Emergency Communication

Emergency communication systems are technology based and can change very quickly.  If this section needs updating, please let us know.  Last updated January 2019.

Overview

Emergency communication systems may be used for a number of purposes:
Life or death emergencies (SOS)
Requests for assistance (e.g. tow truck)
Communicating with family and friends.
but some systems can only be used in an emergency.  A mobile phone would be your first choice but reception is limited including in the High Country of Victoria and there are many blind spots in the local hills around Melbourne.

Voice Call vs Distress Beacon.  Speaking to an operator is always preferable.  It gives the operator the opportunity to confirm the situation, allocate the appropriate resources and give advice.  Voice systems also give you the flexibility to call a tow truck or mechanic.  Distress beacons should have a place in your emergency plan but they only transmit your location when they are activated.  They give no other information and so should only be used in life or death situations.

What is Considered an Emergency.  A vehicle break down is not an emergency and you should contact a tow truck.  If you are stranded and have waited a reasonable time for a passing vehicle (perhaps one or even two days depending on your location, food and water supplies) then in time this situation is a risk to your life and is considered an emergency and you should press the SOS button.  If you press an SOS button or call 000 be aware that they will evacuate you and not your vehicle.  It is still up to you to recover your 4wd.  You can dial 000 for police, ambulance or fire brigade.  The situation needs to be a risk to health, property, or the environment but not necessarily a risk to life.  You must communicate these facts.

Give GPS Coordinates in Decimal Degrees.  Emergency Services prefer to receive coordinates in decimal degrees. e.g. “minus 37 point 86670 comma 144 point 93354”.  It would be helpful in an emergency if your GPS was pre-set to this mode and everyone in your car knew how to find the information.

Reliability of Communication Systems: The Royal Flying Doctor service uses two forms of communication in their land vehicles in SA – satellite phone and HF radio.  It is good practice to have a backup system.  Satellite phones have limitations you might not expect.  The most flexible and reliable system appears to be HF radio but it is also the most expensive. Modern HF radios are, however, easier to use than in the past.  Also, belonging to a network has a lot of advantages.  I will discuss the pros and cons of each of the following systems:

1. Distress Beacons

Summary:
A PLB is recommended when bush walking or as a backup to a voice communication system.
Pros: PLBs are light weight, compact, inexpensive and don’t require a subscription.
Cons: They don’t support 2-way communication and can only be used for an emergency.

There are 3 types of Distress Beacons:

• PLB (land use)
• EPIRB (sea and land)
• ELT (aircraft – not discussed here)

A Distress Beacon will only transmit your location to a command centre via satellite. `There is no provision for any other communication and so should only be activated in a life threatening situation.  It could take 20 minutes or longer for a satellite to orbit past you and pick up your signal.  Each satellite that passes will update your position if you have moved. (see battery life for each type of beacon).  The problem with this system is there is no two-way communication which could be critical in a medical emergency.  Two-way voice communication is preferable but if you have to travel to get phone reception then Emergency Services prefer that you activate your beacon immediately and then try to contact 000 to confirm the situation as soon as you safely can.  Take note of your GPS coordinates when you activate the beacon as emergency services will cross-reference the location when you call.  

Personal Location Beacon (PLB) is a small handheld unit well suited to bush walking and as backup to a voice system.  They have a minimum battery life of 24 hours once activated.   PLDs are the lowest priced option and there are no ongoing subscriptions.

EPIRB is the same in function as a PLB but it is larger, heavier and has a longer battery life when triggered (48 hrs vs 24 hrs).  They are designed for maritime use but work just as well on land.  If you have a boat then an EPIRB is worth considering.

See http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/about/

2. Spot Gen 3

Summary:
This offers some extra features over a PLB but does not meet Australian Standards for a Distress Beacon.

Pros:  SOS function, tracking, limited one-way messages, light weight, compact, inexpensive to purchase.
Cons: Requires a subscription, battery life needs to be monitored, does not comply with Australian Standards as a beacon.

This is a tracking device which requires an annual subscription that allows family and friends to track your location on a website.  You can also send pre-programmed messages to them but it cannot receive a message back.  There is only one user defined message which can only be changed on their website.  It has an SOS function similar to that of a beacon but it does not comply with the Australian Standards for Distress Beacons.  The SOS call from a Spot is received by a company in America and then passed on to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra where it is then treated in a similar way to a Distress Beacon call.

The system has a large following and appears to work well as a beacon while giving the added features of a tracking system and one-way messages.

3. Mobile Phones.

Summary: Use is limited to mobile reception areas and is subject to black spots around hills.  If it is used as a primary form of emergency communication then a PLB should also be carried as a backup.

Pros: Portable, Equipment is readily available.
Cons: Limited reception.

