifts and temp trends. That gives you a good idea what's going on in your neck of the woods
I feel it's a mistake to trust a generic forecast "
+1- In the BW-- you will either get a "West" forecast out of Ely or an "east" forecast from Gunflint Lake or Grand Marais. I have not got the Finland station in the S part-- but that doesn't mean it's not available. I know there is at least one signal boost antenna at Bogus Lake for the E.Side.
They stations cover huge areas--- link-- click on a station to see coverage areas -- and the forecasts are not very specific for that very reason-- however-- anything severe will be talked about in much finer detail. The good radios have an alarm you can set just for that function.
The forecasts 90% of the time will be updated between 4:00-6:00 both AM/PM. In certain circumstances with quick changing weather- they may make adjustments on the fly.
Wx Radios along with a small- portable weather station link I bring has made the difference for myself several times times on whether to go or hold down the fort. The altimeter/barometer also helps in fishing.
As far as what make/model of wx radio? Really no difference as long as the antenna is quality and has an alarm function. It can save your life- not only in the BWCA but even at home at night when your sleeping. Much like a PFD. The really good wx radios have S.A.M.E. technology (Specific Area Message Encoding), which pre-programs the device to receive only those warnings that apply to your local area. No need being woke up at 3AM in Crane Lake for a Severe Thunderstorm moving into Duluth (both ST Louis Cty--)--- SAME technolgy in portable
|
03/05/2015 12:28PM |
I am looking for a new radio this year.
|
03/05/2015 12:49PM |
|
03/05/2015 01:02PM |
quote boonie: "You may have found this in an old thread, but here's the one I take. It is only NOAA weather stations - no AM/FM.
Midland weather radio
It is small and light. The antenna does not extend very far. You have to find the right spot and turn just the right direction and . . . well I can usually get a station and forecast. I think the only time I didn't was on Alder lake."
I have that exact model and it is terrific. I've used it all over the BWCA already and never have trouble getting a clear signal. The big windstorm that came through last July was predicted by the forecast on this radio starting 2+ days out (although we left the afternoon before), so you would definitely know if something big was coming. It also has the alert feature for warnings that come up in real-time or at night, but I haven't been out in severe weather with it yet so I haven't tested that.
|
03/05/2015 01:16PM |
|
03/05/2015 02:43PM |
quote cyclones30: "We never had trouble getting NOAA stations on our little Midlands walkie talkies. Plus you get the area weather observations every time thru. In Duluth, it's 50 and sunny, in Grand Marais, it's 45 and foggy, in Ely it's 63 and partly cloudy.
Tonight, a chance of thunderstorms, mainly south of Duluth. Tomorrow, northwest winds 5-10, chance of rain 30%. The current time is....12:23. (we heard it a lot when listening for the time)
Everything gets more specific if severe weather is involved. AM/FM stations don't always care, get something w/ NOAA stations. "
:) HaHa, yeah, that's it - I can just hear that voice in my head right now too. What's that guy's name . . .? :).
|
03/04/2015 08:24PM |
Midland weather radio
It is small and light. The antenna does not extend very far. You have to find the right spot and turn just the right direction and . . . well I can usually get a station and forecast. I think the only time I didn't was on Alder lake.
I have heard of others making an antenna with wire.
|
03/05/2015 07:59AM |
quote boonie: "You may have found this in an old thread, but here's the one I take. It is only NOAA weather stations - no AM/FM.
Midland weather radio
"
Yep, that is the same exact one I have been bringing in the last couple trips. Good radio for its size, weight and cost. Haven't ever had a problem picking up any stations, but I have had walk around a campsite until it could pick up a broadcast.
|
03/05/2015 09:54AM |
quote TomT: "I use a Sangean like this one
Heres a video review
It's very light and gets excellent reception. You can get a waterproof pelican case that it fits in exactly to protect it.
"
Great advice so far thanks everyone.
I have a Sangean at home and it is a great radio, I never thought about doing a search for a Weather radio made by them. I like the feature where I could use my head phones if I choose. Then if I am at a camp ground or camping with my wife she/others would not have to hear the racket.
I am a new member and this web-site continues to amaze me with its helpfulness. I guess it is time for me to contribute financially.
|
03/05/2015 10:13AM |
|
03/05/2015 10:47AM |
If you aren't feeling comfortable about travel...don't. Chances are on a better day you can cover a mile in just a few minutes rather than an hours battle.
|
03/05/2015 11:12AM |
quote LindenTree3: "I am a new member and this web-site continues to amaze me with its helpfulness. I guess it is time for me to contribute financially."
Good on ya.
And, we had a radio along once but the wind direction and cloud formations told us more.
|
03/05/2015 11:08AM |
quote yellowcanoe: "I'm not saying don't bring a wx radio but do know its limitations and never trust it above your gut feelings.
