I've been reading "Deep Trouble" while being home sick and I got myself all worried that I need a weather radio so I don't have any storms sneaking up on me on paddling trips. And wouldn't you know it, Radio Shack happens to have them on sale on their website (not in stores). Was $39.99 Now $19.99 plus $3.00 shipping (plus tax - darn it). Here are the details if you're interested: Receives NWS Broadcasts. Take this handy pocket radio with you on a trip, or when you are boating. You will receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service on one of seven pre-programmed channels. If there is a warning, your radio will sound an alert, and you can listen to the alert broadcast on the channel that provides you with the best reception. Thanks to special battery-saving circuitry, the unit will run for a long time between battery changes. The lightweight, compact design and rugged construction means that you can carry your Portable Weather Radio with you every-where, to be sure not to miss any weather warnings or alerts. Requires three "AA" batteries (not included). I'm sure it's not waterproof and all that but it'll be good around the campsite / house or in one of those cell phone dry bags. Go to www.radioshack.com and click on the web specials link and it's listed on the next page. I just ordered it so I can speak on it's performance. Joe - not affiliated in any way with Radio Shack. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: Joe Brzoza [mailto:joebr_at_burton.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 1:53 PM > I've been reading "Deep Trouble" while being home sick and I > got myself all > worried that I need a weather radio so I don't have any > storms sneaking up > on me on paddling trips. And wouldn't you know it, Radio > Shack happens to > have them on sale on their website (not in stores). Was > $39.99 Now $19.99 > plus $3.00 shipping (plus tax - darn it). > While $23 is a decent price for a weather radio, have you considered just biting the bullet and paying for a hand-held VHF? That way you get access to weather info plus you have the added safety factor that a radio can offer in an emergency.... I don't know where you paddle, so perhaps there's no need or benefit from having a VHF. "Deep Trouble" is a great read -it's definitely on my "Recommended Sea Kayaking books" reading list. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I also have a Radio Shack weather radio of similar price/description and found two limitations with it; 1) it only picks up three NOAA stations and 2) its range is somewhat limited. Not much can be done about 1) but I suppose 2) might be addressed with clipping on some sort of secondary "antenna" - maybe a couple feet of antenna wire or ?? I seem to recall a thread discussing "range improvers" for VHF radios a while back. Jeff *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I also have a Radio Shack weather radio of similar price/description and >found two limitations with it; 1) it only picks up three NOAA stations and >2) its range is somewhat limited. Not much can be done about 1) Nor should there be. There ARE only three frequencies that NOAA broadcasts on. SInce it's mostly regional info, range is also short -- they're low powered. So no matter where you are, at least one of those three should have a station on it, and you don't have to carry a listing of what station is where. I wouldn't mind more sensitivity in the receiver, though.... What would also improve the situation would be for NOAA to go back to using humans to make the announcements. That synthesized voice is very primitive, technically, and often unintelligible. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Joe Pylka > Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 1:04 PM > To: Jeff; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Weather Radios on Sale > I wouldn't mind more sensitivity in the receiver, though.... > > What would also improve the situation would be for NOAA to go back > to using humans to make the announcements. That synthesized voice is very > primitive, technically, and often unintelligible. > I miss that human voice too. It used to give me hope that _maybe_ there was someone there who could actually look out the window to confirm the local forecast. -- Rob Cookson "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rob Cookson wrote: > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Joe Pylka > > Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 1:04 PM > > To: Jeff; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net > > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Weather Radios on Sale > > I wouldn't mind more sensitivity in the receiver, though.... > > > > What would also improve the situation would be for NOAA to go back > > to using humans to make the announcements. That synthesized voice is very > > primitive, technically, and often unintelligible. > > > > I miss that human voice too. It used to give me hope that _maybe_ there was > someone there who could actually look out the window to confirm the local > forecast. I missed the regionalisms. They must have moved those weather people around a lot. It was funny to hear the forecast for NYC coming through Southern lips which just didn't fit into the locale and mispronounced locale names. Also the heavy New Yorkese accents were fun to hear. None of them were professional speakers and sounded very human because of this. ralph > > -- > Rob Cookson > > "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety > deserve neither liberty nor safety" > Benjamin Franklin > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joe Pylka wrote: > > >I also have a Radio Shack weather radio of similar price/description