Mobile phones are limited by the extent of the reception area.  If any of your trip is not within mobile phone coverage then the phone will not serve as a reliable form of emergency communication.  They are also subject to black spots in hilly areas.  Check the Telstra coverage map for Australia (scroll down the page) to see if this system is suitable for your trip.  A mobile phone should be used in conjunction with a PLB as an emergency backup.  A call to 000 will be received by any available network regardless of who your account is with except on mobile phones manufactured before 2002 then dialing 112 will provide this option.  An external antenna may extend your range by 50 km in flat terrain and reduce black spots but give little overall improvement in outback Australia or in the Victorian High Country. See Antennas under UHF Radios. 

Emergency+ App

If you have mobile phone reception this Australian Government app will connect your phone to 000 and display your location on your phone’s screen but it cannot transmit your coordinates. You will have to tell the operator your location. See Give GPS Coordinates in Decimal Degrees. – scroll to bottom of section

4. Satellite Phone  (Sat. Phone)

Summary:  At present no Sat Phone system is reliable enough to be solely depended upon as an emergency communication system throughout Australia.

Pros: Portable.
Cons: Unreliable reception depending on location, expensive to run.

There are now four Sat Phone networks available world-wide using different approaches in order to solve the same problem in Australia which is a lack of reliable signal.  On 11th January 2019 Iridium launched the last of its 75 new satellites replacing its old constellation of 66 satellites at a cost of USD 3 billion. Time will tell if this is the answer.  To date no network has provided a reliable service in both the northern and southern regions of Australia. There are two basic systems:

• LEO (Low Earth Orbit) – Subject to signal dropout in the northern parts of Australia where satellites are spaced further apart. Network Providers: Iridium & Globalstar.
• Geostationary – Satellites maintain a constant position in the sky. This works well in northern Australia where the satellites are high in the sky but suffers from black spots in the south where the satellites are low to the horizon and can be blocked by mountains.  If you have a signal on this system then you will most likely maintain your connection but if you can’t get a signal then the satellite will never come into view and you will need to move.

See http://www.thegreynomads.com.au/accessories/communication-gadgets/satellite-phone-networks/

HF Radio.

Summary: Commercial type HF radio is the most reliable form of emergency communication in remote areas and the network providers offer a comprehensive service which will get you out of any trouble.

Pros: Reliable communication, comprehensive service.
Cons: Cost of equipment, slight learning curve.

Mobile HF radios are in-car mounted systems and have a power output up to 100 watts.  With a standard vehicle mounted antenna, you can transmit between 2,000 and 3,000 km which covers most of Australia from any corner of the country. With a larger external antenna you can transmit around the world.  An HF radio signal (particularly those in the lower frequency range) will curve around the surface of the earth for a few hundred kilometres but long distance communication relies on bouncing the radio signal off the ionosphere. The properties of the ionosphere changes throughout the day and with seasons but it is always there.  It may take a minute or two to work out which frequency is working the best at the time but there are rules of thumb – the higher the sun, the higher the frequency.

There are two types of HF radio systems with differing ease of operation.

• Commercial HF Radio. – Specific frequencies are purchased by organizations and can only be used by their members. There are a number of organizations dedicated to providing HF communications to 4wd travellers such as VKS737 or AusTravel Safety Net which provides a one button emergency call facility. Joining one of these organizations is a simple matter of paying an annual subscription. No licence testing is involved as the radios are programmed to only transmit on the required frequencies. These organizations offer a range of services from connecting you with the RFDS, organizing a tow truck, connecting you to a phone call from your family and providing road closure information on a daily scheduled broadcast where you can also check-in to record your progress.
• Amateur (Ham) Radio. – You must pass a radio theory test to obtain a licence to transmit on the amateur radio bands. A volunteer network called The Travelers Net broadcast every day at a set time and frequency for travellers to meet or request assistance.  As with commercial HF radio, there is a community of radio operators available to help you if you put out a call at any time.  The services available are more limited than with a commercial station and the radios are more complicated to operate making it dangerous if only one person knows how to use the system.  Only one licence is required however, as anyone is permitted to transmit in an emergency or if a licenced operator is overseeing the broadcast. You cannot directly contact RFDS on amateur. radio

http://www.wia.org.au/members/nets/travellers/

6. UHF Radio.

The primary use for UHF radio is local communication within your convoy but don’t ignore the possibility that the help you need may be closer than you think.

Channels to monitor:
5 – Emergency only
10 – Off roaders
11 – Call channel
18 – Caravans
40 – Truckers
30 – Information broadcasts only (bushfires etc)

Repeater channels 1 to 8 and 41 to 48 (you will need to switch to duplex to respond to a repeater)

Details You Should Communicate in an Emergency: 

Don’t rush your communication – speak clearly.

1. Know your location and nearest intersection. If you are in a remote area you should give your GPS coordinates in decimal degrees – see above. You can get your location from the Emergency+ app.  Providing a track name helps confirm that your coordinates are correct.
2. State the nature of assistance you require.
3. Describe the type of emergency. Injured person, sick person needing urgent hospitalization, stranded with no prospect of recovery, fire.
4. Have as much information about the patient available as possible – age, pulse, temperature, state of their breathing.
5. Number of people involved and any pets that need to be evacuated.

Source:  Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority.