Radio Ga Ga

[Blondie]

I was wondering what sort of radio I should be considering purchasing. I'd really like a digital one but how useful would that be at sea? What sort of radio stations can I look forward to receiving whilst aboard?

[EH75]

Get one with short wave and you will be able to pick up the world service whilst deep sea in certain parts of the world. Can get a frequency list off their website. You can also tune the MF/HF on the bridge in to SW stations if the officer will let you (and you're not in high traffic areas etc)... safety of the ship and all that jazz...

[GuinnessMan]

safety of the ship and all that jazz...

Aye, cause there is nothing the folks downstairs and asleep love more, than knowing the folks steering the boat are bopping away to the local radio....

[EH75]

Not much bopping to be done to the world service to be honest. Mostly harrowing stories about people being blown up in Syria or the economy in China. I recall there was a particularly interesting half hour devoted to the irrigation of crops in Morocco. Riveting stuff. Actually there is probably a danger of that sort of stuff sending you to sleep on the bridge if you put it on at night. Beware.

Anyway I have this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eton-Travell...dp/B002ODXR1A/

If you want to listen to the world service you will need a frequency list for the area of the world you are in, which can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sc...s/frequencies/

They change some of the frequencies every few months. I just printed off the frequency lists and took them with me as we didn't have internet access on board. There are a few other English speaking stations you can pick up depending where you are but I mostly just stuck to the BBC cos it was the only one I had the frequencies for. The officers were forever listening to Radio Philippines.

A digital radio wouldn't be much use to take away with you because I doubt you will get a signal more than a few miles off the coast. The other thing you've got to bear in mind is you will have to have the radio perched right next to your porthole to pick anything up, the signal obviously doesn't get through bulkheads...

[GuinnessMan]

Not much bopping to be done to the world service to be honest. Mostly harrowing stories about people being blown up in Syria or the economy in China. I recall there was a particularly interesting half hour devoted to the irrigation of crops in Morocco. Riveting stuff. Actually there is probably a danger of that sort of stuff sending you to sleep on the bridge if you put it on at night. Beware.

Anyway I have this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eton-Travell...dp/B002ODXR1A/

If you want to listen to the world service you will need a frequency list for the area of the world you are in, which can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sc...s/frequencies/

They change some of the frequencies every few months. I just printed off the frequency lists and took them with me as we didn't have internet access on board. There are a few other English speaking stations you can pick up depending where you are but I mostly just stuck to the BBC cos it was the only one I had the frequencies for. The officers were forever listening to Radio Philippines.

A digital radio wouldn't be much use to take away with you because I doubt you will get a signal more than a few miles off the coast. The other thing you've got to bear in mind is you will have to have the radio perched right next to your porthole to pick anything up, the signal obviously doesn't get through bulkheads...

Ah! I have seen some contraption when I was doing an inspection a while back for getting a signal through the bulk heads that involved a couple of coke cans!

*runs off to track down picture*

[alistairuk]

Ah! I have seen some contraption when I was doing an inspection a while back for getting a signal through the bulk heads that involved a couple of coke cans!

*runs off to track down picture*

Pringles tubes & copper wire work as well

[EH75]

Oh now that I would find very interesting. I did consider getting some sort of long piece of wire and attaching it to my aerial and then hanging that out of my porthole to try and improve reception but never did get round to it.

[Blondie]

Cheers for the answers- they move us swiftly on to my next question: can you recommend a sturdy, appropriate short radio that will do everything I need it too?

[GuinnessMan]

Tell a lie, it was Fanta Cans, not coke cans. From what I remember, the crew said it worked fairly well....


Fanta Can Antenna by Officercadet, on Flickr


Fanta Can Antenna by Officercadet, on Flickr

[EH75]

That looks interesting. Could be a wee project for me.

[EH75]

Cheers for the answers- they move us swiftly on to my next question: can you recommend a sturdy, appropriate short radio that will do everything I need it too?

The one I linked to in my previous post is the one I have and it has been fine for me. Obviously that's an Amazon link but I got it out of Maplin for about ?50. There are a multitude of them, depends how much you want to spend.

I almost bought this one but decided ?130 on cadet wages was being a bit silly really, it is supposed to be very good though: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ICFSW76.../dp/B00005ML49

[bobofinga]

I use to always pick up Radio 5 live or Radio Scotland at weekend for the football on the HF Radio's. Listened to the champions league final on it.

We were never deep-deep sea tho!

[Pilot Chris]

Is Atlantic 252 still going? That was great for listening to the latest hits while crossing the pond!

[EH75]

Nah I think that shut down about 10 years ago! Remember listening to it on my tape walkman (remember those?)

[Pilot Chris]

Nah I think that shut down about 10 years ago! Remember listening to it on my tape walkman (remember those?)

Showing my age oops!