Short Wave

MOOSE · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject: Short Wave

With the demise of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) programming over the last month due to a labor dispute, our paltry selection of radio stations while on the water has dwindled to about zero. In fact, we didn't even learn of Hurricane Katrina until we returned from the Slate Islands.

Does anyone carry a shortwave radio with them to pull in news from the BBC or Radio Helsinki perhaps? I've often thought about carrying one and would welcome any suggestions from those of you with experience.
Al

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:47 pm Post subject:

Al, I've used them but don't carry one on the boat. Have you thought about the sattelite systems like XM or Sirrus? Don't cost very much and give you lots of flexability... Think they're about $10 a month now and could be used in the car too.

Charlie

journey on · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:38 pm Post subject:

It's ~$15/mo now, with a $100 investment in a receiver. Also, since it's an american company, I don't know if they're allowed to operate in Canada. You could receive signal near the border, but does anyone have experience further north?

Has anyone tried satellite radio? Can you turn it off and on by the month?

Boris

Bob Cat · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:23 pm Post subject:

Both XM and Sirius, with their respective Canadian partners, have been approved to do business in Canada. They agreed to a certain percentage of Canadian content and French language programming. Great new services for boaters!

Scaley

Buck · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject: Short wave;

I have been enjoying short wave onboard for a long time now. Been using a Icom IC-R10, a little hand held all band receiver. I found if you hold the rubber antenna next to any wire, or even the coax cable for the marine VHF, it works good. I have not been able to find a 12 volt plug for the R-10, (It eats aa batteries) and I have had it a long time and it is getting a little long in the tooth, I have been looking at the Sitex Nav-Fax 200 short wave set. It's a marine radio, for the salty marine environment, works on 12 volts too. I would build a shelf over the bunk so you could fool with it wile in the bunk, ya need to be able to get comfortable next to a short wave. It's not a radio you turn on and listen to the same station all night. For an antenna, I would try a wire run under the deck walkway to the stern and turn the corner toward the ourboard, kind of a short long wire setup.
Most important, if ya want to get into short wave, don't buy a cheap radio. You wont use it.
Another thing, the women folk don't like short wave, I don't bring it when the wife is along.
Type Sitex Nav-Fax 200 in your search engine to find many on line sales......Buck.

MOOSE · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the detailed suggestions, Buck. They were just what I was looking for.
Al

wannabe owner · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:15 pm Post subject:

We have Sirius radio for our car that we keep parked for use in the States and turn Sirius on over the internet when we arrive and then turn it off when we leave. The company seems fine with this arrangment. On the other hand, as has been suggested you could just leave it on and use it in the car. Nice jazz choices. Plus isn't Howard Stern coming to Sirius? (As if Sioux would let me listen to him!)

Steve Toburen
Santiago, Dominican Republic but starting October 8th boating on the Erie Canal!

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject: Sirius radio

We bought the Sirius Sportster Replay for our tow vehicle and pull the receiver out to use in the boombox for the boats. It is great! $12.95/month, with a month free if you pay annually. We still haven't made the switch to power, but listening to Radio Margaritaville while sailing into the sunset is wonderful. Pick your style of music, and it's there (and no commercials). Plenty of talk options, too. And, the Weather Channel (east, central, and west). It is particularly good on a long trip... you never have to change the station and it doesn't fade away. World news...yep. Entertainment channels (like: E!, a couple comedy choices, Discovery Channel, and "Car Talk" on NPR). It's not short wave, but it sure is easy and extensive. I give it two thumbs up.

Best wishes,
James TX/SD