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Equipment Tests > Satellite Phones
Satellite Phones
Who people (number, injuries)
What the problem is
Where you are (coordinates, track name/how far along)
Food, water, shelter situation
Your intended plans and what you have done, and what you need
Some examples of numbers to take:
Local police
RFDS
Trusted friends (who have your travel details already)
Your friendly 4WD mechanic (ask before you leave!)
Ranger(s)
Finally, please do not consider a satphone as a get-out-of-jail free card which substitutes for careful planning, training and quality equipment. Note that satphones should be able to call 112 with or without a plan or SIM, which is the international emergency number.
Alternatives to a Satphone
All of the communication systems described here are complementary, each with their own strengths. It is not correct to say that if you have one there will be no need for another, but there is some overlap of functions so it is important to know what can be used for which purpose. The satphone offers relative ease of use, private conversations, text messaging (for most networks), data and doesn't need installation. However they are costly, and cannot broadcast calls.
read on below advertisement
UHF Radio
Assuming you want a means of emergency communication, then UHF radio is not an option as it is far too short range. Still, every traveller should have a UHF set because it's very handy for inter-car work, contacting stations and other people within a range of a few to several tens of kilometres, depending on conditions.
HF Radio
High-frequency (HF) radio is similar to UHF, but much, much longer range. That means you can talk to anyone from anywhere, but you do need a license and the units are relatively expensive at around $2000+, and not very portable. Vehicle-mounted radio kits could be damaged by fire or rollovers, whereas handset satphones are less vulnerable and more portable.
The good thing about HF is you become part of a travelling community, not just talking one-to-one as you would with a satphone. You can talk to people further up the track for example. HF is free to use and you can broadcast, and listen in to the 'skeds' which are scheduled information services.
www.VKS737.on.net
Distress Beacons
A beacon you activate only in dire emergency, and you can't receive any communications. Transmits a radio signal to a satellite network which alerts the authorities, easy to activate then you just leave it while you do something else. Covered in detail in OL Oct '08.
next page »
What the problem is
Where you are (coordinates, track name/how far along)
Food, water, shelter situation
Your intended plans and what you have done, and what you need
Some examples of numbers to take:
Local police
RFDS
Trusted friends (who have your travel details already)
Your friendly 4WD mechanic (ask before you leave!)
Ranger(s)
Finally, please do not consider a satphone as a get-out-of-jail free card which substitutes for careful planning, training and quality equipment. Note that satphones should be able to call 112 with or without a plan or SIM, which is the international emergency number.
Alternatives to a Satphone
All of the communication systems described here are complementary, each with their own strengths. It is not correct to say that if you have one there will be no need for another, but there is some overlap of functions so it is important to know what can be used for which purpose. The satphone offers relative ease of use, private conversations, text messaging (for most networks), data and doesn't need installation. However they are costly, and cannot broadcast calls.
read on below advertisement
UHF Radio
Assuming you want a means of emergency communication, then UHF radio is not an option as it is far too short range. Still, every traveller should have a UHF set because it's very handy for inter-car work, contacting stations and other people within a range of a few to several tens of kilometres, depending on conditions.
HF Radio
High-frequency (HF) radio is similar to UHF, but much, much longer range. That means you can talk to anyone from anywhere, but you do need a license and the units are relatively expensive at around $2000+, and not very portable. Vehicle-mounted radio kits could be damaged by fire or rollovers, whereas handset satphones are less vulnerable and more portable.
The good thing about HF is you become part of a travelling community, not just talking one-to-one as you would with a satphone. You can talk to people further up the track for example. HF is free to use and you can broadcast, and listen in to the 'skeds' which are scheduled information services.
www.VKS737.on.net
Distress Beacons
A beacon you activate only in dire emergency, and you can't receive any communications. Transmits a radio signal to a satellite network which alerts the authorities, easy to activate then you just leave it while you do something else. Covered in detail in OL Oct '08.
next page »
