Signal Gear When You Are In Harm’s Way

Only those who are going in harm’s way really need signal gear. A minimal kit would include a whistle, signal mirror, fire starters, and maybe a few orange smoke distress signals (available at marinas).

Naturally, you should include a cell phone if you have coverage. Flares are valuable on water but are very dangerous on land - they can start a forest fire!

A more advanced kit might include the following:

Satellite phone: Iridium and Globalstar are the major companies that serve civilians. Iridium has complete world coverage; Globalstar has some blackout zones. If you’re going where help is an airplane ride away, a satellite phone is the best protection you can buy. Satellite phones operate like regular phones, except that calls must be dialed in international mode. In the United States and Canada, you dial 001, followed by the area code and number.

VHF aircraft transceiver: Even on remote trips its not uncommon to see an airplane everyday. Any plane you can see is probably within 10 miles of you - close enough to be reached on a handheld VHF aircraft transceiver. They typical VHF transceiver has a 15 mile range - enough for about 8 minutes of talk time at propeller plane speeds, or less than a minute for jets.

In a life-threatening situtation, you may broadcast on the restricted emergency frequency (121.5Mhz). But for other concerns you must stick with the frequencies that are assigned to local companies. Be aware that trasmitting without an FCC licence isn’t strictly legal. In the bush, however - and given the short range of handheld transceivers - everyone looks the other way.

VHF Marine Radio: Looks and works just like an aircraft model but operates at a lower frequency. Boats on the coasts and Great Lakes all have them. Channel 16 is the emergency channel.

CB Radio: People in Alaska and Canadian north converse mostly on CB radios. Most power boats have them. Channel 9 is reserved for emergencies.

PLB (Personal Locator Beacon): A PLB emits a distress signal that allows rescue personnel to hone in on you. Some units use a GPS chip to provide precise positioning. A PLB is strictly a signaling device - you can’t talk or receive messages on it.

The best bang for your buck is probably a satellite phone and a GPS. With these you can report your problem and your GPS location coordinates. And you can obtain on the spot medical advice. Don’t know whom to call? Just dial 911.

High Gear Adventure Plus 7-in-1 Survival Tool - Flashlight, Compass, Thermometer - $12.95

# Prepare for the unexpected with the High Gear Adventure Plus survival tool, offering LED light, compass, digital thermometer, emergency whistle and more. Great for scouting, hiking, mountaineering and more.
# Tools include:
# LED flashlight
# Compass
# Safety whistle
# Digital thermometer
# Fold-out signal mirror
# Fold-out magnifying glass
# Mini dry storage for matches
# Quick-release lanyard

High Gear Smart Dynamo Emergency Radio-Flashlight-Cell Phone Charger - $18.95

Quickly recharge your High Gear Smart Dynamo emergency radio-flashlight-cell phone charger with a few turns of the hand crank for battery-free operation.

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