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OUTDOOR ELECTRONICS: WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKPACK? By: C. Craig Eller
The tragic events that befell the James Kim family in the wilds of Oregon and the apparent loss of three climbers on Mount Hood have refocused the public on the issue of the dangers of the American wilderness. Those of us who spend time in the outdoors respect this environment and the potential of unforgiving elements. But the question remains: with our level of technical advancement, how can people still become lost in the woods and die? Although survival skills are certainly paramount, the answer for some may lie in what they are carrying in their backpack. During a recent episode of Utah Outdoors, we discussed three electronic devices and one low-tech device that might have made the difference for someone who finds himself or herself stranded in the great outdoors. Probably the most useful and important device that will pull your fat out of the fire when everything goes wrong is the Personal Locator Beacon or PLB. Not to be mistaken with avalanche transponders, the PLB is a small radio transmitter about the size of a chalkboard eraser that transmits a signal to orbiting COSPAS-SARSAT satellites. The signal identifies the owner of the unit and triangulates the approximate location of the PLB. If the PLB has been connected to a GPS or has an on-board GPS receiver, then those coordinates are transmitted to the satellite system as well allowing the user to be located down to a radius of a few feet. Probably one of the most popular models is the ACR Terrafix / Aquafix / Aerofix 406 . Small, light-weight, and waterproof, it floats if dropped in the water. Powered by lithium batteries, the Terrafix transmits a signal for up to 36 hours (depending on ambient temperature) and has a shelf life of 5 years before the batteries should be replaced. Expect to pay around $550 retail for the 406 without onboard GPS and $650 retail for the 406 I/O with onboard GPS. The extra money for the onboard GPS seems to be a no-brainer given the reduction in search radius the GPS coordinates will provide. Although $650 may seem to be a lot to pay for a single function device, there are no service contracts or ongoing fees. The device is small and light enough to take with you wherever your travels take you and because it is not dependent on any cellular network, provides the peace of mind that you can summon assistance no matter where you may be. If that still seems to expensive, satellite technology providers like Skycall Communications may soon be providing rentals at competitive rates which will make it easy to take one into the backcountry for a few days.
In the same family with the PLB, the satellite phone has recently become more available to the casual user. Although there are two or three companies out there, the unit with the least up-front cost is the GSP-1600 offered by Globalstar. The only place I would even consider purchasing one from is Skycall Communications. Expect to pay around $650 for the unit and around $39.95 per month for the “emergency” calling plan. Annual calling plans are also available to reduce this cost. The beauty of a satellite phone is that it is a multi-function device, it can be used for casual communications as well as to call for help in an emergency. If you want to stay in touch with your family during a Caribbean cruise or call your buddy to brag after dropping that prize buck, this may be the option for you. Although the GSP-1600 does not have an onboard GPS, because of the multi-satellite technology utilized by Globalstar, the phone can triangulate your position to within around a quarter mile. The GPS-1600 is as simple to use as a cellular phone and only requires a clear view of the sky to operate. It will not function indoors or through dense tree cover. Unlike the PLB, the GSP-1600 is not waterproof and should be mated with a Pelican 1060 waterproof box which fits it perfectly and provides protection from the elements. My call quality down in Florida is clear and reliable. Globalstar is continually adding new satellites proving their commitment to excellent coverage and call quality.
Have a safe trip in the woods. Craig.
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Our third entry will not let you call for help, but may keep you from getting into trouble in the first place. Garmin’s tiny and feature-loaded 
Finally, the low-tech but still very cool entry into this list of survival items is the 