There’s a common saying: good communication is key. More often that not, most aspects of your life that don’t go according to plan are a result of bad communication in some form or another. Looking specifically at travel in the mountains, often accidents can be alleviated if good communication and an atmosphere of teamwork is emphasized. However, even if all decisions have been made in earnest and with the highest degree of risk management, accidents still do occur: the mountains are an inherently risky environment. Hence given these two factors, having a good communication framework is key to low-risk travel in the mountains.
With all this said, this blog post will describe what types of communication is necessary in the mountains and describe multiple options of communication devices commonly used in order to establish great group communication, including various types of radios, satellite communication technologies, and other group communication strategies. This blog post is designed to be an overview of these various technologies to give you a starting point to explore each option more thoroughly. Enjoy!
When Would I Need to Communicate in a Mountain Setting?
For the purpose of this blog post discussing communication devices, I will classify the type of communication you may need to do in two terms: internal vs. external comms. I’ll describe each below.
Internal Comms:
Communication within your team/group. Communication devices serve the purpose of allowing members of the group that are distant or outside of visual contact to communicate with other members of the group. Common devices chosen for internal comms include: -FRS radios, -VHF radios, -cell phones (if have reception).
External Comms:
Communication from your group to a third party group that could offer outside assistance. Communication devices serve the purpose of connecting your group’s resources with other team’s group resources to enlist assistance. Common devices chosen for external comms include: -satellite communication devices (sat phone, inReach, Spot, PLB, etc), -VHF radios, -cell phone (if in reception).
Each group should generally have some type of external and internal communication plan given the terrain they plan to travel in. Depending on the group, objectives, division of leadership, etc, this plan may be more or less formal; however, all groups should have some form of both internal AND external communication. Some examples for informal internal communication could be “we must always have visual contact with all members of the group,” but could be as formal as providing each group member with a radio. It’s up to you as a group to decide how you plan to organize your internal and external communication strategy.
What Options Exist for Internal Communication Devices?
Internal communication devices include any type of system used to effectively communicate WITHIN your group. Below is a list of commonly used internal communication strategies, working from the least ‘formal’ and resource heavy to the most:
Visual/Auditable Contact: Ensure all group members can see or hear each other.
Advantages:
Least resource heavy; doesn’t depend on members having specific types of technology to communicate
Highly dependable, since it doesn’t depend on electronic equipment functioning properly.
Disadvantages:
With larger or unfamiliar groups, communication structure can break down or add to additional hazard
Requires trust between group members to act and behave appropriately
Best application: Small groups that are familiar with how each other communicate and move in the mountains.
“Buddy system:” Each group member is responsible for the location and well-being of one other member of the group.
Advantages:
Low resource heavy. Only requires a communication plan to be established prior to using this technique.
Disadvantages:
Requires trust between group members to regroup with their buddies and be accountable of the one person they’re responsible for.
Limited to groups where some element of visual contact is required and can only communicate across short distances.
Best Application: When traveling in terrain where features such as trees could impair close visual contact, and group members are trustworthy and can be held accountable for others in the group.
Cell Phones: Use of your cell phone to relay info to/from each other.
Advantages:
Most people traveling in the mountains these days carries a cell phone, so folks do not need to go out and purchase new devices.
Use of a cell phone is straightforward.
Can communicate across long distances and in inclement weather.
Disadvantages:
When used in the cold, batteries can die.
Dependent on everyone in the group having cell reception when you need to communicate
Best application: In large groups or settings where visual contact is lost but you are close to cell phone towers and have dependable phone coverage. Examples here include: -frontcountry rock climbing crags and –some ski areas.
FRS (family radio service) Radios: FRS radios are conventional two-way radios that operate on multiple channels between the 462-467 MHz range.
Examples of a variety of FRS-capable radios. Photo credit: HF Underground.
Advantages:
Cheap.
Easy to use. No programming required.
Can communicate amidst inclement weather and low visibility.
Disadvantages:
Due to their popularity, many channels can have a lot of “chatter” (other people on the same frequency using the radio).
Requires clear line-of-sight with other radio operators.
Best application: For recreational groups that wish to have a more structured internal communication structure but don’t want to invest in the complexity of VHF radios.
VHF/UHF Radios: These radios are programmable radios that broadcast on two types of frequencies: VHF and UHF frequencies. VHF frequencies are best for long-range communication with lower accuracy, and UHF are better for short ranges and higher accuracy.
Examples of an array of VHF radios. Photo credit: Made-in-China.com.
Advantages:
Can have some privacy if you program a channel that is not frequently used.
Offers many more channels to communicate than a standard FRS radio.
Because specific channels can be programmed into the radio, a user can communicate on a specific frequency focused on a specific function (e.g. ski patrol frequencies, guiding frequencies, etc).
Disadvantages:
Steep learning curve as far as their usage.
Requires a license to program and operate.
Best application: Working in an organized, operational setting where an organization or company will be licensed to operate on specific frequencies.
What Options Exist for External Communication Devices?
External communication devices include any type of system to communicate to resources OUTSIDE of your group members. Below is a list of external communication devices, organized in the structure from highest degree of communication freedom to least:
Satellite phones: A fully functioning mobile phone that uses a satellite communication network to communicate with users.
Advantages:
Quickest mode of communicating
Due to having full phone functionality, can call and talk to emergency services personale. This offers the advantage to communicate the status of an accident victim, and easily provide updates on victim’s status.
Sometimes the only option when needing to coordinate logistics in remote regions (e.g. helicopter drops, float plane pickups, etc).
Most plans offer forms of satellite emailing and web services in addition to calls & texts.
Disadvantages:
Most costly of all types of communication devices.
Plans can be time sensitive, requiring you to use minutes by specific dates, otherwise the plan will expire
Battery life is limited when calling rather than sending texts
Best application: For users who frequent remote locations in the mountains and/or need a very effective external communication plan. Many expedition teams will carry one sat phone in their group, and some guides will carry them as well.
Two-way satellite texting devices (e.g. inReach, Spot, etc): A mobile texting communicator that utilizes satellite communication networks to communicate with users via text messages and email.
Example of a popular two-way satellite texting communicator, the Garmin inReach Mini. Photo Credit: Uncharted Supply.co
Advantages:
Plans are generally more cost effective (depending on the plan, can be as low as $5-10/month)
Offer two-way communication via texting, so can still report accident victim’s status if needed.
Depending on the network, location, weather, etc, sending a text message over a satellite network can be more effective than attempting to call
Most offer a PLB-type SOS feature that is easy to initiate without any training of the device’s use
Disadvantages:
Limited to only texting communications.
Due to being limited to only texting, response time of external resources such as SAR could be delayed as you text out all the victim’s information
Because limited to texting, it takes much longer to communicate valuable information
Some external resources will not use texting as a means to communicate (e.g. some helicopter or float plane pilots would rather talk to you than relay information over texts)
Best application: For users who plan to access remote, backcountry locations outside of cell reception and wish to choose a cost-effective communication device. Most of my ski partners and friends use this type of device.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): A one-way communicator used exclusively to communicate a SOS signal to the nearest emergency services.
Example of a one-way personal locator beacon (PLB) device. Photo Credit: ACR Artex.
Advantages:
Most cost-effective satellite communication device (generally requires purchasing the PLB unit, but does not require purchasing an activation plan)
Utilizes the most readily available network of satellites and call centers to contact you directly to first responders (i.e. there is no middle liaison or call center that you must go through and get patched to first responders, as is the case for many two-way texting communicators)
Disadvantages:
One-way communication device. Cannot send texts to communicate to the outside world; the only function this product has is the SOS function.
Only has the SOS function. Because of this, you cannot update first responders with the status of your patient should they improve or deteriorate.
Best Application: For groups that only travel in a remote setting from time-time but still aim to have a safety net should things not go according to plan and need outside assistance.
VHF/UHF Radios: see description above. Can also be used for external comms.
Satellite Communication Networks
All satellite phones and two-way satellite texting devices utilize one of two satellite communication networks. Which network you choose to communicate on varies widely and depends on where/how you plan to use your device, so we’ll discuss each in detail below:
Iridium
The Network: Iridium utilizes a network of 66 low earth orbiting (LEOs) satellites to provide full, worldwide coverage, including extremes of latitude and very remote regions.
Visual representation of the Iridium satellite network, showing how this network represents worldwide coverage. Photo Credit: Ground Control.com
Advantages:
Only network to provide true worldwide coverage
Only satellite communication network that provides coverage in polar regions
Disadvantages:
Most costly network (sat phone plans can be much more expensive when compared to competitors).
Examples of Devices That Use This Network:
Iridium satellite phones and hotspots (e.g. Iridium GO, etc)
Garmin inReach products
Globalstar
The Network: Utilizes a network of 24 low earth orbiting (LEOs) satellites, providing coverage in 120 countries.
Global map showing current Globalstar coverage as of April 27, 2020. Coverage and dead-zones for the Globalstar network are updated frequently; check their website for updated coverage details. Photo Credit: Globalstar.com.
Advantages:
Due to the smaller network, much more cost effective than the Iridium network.
Disadvantages:
Not true worldwide coverage. Depending on your region, your device may not be functional on this network. Any Globalstar device will show in the purchasing details where the gaps exist for this network. See this link for a map showing the Globalstar network’s coverage.
Examples of Devices That Use This Network:
Globalstar satellite phones & hotspots.
Spot two-way satellite texting communicator.
Summary
To summarize, there are a number of available options for communication devices in the mountains. Which options, or combinations of options are based upon where you plan to explore, how you plan to manage your group, and your budget. Be mindful however that it’s considered best practice to always have some type of external and internal communication plan to best reduce your risk and plan for contingencies. Hopefully this blog post will give you a better idea of each type of technology available, and what application its best used for.
As with everything in life, this blog post and much of my beta changes over time with new information. If you have suggestions for future blog posts, additions to this post, or simply want to message me for any reason, feel free to visit the “Contact Us” section of my website and shoot me a message, or comment below! Any and all feedback is appreciated; thanks!