If you aren't feeling comfortable about travel...don't. Chances are on a better day you can cover a mile in just a few minutes rather than an hours battle."
I understand what you are saying Y Canoe and I totally agree. I have been a wildland firefighter for 25 years. With fighting forest/grass fires for those years, I have taken or taught ~20 fire fighting classes, many of which have some portion of weather forecasting in them. I try to read the weathers visual indicators as much as possible where ever I am. When on and off the job I use many weather forecast's and then usually come up with my own interpretation using all available sources. (these include Local forecasts from Radio, TV, Internet and also NOAA). On big fire incidents we have a Fire Behavior Analyst along with an employee right from NOAA assigned to the fire camp who gives us the forecast, and any updates over our hand held Fire radios. We still get surprised once in a while. A couple of those surprises have nearly cost me my life.
I am really not sure why I headed out on that marginal day, except I had already laid over a day on that lake, and I was sticking to my schedule. I knew it was going to be an iffy day. In the future I will use that days slide in my memory and hopefully it will tell me to stay put. It was a brutal day of Solo paddling with a 85 pound dog as first mate and none of it included a tail wind. (I nearly got dashed against some rocks coming out of the Eastern Bay of Little Beartrack where I took the full force of the wind when I hit the whole lake, that's where I kicked/coaxed my dog out of the canoe and started lining it) The cloud deck was about 150 feet and continuous, and It gave me little visual indicators of the wind I would be up against. I think the radio's forecast was fairly accurate (a little off on the wind speed) but I was not listening, either by selective/choice or the fact that I had to put my radio in some sort of contraption/like my coffee pot or on some funny angle on the fire grate to get any reception, all while wearing head phones. (Hence the reason for this post to find an different radio)
I am also a private pilot so I try not to get surprised by the weather but I sure was on that day.
|
03/05/2015 12:38PM |
I kind of like the idea of getting this Sangean CL-100 since it is not super heavy, and it has jacks for some kind of external mega antennas. But, a little too big, not really rugged, and I'd worry about my antenna being some kind of lightning rod.
|
03/05/2015 01:15PM |
|
03/05/2015 01:26PM |
|
03/05/2015 01:27PM |
Tonight, a chance of thunderstorms, mainly south of Duluth. Tomorrow, northwest winds 5-10, chance of rain 30%. The current time is....12:23. (we heard it a lot when listening for the time)
Everything gets more specific if severe weather is involved. AM/FM stations don't always care, get something w/ NOAA stations.
|
03/04/2015 08:17PM |
|
03/04/2015 07:44PM |
Here is my story first, then my question.
I solo canoe with my dog, and last June/2014 I was camped on Finger Lake, I hade a small AM/FM Radio with NOAA stations with me. This radio has no factory made antenna and only comes with head phones. I could not get many weather stations well and could only get WELY on and off.
I knew the weather was not supposed to be great that day, but packed up and headed out of camp anyway instead of sitting it out. I no sooner got to Thumb Lake when the wind and rain hit me. (Gusts to 40 MPH, this was the day that the Boy Scouts had to be rescued from Basswood Lake).
To make a long story short I paddled and portaged, (without swamping) and lined my canoe, while my dog walked on shore, about 6 miles total that day and managed to set up a fairly dry camp. (It was not safe to be canoeing that day, and I was on small Lakes)
Because of this limited radio, I was not paying the proper amount of attention to the forecast that I normally would. (IE: having to wear ear phones and no antenna)
Question,
What kind of radios do you use to get updates on weather in the BWCAW.
Here is what I want.
4 - 8 ounce AM/FM radio with NOAA stations, and an extendable antenna, battery powered. Price range 20 - 40 bucks. Any Ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Linden
|
03/04/2015 08:09PM |
|
03/04/2015 08:19PM |
|
03/04/2015 08:26PM |
It's a good investment of time to learn to "read" clouds and wind shifts and temp trends. That gives you a good idea what's going on in your neck of the woods
I feel it's a mistake to trust a generic forecast
|
03/04/2015 11:18PM |
Heres a video review
It's very light and gets excellent reception. You can get a waterproof pelican case that it fits in exactly to protect it.
|
03/05/2015 01:57AM |
Eaton G8 Great reception AM FM Shortwave, no NOAA stations. Used from Shell to Seagull along border lakes.
butthead
|
03/04/2015 10:05PM |
We haven't and don't plan on taking anything AM/FM as their forecasts are normally not the best and never repeated. Get one that scans for NOAA stations and we never had an issue getting signal on our loop to the canadian border and back.
