[MarinTeams] Emergency Communications without satellite

[hbco2]

Re: [µSDX] Backcountry tracking and emergency communications without
satellite.  A quote from Jim, W7LS.  Editorial add-ons are in [brackets].

A few friends and I use Radio Messaging with qrp [low power] 3w radios on 80
and 40 [meters]. An alternative that is similar is HF Pager[software]. Very
little info [exists] out there on them. For the computer, we use custom
programmed [with off the shelf software ‘apps’] Android phones with no
connection to the cell network. Think of them as powerful computers with an
i/o screen that generates audio tones and decodes them [as text messages].
No need for cell service. However, this mode, fundamentally Olivia 8-500,
can enter the email and texting world if one end has an email account and/or
cell account. Otherwise, just use an old Android phone that is sitting in
the back of the closet that has no current cell plan. [or a phone that
does..] 

An old android phone and a uSDX, QDX, or similar make up the entire station,
other than an efhw [end-fed half-wave wire antenna] in your pocket. We yak
daily at a range of 270 miles, and it works locally, too!. Being as we use
NVIS, we get excellent coverage out to 300+ miles, including over mountain
ranges and in valleys.
Jim W7LS

Note there are possibly better digital-audio modes that may be more
effective than Olivia 8-500.  Even so, the application of the highly
portable, tiny qrp-labs QMX or QDX qrp 
transceiver is an example of inexpensive point-to-point communications that
exist today utilizing HF [high-frequency, shortwave frequencies], that are
independent from repeaters, Internet, cellular, or any form of permanent
infrastructure.

A minimal station consists of (1) cell phone, (1) QMX or QDX Transceiver
from qrp-labs.com, (1) Battery, (1) Antenna.  The only drawback is the wire
antenna is long and is typically installed outside, even if it is only a
temporary line tossed into a tree.

http://www.qrp-labs.com

73 de Bill, AB6MT