Emergency Satellite Communications

Lee Bradley · October 13, 2022, 09:57:39 AM

Quote from: Iceni John on October 10, 2022, 05:19:41 PM
Don't just take a real paper map (ideally a USGS topo), but also a decent orienteering compass and a small survival kit every time you venture off-road, anywhere. Mind you, how many people these days can even use a map and compass? How many know the declination at their location?

John

How many know what declination is and that it changes?

luvrbus · October 13, 2022, 09:59:43 AM

GPS have some crazy routing, I went to a plumbing supply in Cottonwood my phone routed me through a sub division 5 turns on different streets when all I needed to do was go a 1/2 block turn left and the supply house was a block down on the corner

windtrader · October 13, 2022, 10:14:01 AM

There was a time when I would feel having a hard copy map was the best backup. Maybe it still is but today virtually everything has a battery so I'd venture to say it might be as frequent a map gets wrecked as having zero juice to power a device or having it go bad. We are talking about backups - paper map or a waterproof bombproof emergency SPOT or mapping tool like eTrek

Van · October 13, 2022, 12:20:05 PM

https://youtu.be/WoIfglXAbh0

Glennman · October 13, 2022, 01:07:43 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on October 13, 2022, 09:59:43 AM
GPS have some crazy routing, I went to a plumbing supply in Cottonwood my phone routed me through a sub division 5 turns on different streets when all I needed to do was go a 1/2 block turn left and the supply house was a block down on the corner

My wife and I did a 3 week trip this summer from Washington to Texas (using my pickup). We had a paper map, but also used GIS (on her cell phone). While traveling from Lubbock TX to Chilton TX, we ended up on a series of roads that took us off the main highway, onto a road that was very rough and gravel in some places, totally out into the boondocks with signs that say "no services for 20 miles" (or whatever), until we finally ended up on another highway that eventually took us to our destination. It was pretty weird to say the least. I'm glad we weren't in the bus, as some of the roads were pretty bad.

luvrbus · October 13, 2022, 01:41:56 PM

Quote from: Glennman on October 13, 2022, 01:07:43 PM
My wife and I did a 3 week trip this summer from Washington to Texas (using my pickup). We had a paper map, but also used GIS (on her cell phone). While traveling from Lubbock TX to Chilton TX, we ended up on a series of roads that took us off the main highway, onto a road that was very rough and gravel in some places, totally out into the boondocks with signs that say "no services for 20 miles" (or whatever), until we finally ended up on another highway that eventually took us to our destination. It was pretty weird to say the least. I'm glad we weren't in the bus, as some of the roads were pretty bad.

LOL we were about 20 miles east of San Antonio and I knew there was a WM in Sequin 10 miles east Google said there was on 4 miles from our location 30 miles later following Google we were back in San Antonio at a Walmart

Iceni John · October 14, 2022, 08:56:29 AM

Quote from: Lee Bradley on October 13, 2022, 09:57:39 AM
How many know what declination is and that it changes?

The "official" declination (from the NOAA) for my home ZIPcode is 11 degrees 28 minutes East, but there are several websites quoting up to 14 degrees! One such site is still using a declination from 1990: as it changes by 5 minutes a year, after 32 years it's changed 2 degrees 40 minutes, which about matches the official number here. Even so, I still trust a map and compass more than a GPS navigation system!

John

windtrader · October 14, 2022, 09:39:31 AM

I tink there are different requirements here. one is simple GPS location, where am I. There are plenty of solid products that do this. The second is maps. Paoer maps are fine, road and topo. Digital versions are also fine as some just digitze the topo so same map, just on screen than paper. They come in standalone vesions so no need for any communication link. Rugged and waterproof versions are very reliable.

Then you have all the online mapping versions incluiding route and navigation. Least reliable and prone to take you across a desert creek in a heartbeat. You rely on these and you get what's coming.

luvrbus · October 14, 2022, 11:23:14 AM

I use the Military satellites same as I used for my surveying station and equipment, I don't need it now a 1/8 of inch doesn't matter that much anymore to me.I kept my service since it was a package deal through a contractor's association and the price is cheap too,some of the contractors were linked with satellite phones from the same satellites I never needed one though