[ale] [OT] Deep in the woods communications to home?

[Sean]

A few observations based on years of hiking and canoeing throughout
Appalachia:

Problems tend to occur in the valleys -- NOT on the ridge lines. Radios
mostly do NOT work in the deep valleys throughout the area.  Law
enforcement/rescue personnel fight this problem constantly.

So, do NOT rely on a cell phone in the deep boonies of Appalachia.
Unless you are atop a ridge you will not have "line of sight" to a cell
tower.

Cheapest solution is to NEVER hike alone if going out of shouting
distance of a road.  The least expensive, reliable piece of rescue
equipment is a good whistle.

Sean

------------------------------------------------------


On Wed, 2017-08-02 at 19:52 -0700, neal at mnopltd.com wrote:
> The problem with emergency locator services is two-fold:
> Unless you test them regularly, you never know if they will work in
> an emergency;
> Sometimes people are hesitant to use them, not knowing if it really
> IS an emergency until it becomes one. 
> 
> My suggestion, based on 80K miles of camping in the US:
> Have Verizon phone coverage
> Have a Wilson Sleek phone repeater/amp/antenna.
> Have a big honking Anchor USB battery to keep both the above alive
> for several days
> Communicate BEFOREHAND
> If we are taking a kayak trip, I will text our children GPS
> coordinates, and when we expect to be back;
> Similarly, I think your wife can use "hike plan" services to inform
> rangers where she is going. 
> In general, tell enough people in advance.
> We rarely lack Verizon voice coverage with the above setup.
> 
> Neal 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ale] [OT] Deep in the woods communications to home?
> From: leam hall <leamhall at gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, August 02, 2017 12:02 pm
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
> 
> My photographer wife does a lot of nature photography where cell
> phones don't always go. Without requiring a HAM license and carrying
> a huge pack, are there good emergency comm options?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Leam
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