(meteorobs) Digital Voice Recorder & talking clock

[bmccurdy at telusplanet.net]

   Geert wrote:

> I have seen interesting fights between meteor observers and digital voice
> recorders.
> It seems that many digital recorders tend to;
> a) emit photons you don't ask for;
> b) run out of batteries (cf. a);
> c) are not designed for very short messages.
> 
> Please prove me wrong and find a good model!

   My meteor-observing buddy Alister Ling uses a DVR, and says that his is 
limited to a certain number of recordings (a couple hundred or so) no matter 
how short they may be. Fine for his deep sky observations, not so good for 
individual meteor reports. Whereas my trusty microcassette recorder will, at 
its slowest speed, last me all night. I have only once needed a second 
microcassette during a single meteor session (the 2001 Leonids, when I just 
left it to run in real time through the peak).  

> I wonder where to find talking clocks in Europe...

   I got my talking watch (a.k.a. the cat's meow) at the Canadian National 
Institute for the Blind. Presumably there are equivalent organizations in 
Europe. 

   Bruce
   *****