Hi-md For Trekking?

[beecave]

I'm thinking of buying an Hi-MD for recording while trekking in Nepal. What this means is being on the trail for 3 weeks without access to electricity. The question is: Many of the MDs, like the Sonys, have a rechargeble battery in addition to the AA battery that you insert. Ok. What does that mean when the AA battery runs out? Do I simply replace that, or does the rechargeable battery need recharging as well, from an AC source (which out in the Himalayas will be VERY hard to come by)? Or does the AA battery recharge the rechargeable? Somehow that doesn't make sense. Is it possible just to use AA batteries without having to use the rechargeables?

I had an Sony MD from '96 which was great but ate up batteries in less than an hour. Yikes! But I have to say this rechargeable battery thing has me concerned. Should I be?

Thanks!

[dex Otaku]

This is precisely the reason [other than budget] that I bought a NH700.

I would never consider purchasing a unit that doesn't at least have the AA add-on pack.

You should check out http://www.quietamerican.org/ .. he does location recording using MD equipment [and has done it all over east Asia, including Nepal].

[LowMD]

Battery life is significantly better now than it was in '96.

With one AA in my NHF-800 (the same as Dex Otaku's NH700 plus FM remote) I can record a three-hour event (in Hi-SP) and play it back a few times. It's a shame that Sony uses gumstick rechargeables and outboard AA packs for all the 2d-generation Hi-MDs when the basic AA worked so well for the NH-700 and NHF-800. See if you can still find one of those for your trek, but if not the outboard AA should power the new ones on its own.

[dex Otaku]

I have made 6+ hour recordings [1GB disc at HiSP] with a single generic AA battery in te NH700.

[beecave]

I have made 6+ hour recordings [1GB disc at HiSP] with a single generic AA battery in te NH700.

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Hey Dex and Low, thanks for the responses. It kinda looks like the recommended models are discontinued. Hmmm... How does one find out if there is indeed an external add-on battery pack for any of the newer still-continued models? Does that bypass the rechargeable, I wonder?

And Dex, were you able to continue beyond your 6+hours, simply by replacing the AA with another?

Thanks again! And thanks for the "Quiet American" site. Right up my alley.

[dex Otaku]

The NH700 is still available here.. dunno.

The new RH10 has the AA battery add-on, I think the RH910 might as well.

I might be mistaken on this, but I'm pretty sure that the stick battery has to be in the unit for the AA to work, and the AA actually charges the stick when the unit's not in use.

Yes, you can record beyond 6+hours by replacing the battery, but you do have to stop the unit while you swap the batteries.