Weather reports on track?

[Genesis]

G'day all,

Just wanted to get feed back as to how many take a radio on track to get weather reports ?

Genesis

[icefest]

I take a NextG smartphone and climb a hill ever 2-3 days.

[bernieq]

We carried an AM radio (and wire for an external antenna) for tramps in the NZ South Island last February - it must have worked because we had 22 days of fabulous weather !

It was remote tramping so reception was problematic at times.

Attachments

on a ridge near 3 Tarns Pass (South Island NZ) - Feb 2013

[icefest]

Would you recommend a mountain radio (shortwave) for backcountry NZ tramping?

[GPSGuided]

We carried an AM radio (and wire for an external antenna) for tramps in the NZ South Island last February - it must have worked because we had 22 days of fabulous weather !

Told you there's a Mountain God who loves those who come prepared!

[Miyata610]

My wife sends me a weather update via SMS to my sat phone. Works great.

When she's not on the track with me.

[dplanet]

It depends on the grading, the length and the location of the trips I do, to carry or not to carry a middle-ranged smartphone and/or a small light-weight radio.

[Genesis]

Thank for the replies,

I am heading to the South coast track and was wondering if I should get a small radio? any suggestions ?
I doubt I would get mobile reception on the SCT?

Genesis

[bernieq]

Would you recommend a mountain radio (shortwave) for backcountry NZ tramping?

It's a great resource and I would recommend it be considered carefully. However, for me, it depends on a couple of factors - how remote and for how long is the tramp (shorter and less remote - no, not needed)

An added complication for me has been arriving in-country at one location and departing from another - makes return of the mountain radio difficult.

BTW, I'd also note that I have a few meteorological skills and always carry a PLB (so the mountain radio would be purely for weather updates).

Yes, a sat-phone would be handy as would be some of the newer comms offerings - would be nice if they stopped trying to rip us off with the annual plan costs, though.

I am heading to the South coast track and was wondering if I should get a small radio? any suggestions ?
I doubt I would get mobile reception on the SCT?

Certainly no phone reception on the SCT - I'm not sure you'll get much AM radio reception either (and certainly not FM). The only possibility is the ABC - have a look at their reception maps (http://reception.abc.net.au/Reception.aspx)

[madmacca]

Virtually anywhere in the Australian Alps, I have been able to get FM radio reception on mountaintops and ridgelines, although much less frequently when down in valleys. In summer, I try to make a point of listening to radio at 12 noon or 6 pm if I am in a high spot for the forecast and emergency services news.

I normally just use the FM radio functionality on my smartphone (an actual radio function, not streaming over the internet). However, this does suck power, as the settings on the phone won't work the radio in airplane mode, so I kill it once I have got the forecast.

AM waves propagate better over long distances than FM waves, so on the SCT, you would probably be better off with an AM radio. You might get

Try http://www.abc.net.au/reception/freq/Frequency-TAS.pdf for a complete list of ABC frequencies in Tasmania.

[DaveNoble]

I have used a very small radio (47g with battery) - it uses headphones and receives AM and FM. In remote places in Tassie and NZ you can usually get some AM reception, but often the FM reception is much better (Eg Pine Valley - excellent FM reception but very poor AM reception). FM reception is good from all mountains and the Central Plateau in Tasmania. Some other issues -

- AM reception is MUCH better at night - and often you can pick up dozens of stations - but at night the weather information broadcast is a lot less (perhaps a city forecast for only the next day)
- The best weather reports are on the ABC stations. Eg - on the morning shows on the main AM ABC stations (7NT and 7ST I think they are called?) - the presenter often rings up and has a chat with a person from the BOM and they discuss the weather outlook for the next few days. This is typically at times like 6:40 am or 7:15 am. Sometimes there are full weather forecasts with wave reports etc for seafarers. These were at times like 5:55am and 12:30pm. However - you cannot count on these weather reports and BOM crosses on weekends.
- In Tasmania - a lot of the AM ABC stations are also broadcast at various frequencies on the FM band - often with much better reception.
- NZ - often very good weather reports with the hourly news reports - with regional reports for the mountains. But reception can be hard in deep valleys. Some government stations are rebroadcast on short wave - and then can always always be picked up (but the radio I have for short wave is much heavier).

Dave

[Genesis]

That is what I love about this forum! Great Info all the time !

So I checked the ABC coverage map and it looks like SCT is out for all bands... might get lucky as Dave said at night etc
I will have a PLB but I do not have a satphone so looks like I will have to take a printout of the 7-14 day forecast with me on track, better than guesswork I guess ??

Genesis

[GPSGuided]

...looks like I will have to take a printout of the 7-14 day forecast with me on track, better than guesswork I guess ??

Even for a region like Sydney, forecasts more than 2-3 days are of questionable dependability. Out there, I'd say just assume it'll be foul weather after the first day and be prepared for it. If it varies, then you've been loved!

Last edited by GPSGuided on Tue 15 Oct, 2013 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Genesis]

...looks like I will have to take a printout of the 7-14 day forecast with me on track, better than guesswork I guess ??

Even for a region like Sydney, forecasts more than 2-3 days are of questionable dependability. Out there, I'd say just assume it'll be foul weather after the first day and be prepared for it. If it varies, than you've been loved!

I think this this is the best approach, especially in SW Tas!!

[dplanet]

My wife sends me a weather update via SMS to my sat phone. Works great.

When she's not on the track with me.

My friend did that for me too. Unlike you, I have only a cheap phone, but it is practical.