Like any of these. We had ours on a lot (checking time and weather) and never had the battery gauges move.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/telephones-communications/two-way-radios/abcat0804000.c?id=abcat0804000
|
05/16/2018 05:46PM |
PS, thank you to everyone for sharing all their opinions on gear, keeping me up a many nights. Coldfeet
|
05/16/2018 09:05PM |
|
05/17/2018 06:13AM |
I have not used mine at home, but in the BW I have to extend the antenna, then get properly "oriented" - facing just the right direction with as good a view of the sky as possible. I have only not been able to get a forecast once - on Alder Lake.
|
05/18/2018 05:10AM |
boonie, I have read many of your posts and buttheads, appreciate your opinions.
I'm going to try one more set of brand new batteries, how old are they really in the store, i'm not to sure?
Have permits for August 14 put in and want to get my ducks lined up. Plenty of time but I'm getting anxious for my first trip there. As of now, solo.
|
05/18/2018 07:57AM |
coldfeet: "I bought the Midland HH50, received it today. "
Hiya Coldfeet,
Sometimes with my Midland I have to wait about ten to twenty seconds before the radio picks up the broadcast and I can hear anything. Sound doesn't come out right away.
Hope it works out for you.
|
05/18/2018 08:13AM |
boonie: "You may have found this in an old thread, but here's the one I take. It is only NOAA weather stations - no AM/FM.
Midland weather radio
It is small and light. The antenna does not extend very far. You have to find the right spot and turn just the right direction and . . . well I can usually get a station and forecast. I think the only time I didn't was on Alder lake.
I have heard of others making an antenna with wire."
+1 I have one of these and it works really well and is very small and light.
|
05/18/2018 12:28PM |
|
03/08/2015 08:11PM |
http://www.ambientweather.com/amwr112.html
|
03/07/2015 08:08AM |
quote gsfisher13: "I take a Sony AM/FM/Weather radio along, looks like
this
It has worked great except for last year on Lower Pauness, couldn't get a weather radio signal. Works off the headphone cord as the antenna. No matter direction or how i held the cable, couldn't get a signal."
This is the exact one I was using up to last year. It was not cutting the mustard for me hence the reason for this post in the first place.
I did find out that if I put the receiver/electronic part in my jetboil pot or on some funny angle on the fire grate, or hang it on a tree branch, I could change (hopefully increase) its ability to pick up stations. I've had similar issues with it picking up stations in other places in the BW. Even on Insula I had to play around a lot with it to get WELY. (Maybe its just getting old)
|
03/07/2015 10:31AM |
quote neutroner: "Odd as it sound I have a set of two way radios. It has a built in weather radio that did work where we camped. We bring them anyway while camping with more than one canoe (fish updates mostly, and to track younger party members) so the weather is a bonus."
Good feature in a two way radio is a weather feature. I have a Motorola talkabout that has weather on it. I had it set for weather alerts on trip and it went off giving me a warning of a approaching storm. We bring two way radios some trips to communacate between fishing spots/canoes or when searching for campsites.
|
03/06/2015 09:09PM |
quote TomT: "I use a Sangean like this one
Heres a video review
It's very light and gets excellent reception. You can get a waterproof pelican case that it fits in exactly to protect it.
"
We use this radio too and have been very pleased with it. Also use it to listen to ball games when sitting around the fire...
|
03/07/2015 08:31AM |
quote LindenTree3: "quote gsfisher13: "I take a Sony AM/FM/Weather radio along, looks like
this
It has worked great except for last year on Lower Pauness, couldn't get a weather radio signal. Works off the headphone cord as the antenna. No matter direction or how i held the cable, couldn't get a signal."
This is the exact one I was using up to last year. It was not cutting the mustard for me hence the reason for this post in the first place.
I did find out that if I put the receiver/electronic part in my jetboil pot or on some funny angle on the fire grate, or hang it on a tree branch, I could change (hopefully increase) its ability to pick up stations. I've had similar issues with it picking up stations in other places in the BW. Even on Insula I had to play around a lot with it to get WELY. (Maybe its just getting old)"
You can sometimes boost the FM performance by attaching about a 1meter wire to the "ground" of the headphones (picture below). I have the same Sony SFRM-37W and it will pick up WELY with the longer antenna. But, I have had zero luck with this radio for weather as well.
|
03/07/2015 10:21AM |
quote LindenTree3: "quote Savage Voyageur: "I have taken a few of them over the years.
I have a crank up ETon scorpion that works ok but you have to be winding it up all the time. Weather function is good, but you need to point it just right in some spots to get a station. It is about $50.00
I also have taken a small Sony radio. $29.99. Good over all in finding AM/FM and weather stations.
I just bought a CCrane pocket. So far this is a great little radio. The reception is outstanding with this one on all channels. Battery life with the speaker is 25 hours, with earbuds it is 75 hours. It I just a few bucks more than you wanted to spend but it is worth it. CCrane Radio "
Looks very similar to the Sangean on this thread. I like the sleep mode. My Sangean at home has that option.
