Off-Grid Communications
Grandmother’s Phone
A significant portion of the gear we take on our trips, whether it’s a day hike, backpacking, overlanding, skiing, etc. is safety related and we always hope never to use it. While it seems like a waste of money to purchase an item you never want to use, it’s like an insurance policy. Depending on the type of trip we are taking, we might take all of the devices I discuss here or only one, but we always carry something for emergency communications.
In the photo above, we have three different types of safety communications devices. The first (from left to right) is an older ACR ResQLink+, this device communicates through a system of US government satellites and is monitored by the search and rescue division of NOAA. I think it was originally built with nautical search and rescue in mind, but they also provide terrestrial rescue as well. This is a one-way device, meaning that it sends an SOS signal to the satellite system and then you wait for the helicopter to arrive. There’s no way to tell the search and rescue folks anything about the situation (e.g. is it a life-and-death emergency, a broken bone, or a something less critical) so they have to assume the worst.
The second device in the photo is a more modern device called a Garmin InReach Mini. This device is two-way interactive through a global proprietary Iridium satellite network. SOS signals are monitored through the Garmin Response Center who can respond to your messages, track your device, and coordinate with the emergency response services and notify your designated contact person. Being a two-way device, allows you to provide the emergency response service with a better idea of the severity of the emergency, and they can respond accordingly. They might talk you through a medical procedure that will allow you to walk out on your own power or they might send someone to pull you out of the situation. In addition to just emergency communications, you can send/receive text messages to stay in contact with friends and family.
The third device in the photo is our handheld ham radio. This is more than just an emergency communication device, but it can be used for that as well. We both got our FCC amateur radio licenses around two years ago and we use our radios for communication while on the road. If we would like to drive down a trail but are concerned that it might have a dead end or be blocked, one of us will scout the trail on foot carrying the handheld radio. If we find the road is clear to pass or there is a place to turn around with a trailer we can call back to the driver to come down the trail. We don’t want to drive our rig up a trail only to find that it is blocked, too difficult to traverse, or worse there’s no place to turn around with a trailer. Backing a short trailer is hard enough without having to deal with crazy trail conditions.
A more recent addition to our communications kit is StarLink (photo above) it works using a huge network of satellites deployed and managed by SpaceX (i.e. Elon Musk). While this is not exclusively for emergency communications, it allows us to access high speed internet from pretty much anywhere (the photo above is in the middle of Death Valley) so we can send/receive email, phone calls, read the news, and even make new blog posts. If you keep track of the Ukraine war, you might have noticed that they rely heavily on StarLink for their communications. If it’s robust and easy enough to use in a combat zone, then it should work for us! Unlike old satellite TV/internet providers which required stationary locations and a huge dish that was difficult to point at their satellite network, the StarLink is extremely easy, you just set it in a location with a clear view of the sky, turn it on, and it does the rest. Usually within 2-3 minutes you have a high-speed internet connection. We have come a long way from grandma’s hand-crank wall phone. (Photo courtesy of C. Christen) I must be old because I actually remember her using that phone.
Technology changes fast so I’m sure our gear will change over time but this kit works well for us for both emergency situations and general communication.
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