Is it totally absurd to think one might be able to subscribe to and access something like Sirus satellite radio? It is my intent to thru hike next year, and I LOVE music. I can’t imagine going 6 months w/out it. I hope it will help in the afternoon when I’m dragging. Is there equipment small enough for a backpacker to do satellite radio?
Mosey
Hell yeah that sounds like a cool idea man. Possibly feasiable. I’m hiking right now and I get cell service sometimes in the most random places.
Atreau
I think it was Youngndum that had satellite radio on his hike in 06 - he missed the sports games. I don’t know how small the hand helds get or how you would power it.
Whats wrong with an Ipod? I’ve got about 4 thousand songs on mine(30 gig). I carried a small battery charger for it so I could listen for hours every day (it did take 4 AA batteries and they can get heavy)
HeartFire
Haven’t researched since prior to my Thru last year so options/technology may be totally different now - but decided against Sirius primarily due to the short play time on battery of portables, seem to remember 2-4 hours. The frequent need for recharge did not seem to make sense. Carried a small Sangene(sp) radio with AM/FM/TV band & weather band- used weather band often and was able to catch NCAA BBall finals on TV band. Saw a lot of I-pods too.
Evil Eye
I’m still waiting for a 40mb Ipod/MP3 player with an FM tuner and a MINIMUM 40 hours of battery life w/non-porprietary batteries (pref. AAA).
The closest I got was the Sony Minidisc NETMD but using the software was a total pain and its been discontinued.
It would be cool if someone put together a little hands on workshop on electronic gadgets at trail days. I’d like to see all of the different options from pocketmail to ipods to solar chargers and gps units. That could easily be a half day seminar.:boy
Stryker
The portable/wearable Sirius Stiletto is light and compact enough. It also includes its own built-in MP3 player.
However, the battery life is used up fast during live streaming of satellite radio programming. It lasts a LOT longer if you’re just using the MP3 function to hear music. I guess it could work for a long AT hike, maybe even a thru-hike, if you have a way to recharge it every three or four days. The recharger could be carried or moved ahead in a bounce box so you could do it in towns.
The programming diversity, both music and special interest channels, is awesome. Nothing else like it except XM, which Sirius is 98% thru the process of taking over.
As for reception, the Stiletto loses signal in deep woods surrounded by solid objects, like rock. It works pretty well on and near ridges–which the AT is often routed over. I wouldn’t count on a steady strong signal while hiking some days, but it would probably work well when you’re stationary (camp, rest spots, etc.). The nice thing is you don’t lose signals as you move north (or south) like you do with AM or FM. Find a few stations on Sirius you like, and keep 'em the whole way.
I see some folks dayhiking in SNP with the Stiletto. They say the signal can be maintained pretty well unless they take side trails deep into one of the hollows. Sirius is probably a better investment for them because they can recharge it once their hike is over each day.
Once the Sirius/XM merger is complete and the dust settles, look for new generations of receivers and programming lineups to gradually emerge.
Skyline