Please Sir, Can We Have Some More?

I tried emailing O2. Once I had logged in, I had to enter my address again and DoB before I could contact them. They're happy to give me my bill with merely a login, but asking them something requires a higher level of security check. I felt in my place before emailing them. Like standing outside the headmaster's door. Cor gov'n'r, thank e for allowing me an audience...

I use my mobile phone when out hiking (e.g. in the Cairngorms). Whilst I appreciate there are blind spots in your coverage, and there are hidden glens, etc, what I fail to comprehend is the occasions that I have received a text (eg when on a hill), and try to send a reply. On many an occasion I have watched the signal strength drop through the bars until I can only send "for emergency use only".

Please, simply tell me why this happens? I hadn't moved. Presumably the transmitter mast hadn't moved either. But your service fails me.

I don't care that you knock the socks off other company's coverage. I just want to know why something that should be constant seems to be variable. From 5 bars to 0 bars. That's 100% drop in service.

It just gets frustrating. As you may gather.

I think that it will put your new gps-featured iPhone in doubt for use by the outdoors community.

I look forward to your technical explanation of the service fluctuation.

Duncan MacLeod
http://aktoman.blogspot.com

But when I tried posting it, I was told that the message was too long. No hints as to what I need to shorten it by.

I use my mobile phone when out hiking (e.g. in the Cairngorms). I notice that there are occasions that I have received a text (eg when on a hill), and try to send a reply. On many an occasion I have watched the signal strength drop through the bars until I can only send "for emergency use only".
Please, simply tell me why this happens? I hadn't moved. Presumably the transmitter mast hadn't moved either. But your service fails me.
I'd like to know why something that should be constant seems to be variable. From 5 bars to 0 bars. That's 100% drop in service.
I think that it will put your new gps-featured iPhone in doubt for use by the outdoors community.
Duncan MacLeod
http://aktoman.blogspot.com

We need as much coverage in the UK as possible. I think some form of sharing of networks may be in order. And then some private company to get better coverage out there. It'll never get to 100% coverage, but there has to be some technical breakthrough due. I mean, Marconi was working with radio outdoors after 1895. 113 years of development and this is where we are at.

There has to be a better way.

Of course, if you are designing a cash-cow, then, moooo

Out of Doors is Back

The chaps are back on Radio Scotland. Out of Doors, based in Aberdeen, discussing many outdoor issues. From red squirrels to plastic bags, and that's only in the first 15 minutes. Red or dead. Shame there is no way to vaccinate our native squirrels, so discussion on options. And they seem to be using fruit to describe colours.

Adventure Show: Eastern Theatre

Finally caught last Saturday's Radio Scotland program "The Adventure Show".

Woohoo - the Southern Upland Way is featured. And the cows are in the background. Official site - oh, they have certificates to mark the completion. Now. I got some merks, and badges. I've visited the official site and completed the form, putting a link to my YouTube movie - well, maybe they need the sleep.

Good news on the official site:

In order to continue the legacy of the Waymerks project, SUW Partners; Dumfries and Galloway Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Borders Council will be continuing the work of the Waymerks project, with funding assistance from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Birdwatching. Diving. Rock pools. Geology. Folding kayak in to a rucksack. Cameron being honest about the weather.

I missed the show on Saturday as I couldn't receive the channel on my radio in my tent.

If my calculations are correct, the jovial folk from "Out of Doors" will be back on Saturday after their 4 weeks off.

The Adventure Show: South

Radio Scotland's "The Adventure Show" reaches its tendrils down south to the Galloway Hills. Talking about the differences in plant life, and the evocative names. Red squirrels holding out against the invader (website).

Then on to mountain biking.

Galloway Mountain Rescue Team - underestimating the hills until people come. The MRT runs guided walks in the Newton Stewart Walking Festival in May (link).

A good introduction to bouldering. Don't forget your toothbrushes.

Mave the Rave - long distance cyclist being interviewed (I'm sure the woman appeared on the tv show - I wonder if they've re-used the piece, or if this is a revisit). She loves her little tent ... I wonder what tent she uses?