and > >found two limitations with it; 1) it only picks up three NOAA stations and > >2) its range is somewhat limited. Not much can be done about 1) > > Nor should there be. There ARE only three frequencies that NOAA > broadcasts on. SInce it's mostly regional info, range is also short -- > they're low powered. So no matter where you are, at least one of those > three should have a station on it, and you don't have to carry a listing of > what station is where. > I wouldn't mind more sensitivity in the receiver, though.... Some of the Canadian weather info is on other freqs in the WX part of the VHF band. These other freqs are available on almost any VHF sold in this country, IIRC. Another reason to buy the VHF in lieu of the weather radio -- it may not have the staion you need in Canada. The VHF will, and with (most likely) a much more sensitive (and selective?) receiver. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR sea kayaker chemist *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I also had a Radio Shack weather radio - their most expensive (39.95?). The volume is way too low and it is almost impossible to hear while on the water if there is any wind or sound at all. It is even difficult to hear in the car if a window is open. Alice ----------------------------------------------------- major snip - > >I also have a Radio Shack weather radio of similar price/description and > >found two limitations with it; 1) it only picks up three NOAA stations and > >2) its range is somewhat limited. Not much can be done about 1) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From Joe Pylka: > > > > What would also improve the situation would be for NOAA to go > back > > to using humans to make the announcements. That synthesized voice is > very > > primitive, technically, and often unintelligible. > > > >From Rob Cookson: > I miss that human voice too. It used to give me hope that _maybe_ there > was > someone there who could actually look out the window to confirm the local > forecast. > > I fondly recall past trips up off the Maine coast, waiting out a gale force storm on the islands. There was nothing more comforting than the guys broadcasting as "The voice of NOAA weather radio". If this change was due to cost-cutting, I would happily contribute to a salary fund to get the guys (& gals) back. Does anyone know why the change was made? Debbie Reeves Sandy Hook, NJ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Reeves, Debbie (Debbie) wrote: > I fondly recall past trips up off the Maine coast, waiting out a gale force > storm on the islands. There was nothing more comforting than the guys > broadcasting as "The voice of NOAA weather radio". If this change was due > to cost-cutting, I would happily contribute to a salary fund to get the guys > (& gals) back. Does anyone know why the change was made? I too have been at solo paddle campsites where the only human voices, other than me talking to myself, were those weather people on the radio. I don't think that the change was made to cut costs. The voices were just those of people at the weather office. None were professional speakers and that is what made it so pleasing to hear them. I suppose the reasoning was that the synthetic voice is easier to understand since it is so consistent. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I fondly recall past trips up off the Maine coast, waiting out a gale force >storm on the islands. There was nothing more comforting than the guys >broadcasting as "The voice of NOAA weather radio". If this change was due >to cost-cutting, I would happily contribute to a salary fund to get the guys >(& gals) back. Does anyone know why the change was made? >Debbie Reeves > Probably not cost cutting, since presumably the same meteorologists are still there.... IIRC, it took away from their forecasting duties to make the recordings every 1/2 hour or so. I miss some of the voices, too. There was one out of NYC who would slip in unexpected comments now and then. It Was a more human thing. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
We just did a tour fo the National Weather Service office in Channhassen Minnesota. The reason they switched to "Egor" as they fondly call the mechanical voice was the time issure not the money issue. It mostly comes in to play for Tornado and other severe weather where they want to send out an identical message or similar message to several counties etc. Having to voice record half a dozen or more seperate recordings when a Tornado is bearing down on your listeners is too time consuming. The good news is that within the next year or two they will go to a more sophisticated word and phrase based voice system that will sound similar to the automated phone operators that we hear when we call for information. I guess when they retire Egor he can go on to do voice dubbing for Terminator III. Joe Pylka wrote: > >I fondly recall past trips up off the Maine coast, waiting out a gale force > >storm on the islands. There was nothing more comforting than the guys > >broadcasting as "The voice of NOAA weather radio". If this change was due > >to cost-cutting, I would happily contribute to a salary fund to get the > guys > >(& gals) back. Does anyone know why the change was made? > >Debbie Reeves > > > Probably not cost cutting, since presumably the same meteorologists > are still there.... IIRC, it took away from their forecasting duties to > make the recordings every 1/2 hour or so. I miss some of the voices, too. > There was one out of NYC who would slip in unexpected comments now and then. > It Was a more human thing. > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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