CB radio vs. cell phone vs. HAM Radio
HI all, I wanted to tap the resources of the forum here for suggestions on traveling in remote areas. Years ago, I traveled through Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and went several days without cell pho...
Forum Discussion
If your considering a sat phone be careful which carrier you get. I have friends who have tried sat phones and the one that seems to work the best is Iridium. Why? well they don't use geosynchronous sat's, so you are most assured of having a sat in coverage. However, deep canyons, lots of tree's etc. can even then limit coverage and you may go 20 minutes before getting a sat in range.
Global star uses geosynchronous sat's. you must have a clear view of the southern sky! Think of it this way. If you couldn't get sat tv coverage, you likely won't get phone reception.
IMHO if you want emergency communication get a spot or delorman communicator. I have a spot and spot connect. Either has a very high probability of getting you emergency help. the communicator allows SMS text's. Downside it you can't recieve texts, which the delorme does support.
I've used the spot for years to let people know I'm ok, or running late etc. and so far has been 100 percent reliable in sending the message to the intended party. If you ever do a sos with it, it will notifiy emergency services as well as anyone on your defined emergency list. And it will give GPS coordinates of your location. It also allows people you give a link to to track where you are. The delorme should be similar.
And if your in Montana, neither GSM or CDMA has good coverage in remote areas. In fact either can have no coverage even on sections of the interstate.
In the end, if your concerned, I'd go with a spot or deloreme messenger device. But also realize, unless you are going to very remote areas, with no other groups, you will usually be close to help. Campgrounds will have other campers the majority of the time. Even though one may think of Montana as backwoods, on any state highway you will get traffic coming by. May be only a car every hour or so, but you will have people driving by. and even on seldom traveled roads, you'll usually see a farmhouse every few miles at least.
Now if your going to a wilderness area, then you will be far from others and even in a dire emergency no motorized access is allowed, so it walking or carrying out. So there a spot etc. might be a good idea.
Global star uses geosynchronous sat's. you must have a clear view of the southern sky! Think of it this way. If you couldn't get sat tv coverage, you likely won't get phone reception.
IMHO if you want emergency communication get a spot or delorman communicator. I have a spot and spot connect. Either has a very high probability of getting you emergency help. the communicator allows SMS text's. Downside it you can't recieve texts, which the delorme does support.
I've used the spot for years to let people know I'm ok, or running late etc. and so far has been 100 percent reliable in sending the message to the intended party. If you ever do a sos with it, it will notifiy emergency services as well as anyone on your defined emergency list. And it will give GPS coordinates of your location. It also allows people you give a link to to track where you are. The delorme should be similar.
And if your in Montana, neither GSM or CDMA has good coverage in remote areas. In fact either can have no coverage even on sections of the interstate.
In the end, if your concerned, I'd go with a spot or deloreme messenger device. But also realize, unless you are going to very remote areas, with no other groups, you will usually be close to help. Campgrounds will have other campers the majority of the time. Even though one may think of Montana as backwoods, on any state highway you will get traffic coming by. May be only a car every hour or so, but you will have people driving by. and even on seldom traveled roads, you'll usually see a farmhouse every few miles at least.
Now if your going to a wilderness area, then you will be far from others and even in a dire emergency no motorized access is allowed, so it walking or carrying out. So there a spot etc. might be a good idea.
