I've been camping alone off the grid in a small 4x4 RV since 1991. Back then, I felt fit and invulnerable, thought I could always hike out if the RV wouldn't run. Didn't much consider my own limitations. Liked the solitude out there, good escape from hustle-bustle-stress.
When pre-paid cellphones came along, I bought a Tracfone. It often had no signal, but sometimes it did and that was great. BTW, these days I still have a Tracfone (non-smart old flip-phone style) and it often has a signal in locations where a few years ago it didn't have one. Still, some places have no signal.
Now as an older and much more physically limited person, I recently upgraded my communications by adding a DeLorme InReach to the mix. Satellite, SOS, two-way text communications, tracking marks on map (optional and visible to others if set up that way), etc. It has worked fine everywhere, from inside my house to inside the RV way far from everything. It is small enough to carry with me everywhere. I've sent text and e-mails to family and friends and have received replies. If I ever have an SOS situation, I'll be able to text back and forth with the rescue folks.
Recent RV.net on this topic:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28679851.cfm
