{"id":17978,"date":"2016-03-30T08:05:03","date_gmt":"2016-03-30T12:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=17978"},"modified":"2016-03-30T08:05:03","modified_gmt":"2016-03-30T12:05:03","slug":"the-countycomm-gp5ssb-my-go-to-shortwave-radio-for-hiking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/the-countycomm-gp5ssb-my-go-to-shortwave-radio-for-hiking\/","title":{"rendered":"The CountyComm GP5\/SSB: my go-to shortwave radio for hiking"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"CountyComm<\/a>

My two hiking companions: the CountyComm GP5\/SSB and Hazel the dog.<\/p><\/div>\n

Posting the Blinq deal<\/a> a few moments ago reminded me that my favorite\u00a0shortwave<\/em> radio to use while hiking\/walking is the CountyComm GP5\/SSB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I have CountyComm’s custom GP5 case<\/a>\u00a0which I\u00a0clip to my belt or backpack. While hiking, I find it handy to open the case from the top, pull the radio out and operate\/tune it with only one hand. Indeed,\u00a0the vertical form factor of the GP5\/SSB is ergonomically-ideal; I can control almost all of the radio functions without having to use two hands. A huge bonus while hiking on uneven terrain!<\/p>\n

Typically, when I start a hike, I enable an EMT scan\u00a0and within a minute or so, the GP5\/SSB populates temporary memory positions with all of the signals it can easily receive.\u00a0When you’re in the middle of the woods–far from sources of radio interference–you’ll be amazed by what you can hear.<\/p>\n

\"GP5SSB-Top\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course, with the antenna fully extended, one does have to watch out for low-hanging branches, etc.<\/p>\n

\"CountyComm<\/a><\/p>\n

Since the telescoping antenna doesn’t<\/em> swivel, it’s much easier to hold the radio in a way that the antenna points forward while you hike (bonus: it’ll catch all of the spider webs across the trail before your face does!).<\/p>\n

\"GP5SSB-MW-Antenna\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So far, I’ve never used the external mediumwave ferrite bar antenna while hiking–I worry that I could drop the radio and damage either the antenna or the 1\/8″ antenna jack.<\/p>\n

I typically listen to the GP5 with headphones unless I’m walking a trail during the time of year when black bears are active (in which case the speaker helps alert bears that I’m in the neighborhood).<\/p>\n

\"GP5SSB-Front\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course, there are a few other radio models with an identical\u00a0vertical form-factor–most notably, the:<\/p>\n