What's the best option for getting weather alerts if you're up in the high country without cell reception? I'm gonna be in ID in late September and the spot I want to get to is very weather dependent. If it snows, I might be there a lot longer than I want to be. Anybody have any ideas or know of any reliable products?
Weather alerts in the backcountry
- Thread starter Sioux33
- Start date
micropterus79
Active Member
I could be wrong, and hopefully some one will jump on and correct if so, but all apps (including weather updates) are downloaded from a network and if you're in the boonies and not connected to the network (either the service provider's or some wi-fi connection), then it is not possible.
Maybe they make some weather apps for satellite phones? That would be the only way I can think of.
Given your situation, the best you're likely to do is look at weather reports as you get closer to the date you want to head out and strategize from there.
Will be curious if any one else has ideas...
Maybe they make some weather apps for satellite phones? That would be the only way I can think of.
Given your situation, the best you're likely to do is look at weather reports as you get closer to the date you want to head out and strategize from there.
Will be curious if any one else has ideas...
Hilltop
Veteran member
My suggestion would be to have a small battery powered radio and listen to weather report at night. I know some areas have few radio signals but you can get some AM signals just about anywhere. Long range forecasting has improved significantly so if you check forecasts before you leave you should have a good idea on the 3-5 day forecast and a fair guess at the 10 day models.
micropterus79
Active Member
Radios. Geez. Of course. In this day and age the most obvious, reliable options become obscured with gadgetry and high tech hand held devices.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Marine radios that broadcast weather reports are VHF and don't really work well when you get away from the coast because nobody uses them. The weather reports are local to the area you are in. Lets say you are in San Diego and traveling to San Francisco, the weather report will be for the area you are in and follow you to San Francisco. You won't be able to get anything farther than line of sight. Some of the Coast guard Stations will broadcast weather reports and cover large areas, but again on the coast only.
I have a marine radio in my pontoon boat that gets almost nothing around here. I will receive more transmissions at Lake Powell because the NP Service uses VHF along with more boaters.
Use mine all the time, I hunt 2-4 miles deep in the snowie mountains and get weather reports every night. I've also used it by Yellowstone, in Idaho, and northern Wisconsin works just fine everywhere.
Thanks for the responses, guys. I have been doing some research on radios and have heard some good reviews about the Midland hh54vp. Just wanted to see if there were any other gadgets out there I wasn't aware of and also how well the radios work up in no-mans land.
coloradoshedhead
Active Member
I had an older generation Garmin Rino 650 that gave the local weather report. I believe it had 6 different channels that were different frequencies and if you were at a highish spot on the mountain one of the channels would pick up the a.m. weather computer sounding report guy. 
Worked really good and that gps has a built in walky talky radio.
Worked really good and that gps has a built in walky talky radio.coloradoshedhead
Active Member
The weather report would report for the region too. Had mine while I hunted the Flat-Tops and it gave a local report(Craig, Hayden, Steamboat Springs), but it gave nearby region weather reports like Vail Valley, Grand Mesa , and the western slope as a whole. It was actually nice to listen to while passing out after a long day of chasing bugles.
Mule3006Elk
Active Member
- Jul 3, 2013
- 264
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Don K
Very Active Member
I picked up a Delorme In reach last year and had my wife send me weather updates every night for the next day. When I woke up in the morning I could read what the forecast was for the day. Although the weather does change I did have a general idea what to expect and it was nice to know.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
The radio I was referring to was a hand held marine VHF that was 5 watts output. Used to use it in my dinghy and it had very limited range. The marine band radios that I was using 15 years ago must be different than what you guys are talking about.
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
This is what I do.I had an older generation Garmin Rino 650 that gave the local weather report. I believe it had 6 different channels that were different frequencies and if you were at a highish spot on the mountain one of the channels would pick up the a.m. weather computer sounding report guy.
tim
Veteran member
back in no mans land it can be hard to get a signal, those little hand held radios do work pretty good though. weather back in the mountains will be diff than the closest town that you are getting a report on. knowing your clouds and having some knowledge on low and high pressure systems will be your best tool in your pocket. you start going to bed and feel the air getting heavy and a new chill working into the warm breeze youll know you have a good chance at waking up to some snow.
I also have a hand held marine band radio. Use them all the time hunting the hounds and pack it in with me to the middle of nowhere nevada every year. I've had only one place I couldn't get the NWS/NOAA report at camp. Very handy but have a way to charge it or bring batteries.
hoshour
Veteran member
I have not used this, just ran across it online, but EARL seems interesting for what you guys are talking about and more. Basically, it's a solar-charged 6" tablet with 20 hours of battery life, a GPS, two-way radio, weather forecaster and emergency radio.
https://www.meetearl.com/
http://www.outsideonline.com/1870341/earl%E2%80%94-rugged-revolutionary-tablet
http://www.gizmag.com/earl-tablet-backcountry-survival/27446/
https://www.meetearl.com/
http://www.outsideonline.com/1870341/earl%E2%80%94-rugged-revolutionary-tablet
http://www.gizmag.com/earl-tablet-backcountry-survival/27446/
hoshour
Veteran member
EARL is crowdfunded - a very tiny company just getting off the ground. I just ran across an update that says the unit may not be available until December. https://www.meetearl.com/updates/
You want to root for the little guy but it does make a guy nervous about longevity, service and support.
You want to root for the little guy but it does make a guy nervous about longevity, service and support.