Communications options for remote parts of North America?

[IHDiesel73L]

The territory that I want to explore is mostly the "Great North Woods" (parts of Maine, Upstate New York, Vermont, etc...but also Eastern Canada. Not the ends of the earth by any means, but not areas where cell phones will work either. What would be the best means of emergency communication (ie: I'm on a logging road in the middle of nowhere and have an electrical/computer issue that leaves my truck dead in the water) to have in areas like these?

 

[Chili]

I would think that HAM or a satellite phone would be the only options, besides smoke signals.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

I would think that HAM or a satellite phone would be the only options, besides smoke signals.

Gotcha-I'm completely new to this so I'm reading the HAM FAQ as we speak. In terms of cost what would be the better of the two? I see that the HAM general license is the preferred method if you're looking for emergency communications, but there is also the option of a satellite phone. If I call for help on a HAM who is listening? Do first responders in remote areas monitor HAM frequencies? I'm just trying to figure out what I need to call for a tow, or for medical help if needed. Obviously a satellite phone allows me to actually dial a phone number, but the equipment is pricey and it's not something that I really want to purchase a monthly plan for since it will seldom be used. Is there such a thing as a "pre-paid" satellite phone? How much is basic HAM equipment?

 

[dzzz]

If it's just emergency look at SPOT or EPIRB.
You don't need an expensive HAM radio to get help. Just one that works with a proper antenna.
Consider the cost of extraction from remote locations. Consider carry equipment that would allow a good samaritan to pull you back to civilization. I've been thinking about how I can carry a tow bar.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

If it's just emergency look at SPOT or EPIRB.
You don't need an expensive HAM radio to get help. Just one that works with a proper antenna.
Consider the cost of extraction from remote locations. Consider carry equipment that would allow a good samaritan to pull you back to civilization. I've been thinking about how I can carry a tow bar.

I'll check those out as well. I do like the idea of HAM for general communications too though. Also, when talking about an "emergency" I'm thinking something pretty major as in some sort of catastrophic vehicle failure that leaves us no means of limping home, or a serious medical emergency. In terms of extraction from a remote location I would be carrying enough for many different kinds of repairs and likely wouldn't be attempting any deep mud or water crossings. A front mounted tow bar that could fold up out of the way would be a good idea though.

 

[tdesanto]

1. SPOT for one-way communication. Although, the new SPOT communicator with the Delorme PN-60 or bluetooth connection to a smart phone allows you to send specific messages.

2. HF/UHF/VHF HAM radio--expensive, but will give you plenty of range with the HF frequencies. The UHF/VHF will give you decent range in simplex or better range with repeaters when available. I don't know that SAR teams are necessarily monitoring, but I know of folks who've used the HF to find another HAM radio operator who could then call someone and relay the messages.

3. Satellite phone--expensive, but the best method for bi-directional communications with whom you want or need to communicate.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

A little research showed that indeed, there is a such thing as a pre-paid satellite phone plan. For about $1000 one could get a phone and about 500 minutes. More than enough for plenty of adventuring if it was only used in terms of emergency (hopefully seldom).

 

[FlyNdrive]

A little research showed that indeed, there is a such thing as a pre-paid satellite phone plan. For about $1000 one could get a phone and about 500 minutes. More than enough for plenty of adventuring if it was only used in terms of emergency (hopefully seldom).

I found a nice Iridium Sat Phone on eBay for $400. The card with 100 minutes was $130. One good thing with Iridium is that they wool always allow an emergency call even if the sim card is out of minutes.

 

[Tennmogger]

Various comments: In the scenario described, remote location, broken down, need emergency help now, sure you can pay the $1000 or $400, whichever, for a Sat phone or Spot, and have it to use one time.

Or, you can invest that money, and some learning effort, for the General Class ham ticket, and use it the remainder of your life.

I disagree with the statement that HF radio is no good for emergency situations. At any time of the day or night there are active nets on various HF bands with dozens of people all over the USA (and world even) just waiting for emergency calls.

An older ham HF transceiver can be bought for $200 and up. A military packset can be bought for, say, $300 and up. An antenna tuner adds maybe $50, if you need it. That and a wire antenna to support in a tree, with tent poles, or across the vehicle, etc, will get help when you are busted. Just keep a little juice in the battery! BTW, a 100W HF transceiver only needs an amp or so for receive, and even at 100 W output it only peaks at about 20 amps on voice peaks on SSB, and that's not much to a vehicle battery with maybe 100 AH or more capacity!

If you use the radio daily you'll probably have an HF antenna on the vehicle. But, you have to know the bands and propagation conditions for the time of day. If it's not worth the effort, then get that Sat phone

Bob
WB4ETT

(and yeah, I was in ARES too, EC for Arapaho Co CO, Colorado Front Range EC, and EC for state of CO...several years ago.)

 

[Mashurst]

Ham is the clear choice for me.
It has saved walking out from a bad stuck in the snow with a no cell coverage situation already after less than one year with a ticket. I used a $60 hand held with a $20 antenna and auto patched through a 2 meter repeater to call my buddy to come help. If it had been a bad injury I could have had life flight no problem. Several people immediately came up asking if they could help including a guy from the FD in the nearest town ~20 miles away and the repeater owner. To me the cool thing is that it does not have to be a life and death situation. One can use it for more casual calls for help. I don't see how its not worth it if one travels in even vaguely remote areas.
kj6euo