Questions tagged [electronic-gear]

Questions about electronic gear, GPSs, watches, etc

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17 votes
7 answers
3k views

Power for devices in cold and dark?

First post here -- and not an electronics expert at all. I really hope, though, that someone might give me an idea about best practice for this: I haven't found a similar question using search. What ...
6 votes
1 answer
335 views

What features of a trail camera make it easier for photographing animals than other cameras?

In this answer to a question I asked about how to photograph moose without scaring them, one of the possible suggestions was a "trail camera." What exactly is a trail camera? How does it differ in ...
1 vote
0 answers
127 views

Garmin watch with vs without maps

I'm looking to get a new Garmin wristwatch. Broadly, I'm looking at the Garmin Instinct 2/solar and the fenix 6. Neglecting the price differential, the main difference seems to be that the fenix has 1....
10 votes
4 answers
3k views

What range should I expect for a reasonable set of walkie-talkies / two-way radio?

When I'm hiking with my friend, some of the time we hike together, but sometimes we hike separately, and may be some kilometres apart only to meet on the agreed location for the evening. Our next ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

What map app would work well for via ferrata in the Dolomites?

I'm looking for suggestions for an app I could use in the Dolomites that would be good for tracking my position on both via ferrata and normal hiking routes. I would hope that the app has good quality ...
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Recommendations for two-way radios to use while skiing

Going skiing with another family next year and looking for two-way radios to use so we can stay in touch. I've used cell phones in the past but that can get awkward (and since we are going to Canada ...
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

How can I desalinate ocean water enough for cleaning or showering?

I'm planning for a long cruise in my small yacht. The water tank in the yacht has enough clean water to drink, but not quite enough for showers, cleaning the dishes etc.. Desalinating ocean water ...
5 votes
1 answer
265 views

How much margin due to charging inefficiency should I add when calculating the size of batteries needed for a trip?

In order to charge my electrical equipment while backpacking (GPS, camera for timelapses, phone, etc) I bring along a large battery. To calculate the size of the battery you can figure out how many ...
18 votes
9 answers
3k views

How can I keep my iPhone going on a multiday hike?

Taking a five day hike, and I want to take a bazillion pictures. It would be nice to have the compass & GPS functionality too, and I want something really small. The obvious choice is my iPhone....
15 votes
9 answers
5k views

Require advice on power conservation for backpacking trip

Edit: Thank you for all the helpful replies. I will have to go through them all now, and I will pick the best fitting one for my question. I will go backpacking in the summer of this year, for about ...
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

How to properly insulate electronic devices in a car

I'll be driving to Norway in November and intend to sleep in my car on a few nights. For myself I have a sleeping bag and a few blankets, so the temperature should be no problem for me, but I will ...
2 votes
1 answer
146 views

What to look for in a electronic inflator for an inflatable stand up paddleboard?

I have a stand up paddle board (14'0") and I am looking for an easier way to pump it up. I found some cordless handheld inflators for tyres, which are rated at 120W and maximum pressure is 150psi. It ...
18 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are there any affordable night vision goggles that are good and available to civilians?

I quite often go hiking in the evening after work and I have a good head torch but sometimes I wish I had some night vision goggles because often a headtorch will scare wildlife and cause farm animals ...
5 votes
1 answer
105 views

Magnetic connector for LED light on tent mesh

I'm looking at extending a strip of LED lighting into another of the tents rooms. Dividing the rooms is mozzie mesh. I could run a 3m extension wire down and back up again, however, I was wondering if ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What percentage of campground outlets are GFCI or RCD protected?

A recent answer said: Any mains electric (100-240V) going to a tent needs to be GFCI-protected (Europe: RCD) since you will be mixing electricity and water in close quarters. Source I know I have ...
11 votes
1 answer
445 views

Help me interface these two nautical devices

I'm crew on a boat (wooden 8.5m from 1973) which has a GPS and a tiller pilot that seem to work fine separately, but don't seem to want to talk to one-another. My captain is adamant this combination "...
4 votes
1 answer
343 views

Portable power generator ballpark fuel consumption

tl;dr What is a likely value for fuel consumption for a small portable 4-stroke gasoline-powered inverter power generator in, say, litre / ( kilowatt * hour )? At times I attend music festivals where ...
3 votes
2 answers
204 views

What to look for in a portable generator?

While shopping for a portable generator I noticed that some very similar seeming generators, have drastically different prices. Presumably there is something besides a brand name that makes a 1000 ...
5 votes
3 answers
223 views

Looking for a simple gps tracker with long battery life [closed]

I like to track the path when I cycling or hiking (e.g. this). Now I use my phone for this purpose which is totally inconvenient because of the battery. So, I looking for something which can track my ...
5 votes
1 answer
231 views

How did O’Brady charge his electronic gear while hiking across Antarctica?

The Outside Online article How to Fuel for a Solo, Unassisted Antarctic Crossing starts with "Colin O’Brady thinks it’s possible—but just barely—to haul enough calories to traverse the continent. Here’...
33 votes
2 answers
15k views

Why don't climbers use electrically heated suits?