Catamaran sailing on Loch Ken.

The weekend forecast analysed by Cameron - describes his recent helicopter trip around Ben Nevis. By coincidence, Claire MacLeod was also in a helicopter over the Ben at the same time..neither mentioned each other.

Woo hoo, the show finishes with an intro to the Southern Upland Way - and they'll be at the east end of it next week.

ListenOnDemand

Adventure Show: North

The Adventure Show is on Radio Scotland on Saturday morning for 4 weeks. They are cunningly focusing on the compass points, and this first week is "north" (of Scotland).

And Cameron's in it too ("pull duvet up over head and go back to bed...looking pretty grim....").

ListenOnDemand

Out of Doors 8.12.07

Another cracking programme this morning. Being asleep for the first 10 mins, I missed the start of the article on the SSSI's. I'm listening again via the website. Then I'm off to Balmedie before the weather changes.

Other items covered in the show: names and history of Bennachie , and the Sandpiper Trust bags and first aid training for rural medics.

Educational, entertaining and enlightening. No porn at all. Although the Anne Scott sounds like a babe. Rrrrrr.

Walkers Welcome

Out of Doors (Radio Scotland) as good as ever. Ears picked up when they start asking who is marketing walking in the outdoors in Scotland. 37% of visitors to Scotland go walking when here.

Should the standard of hospitality be up to VisitScotland? they have a "walkers welcome" scheme (different from the "walkers are welcome" scheme, sheesh!). Personally, if I'm not made welcome, I don't go back, and I tell others about how bad I was treated. Pure economics. Deal with it or not, your problems aren't my problems. And my money won't go to your profits. And vice versa. If I enjoy it, I say so. It's nae rocket science.

Radio Link

Portal Link

Mornington Crescent

Mornington Crescent. It just needed to be said.

Clais an t-Sabhail

Wednesday evening. Camped at 1010m. Sad to have lost the altitude, but sheltered and near water. With the high winds of last night, shelter is important. A herd of deer SSE of me. Could be reindeer. I'll check the photos on my return.

There was about 3 people seen on Cairn Toul after i pitched, and 2 walked off Braeriach - possibly the couple i saw on the Bod.

For the first time in 3 days, my head hadn't broken into a sweat in the evening. Maybe it was temperature related. Certainly wasn't a 'flu.

Ah well, caught a Radio 4 prog about medics on Everest. Fascinating. Taking blood samples after summiting. Off to read some Wordsworth. I should have bought that book of German poems. No matter how many advanced forms of media we have, the written word, when properly read and digested still has power to get people thinking of the human condition. I must get round to reading Gilgamesh one day.

Forgot to say that the Paramo trousers and doing well. Map lived in pocket of jacket instead of back pocket. But i'll need a change in procedure when entering tent. Last night, i didn't notice Cascadas were wet, so floor of tent got wet. Doh!

Always Take the Weather

Sfx

John Hee has posted in response to my comments about the weather, and ongoing chats with Jerry (who knows about radios) .

I've put a link below to the Met Office mountain area forecasts, if like me, you haven't got the number in your mobile. Sorry, that should now read "if like me, you hadn't got the number in your mobile."

And the book I have is Malcolm Thomas' "Weather for Hillwalkers & Climbers" (Sutton Publishing) (link)

A service that I haven't had to investigate yet is Weathercall. Mentioned in Thomas' book, it sells weather forecasts to your mobile. Services include SMS and MMS, as well as audio. Availability varies.

Glencoe is East Highlands (it says), so for the telephone call that is 09068 500 424 then 2404. For the SMS, you'd have to use a map to find the nearest place as there are none on the site, just a list of locations. Same for MMS (I like that idea). Charges are listed as:

• Telephone. Calls cost 60p per minute from a UK landline. Calls from mobiles may be subject to network operator surcharges.
• SMS. Text forecasts cost 25p, and are subject to network operator standard text charges. Available to all mobile networks.
• MMS forecasts cost £1 and are subject to network operator standard text charges. Weathercall is available to all mobile networks.

