OT Bored of train journeys

I have an ipod, I have an ipod radio, what I want is a personal radio
with RDS, cos the ipod radio is a reet pain in the arse trying to
re-tune it either in the car[1] or on the train. Other suggestions for
in-train entertainment welcomed[2][3]

Suggestions? Reviews suggest DAB is not the thing for train journeys as
there are too many areas where you can't get a signal.


[1] Was originally bought while my car was radio-less
[2] Wife has a DS, not very impressed
[3] Bought MCN and Haribo today, the Haribo was more interesting

 

Netbook and 3G dongle or iPhone 3G.

 

Go to your nearest supermarket and buy a couple of paperbacks.

 

Read the reviews and 3G has issues with signal in non-city areas. Plus
I surf far too much anyway.

 

Sensible, but I already have too many books, and checking WH Smith in
Marylebone today reveals a shocking lack of deals[1]. I also read very
quickly, so books are poor value for money. I could easily read a
moderately sized paperback in one 2 hour train journey. Going to a
supermarket and buying in advance usually means I'll have read them
before I next go on a train.

I also get travel sickness reading books in a car, I've not really
tested this on a train though. I'm generally happy to gaze out of the
window with my brain off, I just need a bit of music to go with it. I
also end up posting "wtf is that" type messages to the rail newsgroup
when I see something odd. I have yet to discover why there's a platform
somewhere between Aynho Junction and High Wycombe that is overgrown and
has no road to it, nor any facilities. Such things keep me amused.


[1] I don't consider buy 1 at full price get another at half price a
good deal when I can get both for half price at Tesco etc.

 

No, sorry, I just can't get my head around that concept.

 

I know what you're saying but...

Think about your house being up for sale, you have a lot of books you
probably won't read again, and you'd much rather spend the book money on
wine. Books then become a bit of a pain in the arse.

As I said, much as I love books they are poor value for money for me, at
least without buying a load at a supermarket and then trying to leave
them alone before any train journeys. I might as well buy a handful of
newspapers every day.

What I really need is somebody to say "you need this rds personal
radio".

 

There's a lot of track between those stations - got anything more specific?

 

You just need more room then?

Local library, that's what I generally do before going away anywhere,
well that and transfer some films and TV to the laptop.

 

I think it's north of Bicester and certainly north of the Haddenham
Parkway. It's on the west side of the tracks, is a dark brick structure
that's very overgrown, and more often than not the train slows around
there, so possibly a signal as well.

 

My Sony-Ericsson W350i phobile moan does that: RDS and auto re-tuning,
and with a 4Gb card in holds quite a few CD's-worth of music and podcasts
too. The only caveat is that you have to listen to the wireless with -
well- wires. The wired headphones act as an antenna. For anything
recorded I use bluetooth headphones.

 

< snip >

My Mam's been using readitswapit.co.uk to get rid of excess bookage that
she doesn't want to keep, and seems to think it's quite good.

 

http://www.buydigitalradio.com/store/en/view_product/15/2681/

Any good?

--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


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Excellent, thanks. I've got a really cheap ipod radio, and for the 4
quid it cost I can't really complain, but it's a pain tuning it.

 

< snip >

My Mam's been using readitswapit.co.uk to get rid of excess bookage
that she doesn't want to keep, and seems to think it's quite good.
[/QUOTE]

Interesting site, I'll give that a go. It's a 1 for 1 swap though, so
I'll not save any space, I think a trip to my nearest charidee shop is
looming.

 

Me neither and that goes for my J.

 

Possibly an old industrial / private thingy?

 

After a bit of browsing on google maps it turns out to be an old station
either Ludgshall or Blackthorn. Slightly weird that the access road has
been ploughed in and it really does look like the middle of nowhere when
on the train.

 

Hmm - if I was doing that I'd be loading up my device of choice with
Radio 4 podcasts, and listening to them on the train. Which is what I
do when I drive to work, in fact. My current R4 podcasts list is

- Friday Night Comedy
- Front Row Highlights
- In Our Time
- Material World
- Thinking Allowed
- Start the Week

 

Every time I switch on R4 I get some shonky play, I often wonder where
the hilarious shows are that I always seem to miss. I'll maybe have a
look at those, thanks.


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Very organised chap as far as his racing goes, he was asking how your
recovery was going.