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Author Topic: Using radio for SoS situations  (Read 868 times)

AI5RB

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Re: Using radio for SoS situations
« Reply #15 on: April 17, 2020, 05:26:10 AM »

I strongly recommend the pocket emergency satellite devices.  The Garmin inReach does allow (limited) global messaging, in addition to the SOS service.
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W9IQ

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Re: Using radio for SoS situations
« Reply #16 on: April 17, 2020, 05:45:04 AM »

I strongly recommend the pocket emergency satellite devices.  The Garmin inReach does allow (limited) global messaging, in addition to the SOS service.

I generally agree with this thought but if you are a global traveler, don't assume it will work. I found this out in southern Africa. Do your research in advance.

The good aspect is that it does not receive the scrutiny that a satellite phone does in more oppressive countries.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

KB8VUL

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Re: Using radio for SoS situations
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2020, 06:11:35 AM »

I think that the question of WHO to call with a situation is more important than how.
The how is simple.  A sat phone.  Ham is down the list of how. 

Now the question of who.
You have to remember that sat phones are down linked only in a few places across the world.  So dialing 911 may or may not be effective.
You need to have the local numbers for emergency services. for the locations you are going to be in.
IF you are traveling abroad, you also need the numbers for the US consulate, and the state department back in the US.  You may run into a situation that you have issues with the local or state government where you are and the state department is your only real assistance.
You may also contact those entities prior to travel and ask them if they are monitoring any HF / VHF frequencies that can be used in an emergency.  Remember that you are a US citizen.  (Unless you aren't but this concept would apply, the contacts are just different). 
But on a side note.  Having the ability to communicate with the US government in another country that's not so friendly to the USA may well get you labeled as a spy and raise MORE problems. 

All that being said.  If you are just running around Montana, Wyoming and other remote locations in the US, get a sat phone.  Put the emergency numbers in it for the local public safety folks and call it a day.
If you are dead set against that.  At minimum carry a GPS, and those phone numbers with you.  That way when you start hollaring for help on 75 meters once someone in Ohio answers you, you have the information to give them with the proper contact information for them to make a call so you might actually get rescued and not recovered.
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K3LI

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Re: Using radio for SoS situations
« Reply #18 on: May 06, 2020, 02:21:15 PM »

This isnt rocket science.  You can never be assured of reaching a repeater or another ham.  This makes relying on an HT for emergencies useless.   A personal locator beacon is darn near fool proof.  You set it off and do your best to be ok till help arrives.   If you do reach a repeater with an HT and are pretty bad off, the best they can guess is a 20 or 25 mile circle till they find some ham that knows DF to locate your signal.   A personal locator brings the good guess within a couple of yard of you.   Ask me how I know about locators.  Been there.
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K6AER

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Re: Using radio for SoS situations
« Reply #19 on: May 07, 2020, 11:17:13 AM »

I used the Inreach system in the oil fields of North Dokota. Three times I cam across an accident where no cell coverage was avalable. We had emergency crews on site within 30 minuets. Don't use ham gaear unless that is all you have. Few repeaters are montored and many hams have little experence with emergency situations.

The Inreach system is well worth the $12 a month cost.
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