Satellite radio

mockturtle wrote:
I guess what I was looking for was a radio that would work from its own rechargeable batteries without having to use coach batteries at all.

Not going to happen any longer. Even back then it required a dumb box full of batteries that you plugged your sat radio into. Simply get a XM roady and a car kit Connect the car kit to the 12VDC battery and connect it to your existing stereo system. Power draw is so small from a modern DC radio you could run for weeks without charging a typical 12VDC house battery.

I guess what I was looking for was a radio that would work from its own rechargeable batteries without having to use coach batteries at all.

There are many Sat Radio systems out there.. SOME are designed to plug into the back of the dash radio (I have that kind of dash radio) Some have AUX outputs (This is what I'd recommend in your case) that is basically either a headphone like jack or a pair of RCA jacks (WHite and red)

As for "A lot of battery".. Well that depends on how much you use it.

Motor homes, generally, have one of two house radio systems.. Some the dash radio has a switch (Main/Aux or some such) and can be switched between the AUX circuit on the chassis and the house battery for operation.. If you have this, then simply plugging in a back of the radio module and finding a spot for the antenna and flip the switch to use mains power.

Some (mine) have two seperate radios, one runs on 120 volt, the other is a common car dash type.. I'd need the "Line Out" type and the Aux In module for my radio (Which by the way I have, the aux in, not sat radio).

Some also have multiple modes.. They sell a "Boom box" Desk and Auto adapters.

The sat module snaps into/onto all 3 modules,, in "the desk mount it would feed your "House Radio" (120 volt device) in the Auto-Module your dash radio, and in the boom box.. Portable.

Check out the "Dock and Play" receivers on this page:
Crutchfield dot com

mockturtle wrote:

Streaming internet wouldn't work for me as I wouldn't always have internet available, plus the battery usage is again a factor.

You can also stream it over a cell phone, of course, that assumes you have a cell signal. Just an FYI for another option, but sounds like a traditional setup will be better for you.

Have you ever listened to Sat Radio before?
For Sports only, you will probably be OK.
There some nasty language allowed and x rated talk on some of the channels.
Just to get your feet wet, you might try a free 30 day sub., and listen on your PC, before you buy equipment.

Just google and you will find the free 30 day offer.
Be sure and not to give them a credit card number.

They all seem to have far more features than I need or want. I don't want to record, etc. I just want to be able to listen to sports, off the grid, wherever I happen to be. Isn't there a plain satellite radio with rechargeable batteries available?

XM/Sirius offers several portable radios. Sadly they no longer offer the best one ever. The pioneer Inno series offered a compact battery powered package that could be connected tat home, in car,truck or RV and runs through the existing radio. In addition it had a built in flash drive capable of recording about 1000 songs directly from XM. We have two of them and I dread the day they finally give up the ghost.

Or you can get portable XM SIRIUS radios with rechargeable batteries/power cord.

Sounds perfect!

Have you tried IHeartRadio.com it is streamed over the internet via your computer, laptop,smartphone or tablet. There are a variety of stations available including sports. No monthly fee.

Streaming internet wouldn't work for me as I wouldn't always have internet available, plus the battery usage is again a factor.

My wife complained about not having Sirius in her van and can't listen to the same stations we listen to in the truck.

For Christmas I got her a XMSirius bundle with a small radio which she can use in the van, and a larger 'dock' unit with speakers to use outdoors and in the TT.

The dock unit can run on 12V/ 120AC/ or C cell batteries.

Check the Sirius web site, and major retailers like Amazon.

I've looked at internet radio - it's not really an option for us because we camp in remote places without cell phone/ internet access often.

And I don't have a grandfathered no bandwidth limit cell plan.

There are 12v models for in dash or in cabinet installs. Or you can get portable XM SIRIUS radios with rechargeable batteries/power cord.

Have you tried IHeartRadio.com it is streamed over the internet via your computer, laptop,smartphone or tablet. There are a variety of stations available including sports. No monthly fee.