Does this radio have an external antenna?
I am not seeing an external antenna with this radio and the specs do not say anything about it either.
So my concern would be its ability to pick up stations out in the booneis. Have you tried it in the Sticks yet? If so how is the reception?"
Two options included with this radio for a external antenna. First one is the earbuds wire and the second one when using the speaker is a antenna wire that plugs into the earbud slot. This way you will never have to worry about breaking the antenna off with a wire. I also like the idea that not light posted with the wire antenna. I have not tried it out in the sticks yet but all the reviews say it is very good for reception. CCrane has a good reputation for quality radios.
|
03/06/2015 10:33PM |
this
It has worked great except for last year on Lower Pauness, couldn't get a weather radio signal. Works off the headphone cord as the antenna. No matter direction or how i held the cable, couldn't get a signal.
|
03/07/2015 08:25AM |
I have thought about bringing a piece of copper wire as an extension (it is nice to listen to some classic rock while you lounge at camp on a hot summer's day, having fished and swam in the morning, just eaten lunch, are playing a game of cribbage and anticipating a nap to stay out of the hot sun for an hour or so...), but haven't gotten around to it yet. The circumstances where I actually want FM radio come about pretty rarely, so it's not been a priority for me yet.
|
03/07/2015 08:13AM |
I have a crank up ETon scorpion that works ok but you have to be winding it up all the time. Weather function is good, but you need to point it just right in some spots to get a station. It is about $50.00
I also have taken a small Sony radio. $29.99. Good over all in finding AM/FM and weather stations.
I just bought a CCrane pocket. So far this is a great little radio. The reception is outstanding with this one on all channels. Battery life with the speaker is 25 hours, with earbuds it is 75 hours. It I just a few bucks more than you wanted to spend but it is worth it. CCrane Radio
|
03/07/2015 08:56AM |
|
03/07/2015 09:19AM |
quote Savage Voyageur: "I have taken a few of them over the years.
I have a crank up ETon scorpion that works ok but you have to be winding it up all the time. Weather function is good, but you need to point it just right in some spots to get a station. It is about $50.00
I also have taken a small Sony radio. $29.99. Good over all in finding AM/FM and weather stations.
I just bought a CCrane pocket. So far this is a great little radio. The reception is outstanding with this one on all channels. Battery life with the speaker is 25 hours, with earbuds it is 75 hours. It I just a few bucks more than you wanted to spend but it is worth it. CCrane Radio "
Looks very similar to the Sangean on this thread. I like the sleep mode. My Sangean at home has that option.
Does this radio have an external antenna?
I am not seeing an external antenna with this radio and the specs do not say anything about it either.
So my concern would be its ability to pick up stations out in the booneis. Have you tried it in the Sticks yet? If so how is the reception?
|
03/05/2015 03:52PM |
Its an Eton FR150/160.
|
03/05/2015 06:49PM |
I am kinda leaning on the WR-090 or the Sangean DT 400. Not sure yet, The WR-090 is about 20 bucks and has a factory antenna as compared to the Sangean which is about $50 and has a noodle antenna. I will decide in a few days.
There are great stories on this thread as to why some people, including me want to travel with a weather radio, the 2014 July windstorm reports being one of them. I'm not sure why I was caught off guard last June, but it may be partly because the weather was not supposed to be an (Oh Sh-t Day) just a tough day all in all so the NOAA stations did not make a big deal out of it.
Since I am a solo paddler things get another degree tougher for me on marginal days, besides that, you have no one to bounce information off of to give you a reality check as to, or not stay in camp/lay over.
After 5 days out you only have the voices in your head and your imaginary friend to talk to :-)
Thanks again
Linden
|
03/05/2015 10:25AM |
|
03/05/2015 01:17PM |
i got mine at L L Bean for $40.00, worth every penny. You can get them at many places. Bean had the best price. Never a problem.
|
06/11/2018 03:48PM |
old_salt: "I have a LaCrosse model #810-805. It is small, lightweight, AM-FM-WB, even has a flashlight. It has an extendable antenna and good reception. Runs on 3 AA batteries. I like it."
Have you used this radio in northern Quetico?
|
06/14/2018 03:58PM |
Reception on the new one is heck of alot better... Plus it runs off of battery, crank, and solar... I have not played with it as of yet to see how well it actually works as a charging unit for other electronics..
|
06/19/2018 07:54AM |
: "old_salt: "I have a LaCrosse model #810-805. It is small, lightweight, AM-FM-WB, even has a flashlight. It has an extendable antenna and good reception. Runs on 3 AA batteries. I like it."
Have you used this radio in northern Quetico? "
I have the same model and have got good reception throughout the Q and BWCA. Can also get French forecasts in northern Q.