Subscriptions can be bought at a reduced rate. To be honest, the service just fails to grab me. There isn't even a pdf brochure which I could carry in case of emergency. The nearest is the regional information, but fail to list to locations (and no map again) and do not list the MMS information for Grampian for example. I might foresee a day when I feel the need to have a weather forecast texted to me daily - on a cross-country hike, maybe.

Quiet Weekend

Out of Doors (Radio Scotland) - Scapa Bay, Orkney. Usually I catch it on 'listen again', as the only time I'm up early enough to catch the live show on Saturday is when I'm off hiking. One day I'll be in the right space/time to give them a call for one of the competitions.

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Hope to get to Maplins later on today to have a look at a better quality portable radio. I note that they have the Freeloader solar charger that George reviewed recently. Staying focused, this Eton radio has caught my mind - in the USA, it is identical to the Grundig brand. All this because last weekend I had difficulty receiving the weather forecast. Is it important? I think so, although looking out of the tent at the sky would give lots of information, it doesn't tell me what is happening over the horizon.

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Keeping up to date with Weird Darren's TGO Challenge blog. He's hardly in the Highlands and he's already had deer singing to him. Just keep running if you hear the banjos.

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I reckon that the small .5 litre Platy bottle would hold 6 days of fuel for the alcohol stove. I'd look to bagging it inside a zip-lock bag too.

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I forgot to do this earlier, so added EndurancePlanet's feed to iTunes.

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Backpacker's Club Buff arrived on Friday. Watched the video, and still can't get the hang of the topknot. Turn inside out, twist, reverse. I'll just need a bell on the end and I'll be like sodding Noddy.

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With that I added a 'membership' listing to the sidebar. Ignoring the 2 magazines I subscribe to, and the BMC insurance, it is getting expensive to enjoy the outdoors.

BobCast: TrailCast

Finally got round to listening to Bob's interview with Bob Butler, to find out what happened to Trailcast. Good discussion on the future of media in general. Something that is being batted around on various hiking blogs just now. I'll be recommending it to folk at work, ties in with the Money Programme's "DIY TV" that was on on Friday.

Site mentioned in the interview: TrailJournals.com

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Went into a couple of shops after setting my works laptop to back up files. The wind-up radio/torch in Blacks looks nice, but I'll wait for a sale, before I replace my current radio (which also came from Blacks). They have the some plastic bottles packed with kit for about a tenner; and discounts on the Camelbak bottles.

Went to Craigdon Mountain Sports next and treated myself to a pair of snow goggles. Following the hike in the snow, and my usual after-action-report, goggles would certainly have saved me from manually shielding my eyes. Chap in the shop said they are quite useful in heavy rain too. Something I'd not thought about.

As expected, wore them in the flat. Wondered where the button was to open the visor?

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Media empire has expanded again after this afternoon's T-shirt hunt.

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Hi to the International visitors. New Haven/USA visited yesterday after I'd closed for the night - don't worry, they came back twice on Sunday. Also from the USA: Eau Claire (I'm sure there's a song in there), Catawissa (that's just a freaky name, were's it from? Any relation to this?), and the more maturely named Catherdral City.

Down the continent to South America, and Bogota and Sao Paulo. Sorry, too tired to do the squiggly bits over the letters.

In Europe, one from Sandnes/Norway - that has got to be above the Arctic Circle. Woo hoo (puts on snow goggles). Takes off snow goggles as too much shadow to type properly. Back south, to Munich once more, then to Korntal-Munchingen - blue/white logo, that's got to be in Bavaria? Ja? Finally, down to Barcelona/Catalonia.

Now, remember earlier I said I was worried about the blog being proxied. Well, shss, don't tell anyone, but there's been visits from China. I can't say where, in case I blow their cover. But there were 2 visits from different parts of the country, and I don't want to spoil their New Year celebrations.

Visitor goals for next week: at least on visit from Africa.

Figures as to 2200hrs: 57 visits, 98 pageviews. 61.40% returning visitors, 38.60 new visitors. 53 people visited the main page, and spent an average of 6minutes54seconds there.