Why do climbers not use electrically heated suits to climb peaks like Mt. Everest? Or am I just mistaken and they already do it?
3 votes
1 answer
300 views

Fish Flasher - Reading Bottom

When using a flasher type fish finder, a hard bottom is displayed as a wide red band on the screen indicating a good return signal. The wide red band in the picture below covers between 10 and 12 feet....
15 votes
2 answers
3k views

Safest way to carry ebooks outdoors?

There are a number of hazards that can kill electronic products (water, impact). We want to take a few ebooks with us (i.e. plant & animal identification, directions, trails info, etc). Assume ...
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Electrical supply at camp site, what are the risks?

I parked my camper at a full hookup campsite, I plugged in my 30 Amp cord to the 30 amp plug but did not get power. The campground owner checked the plug with a simple polarity checker and ...
27 votes
2 answers
2k views

Do electronics interfere with avalanche beacons?

I have been told that electronics can possibly interfere with avalanche beacons (cell phones, radios, etc., but even flashlights). Is there any truth to this? A source would be helpful, ideally from a ...
10 votes
2 answers
20k views

Transfer data from Suunto Ambit2 without Movelink

I am testing my new Suunto Ambit2. Great watch! I like the way it can be configured and the analysis of the data! However, I am a little bit surprised to see that the software solution from Suunto ...
27 votes
5 answers
2k views

What are some ways/devices that I can use to charge my batteries in the wilderness?

When backpacking, I might carry a MagLite flashlight or something similar that requires two AA batteries. I tend to favor rechargeable batteries for a variety of reasons. How can I recharge my ...
5 votes
0 answers
155 views

GPS data management software

Is there any good software to manage GPS tracks and POI efficiently that you would recommend? My dream would be an offline computer based (macOS and Windows) software, with a modern GUI, which allows ...
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a game camera that can immediately alert me when it sees something?

I want to monitor the forest behind my house for intruders, predators, and game. Mainly I'm interested in being immediately informed (by getting an alert and a picture on my smartphone) when there is ...
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

Are there human powered generators that draw power from body movement?

I enjoy hiking but I don't give away some gadgets like flashlight (if hiking at night) and a smartphone for the GPS. I recently took a long hike that went well into the night (about 18 hours hiking ...
6 votes
3 answers
3k views

How do I calculate how many watts of energy I need when camping?

Generators, fuel cells, solar panels and other power supplies tend to be sold with Watts as the energy value. Some of my electrical devices list amps, how do I convert amps to watts?
8 votes
2 answers
856 views

Is there a fuel cell that would be clean and quiet enough for RV/Camper/Trailer use?

Gasoline generators are notoriously noisy (some are more quiet) and smelly. Many areas like US national parks have restrictions on the use of generators. Fuel cells are used in many space ...
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

When considering GPS battery life where are the best options?

I believe the 3 main options for portable GPS currently are: Dedicated GPS unit Smart Phone GPS Watch They all have somethings in common, and each have other considerations also. For this question,...
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is there a smartwatch/activity tracker lasting 20 days for a trek to Everest Base Camp? [closed]

I am looking for an activity watch that lasts at least 20 days, since it's for a trip to the ME Base Camp. It should have these features: 20 days + batteries * HR monitor (chest band/wrist) * GPS *...
14 votes
3 answers
22k views

How much less efficient is a solar charger when on a car's dashboard instead of in direct sunlight?

When car camping, I use a solar charger to charge my electronics. Sometimes I can place it outside, and other times I will stick it on the dash to charge things. I can tell that putting it on the ...
18 votes
4 answers
509 views

What are the key features to look for in mobile device apps for hiking/camping?

I've used one of the trail apps and was satisfied, but am looking for something better. What are the features I should focus on for selecting an app? What bells and whistles are really useful on the ...
14 votes
6 answers
4k views

What characteristics should I look for in a good torch/flashlight?

I'm looking to buy a flashlight/torch (or build my own even if that works out cheaper), and am looking to take the following into consideration: Good battery life (LEDs would probably suit best in ...
9 votes
2 answers
228 views

Putting electronics inside a surfboard?

I want to put some electronics inside of a surfboard. What would be the best way of doing this? Just cutting a hole, put electronics in and then cover with like foam, epoxy and glass fibre?
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Stronger bond between GoPro mount and helmet?

I used a regular curved helmet mount for my GoPro on my recent snowboarding trip, which comes self-adhesive. At one point I fell on my back and hit the back of my helmet, the shock of which unglued ...
2 votes
0 answers
41 views

What should I look for in a head torch? [duplicate]

After my first wild camping experience, I found that my hand torch was really inefficient in the evening compared to other people's head torches - what are the features that make a good head torch?
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Solar Power While Backpacking

I am planning a multi-week backpacking trip (the JMT in California), and want to bring a real camera. What are some good solar power options for charging my camera batteries on a long backpacking ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

What batteries would make sense to power 12v devices (e.g. blankets, lights) for camping?

I have looked into a number of solutions to power 12v devices: Goal Zero battery packs (too expensive? $300+) 12v sealed lead acid battery with adapter (too dangerous? impractical to recharge? ≈$50) ...