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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Murph on November 03, 2014, 12:08:12 PM

Title: Camping Radio
Post by: Murph on November 03, 2014, 12:08:12 PM
Does anyone have info on what type of radio really works in camping situations these days ?  AM, FM , DIGITAL ?
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: berlitza on November 03, 2014, 12:11:08 PM
I've got digital but It's still a bit of a hit and miss depending on where I'm camped, usually I just listen online through the tablet/laptop
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Murph on November 03, 2014, 12:32:33 PM
Thanks berlitza
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Pog on November 03, 2014, 12:48:36 PM
Just bought a Makita Job Site Radio. Used it all weekend in the tinny and camping. It works well.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: rossm on November 03, 2014, 01:17:43 PM
Digital radio is only useful if you are camped on your front lawn. If does not work outside cities.

look at a Digitor long range radio in dick smith. It has better reception on distant AM stations than most and FM for local repeaters.

Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Terry W4 on November 03, 2014, 04:08:51 PM
Digital radio is only useful if you are camped on your front lawn. If does not work outside cities.

look at a Digitor long range radio in dick smith. It has better reception on distant AM stations than most and FM for local repeaters.
This is the one I have I use am mainly. It's a good radio but I have not yet tried it at extreme distances from stations.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Spada on November 03, 2014, 04:17:41 PM
I got a digital, and it is absolutely useless  >:(
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: gunny on November 03, 2014, 04:37:54 PM
I agree with pogasauras. I just bought the makita jobsite radio with ipod dock. Great radio that can take some camping knocks.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Murph on November 03, 2014, 04:44:11 PM
Thanks guys !  :cup:
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Nay-DMAX on November 03, 2014, 05:07:50 PM
We use our Ryobi one plus radio the small one and you can plug in MP3 or phone music as well, it does the job for us and since we already had other one plus stuff it was worth getting.  I know that wasn't the specific question sorry
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: RWW on November 03, 2014, 05:21:38 PM
Digital radio is only useful if you are camped on your front lawn. If does not work outside cities.

look at a Digitor long range radio in dick smith. It has better reception on distant AM stations than most and FM for local repeaters.



The Dick Smith one looks pretty good value for $66.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Murph on November 03, 2014, 05:55:48 PM
I will pop into Dick Smith ! Thank for all the replys :cheers:
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Dueller on November 03, 2014, 09:43:33 PM
Just bought a Makita Job Site Radio. Used it all weekend in the tinny and camping. It works well.

Ive got a Makita Job Site Radio also. Works well, can plug the iphone into it and is rugged enough to have it bounce around in the back of the 4wd. Its also very convenient due to also using the same rechargeable batteries my drills do. So I cycle 3 batteries off one charger and they run the drill, stereo and portable fan.

We also have a set of X Mini speakers that plug into the phone. Charges of usb outlets and gives out heaps of sound for their size and outlasts the phone battery.

I was looking at installing a marine stereo and speakers under the kitchen but opted for the convenience of having something portable and cheap. Still keen on the marine stereo idea but will wait till this thing ever decides to bite the dust.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: jeeps on November 03, 2014, 09:52:27 PM
We have a Tecsun PL-660. It's a great little radio and when the normal bands are boring I can listen to shortwave, amateur/hams on SSB and aircraft. It even picks up 27 meg cb which is getting busier these days.

We use a Goal Zero Rock Out for the ipod.

cheers
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Elky on November 04, 2014, 08:11:35 PM
Yea I was thinking of getting a world radio, so I can listen to just about anything, not familar with them tho, anyone else got one and used it in remote areas?
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: rossm on November 04, 2014, 09:01:09 PM
Yea I was thinking of getting a world radio, so I can listen to just about anything, not familar with them tho, anyone else got one and used it in remote areas?

I have a sangean short wave radio which I take remote. Highlights have been  following the Beijing Olympics on Radio Australia on  the Canning Stock Route in 2008, the Global Financial Crisis on a 10 day survey at Neale Junction later  in 2008 (that was a sobering experience, tuning in at lunchtime to hear the day's latest disaster when I  couldn't call my advisor) and following AFL at sundry remote bush camps over several years.

You really only need   short wave during the day.  I have always  able to pick up an ABC AM station at night wherever I have been. Not the greatest reception but you can keep track of the news and the  footy.   

and if you are a fan I believe Macca goes out on RA on Sunday morning. God knows what out Asian neighbors think of that.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Pipeliner on November 05, 2014, 10:50:07 AM
Digital radio is only useful if you are camped on your front lawn. If does not work outside cities.

Correction - it does not work outside MAJOR cities - I was going to say Capital cities but Hobart doesn't have digital yet, and neither does Newcastle or the Gold Coast which have larger populations than Canberra, Darwin or Hobart.  Canberra and Darwin have a 'trial' low power system.

It's a bit like those mobile phone companies which claim they cover "98% of the population" without mentioning that 98% of population is about 50 large towns or cities and the rest of the country has no mobile coverage worth mentioning.  Digital radio covers 59% of population and probably 1% or less of the country.
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: LuckyDog on November 05, 2014, 11:57:36 AM
for years our camping radio has been a GME GR200, mounted onto a piece of aluminuim, with some small stereo speakers i had left over from a stereo inside, i have just recently added a USB double charger to the unit so i can charge my phone and ipod.
its been great, adapt the plugs to suit what you need to get power from, i have an anderson plug on it now with 2 seperate other plugs, merrit and just aligator clips so i can connect straight to a battery if needed.
last year at Moreton Island i was sitting there listening to what the fishermen in the boats were catching too.
(http://gallery.myswag.org/gallery/d/49399-2/IMG_20141105_115341_118_1_.jpg)
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: rossm on November 05, 2014, 12:36:22 PM
Correction - it does not work outside MAJOR cities

I happily stand corrected! I think I originally wrote capital cities then wasn't sure and edited it out.



Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: gronk on November 05, 2014, 02:16:51 PM
.  I have always  able to pick up an ABC AM station at night wherever I have been. Not the greatest reception but you can keep track of the news and the  footy.   


And that's the problem......IF you can get reception, it will be ABC.... :'(

If you're desperate to catch the news it's OK, but having to listen to the other crap...well !!!!    :-[
Title: Re: Camping Radio
Post by: Murph on November 05, 2014, 04:27:16 PM
Lol gronk ! It's the abc I actually want !!!!!! No accounting for taste huh lol !