Thread: One more tragedy in the outback

Originally Posted by bob10

All I need to do is learn how to use a smart phone. Have to admit, sounds good, any known problems using in Aus.? Bob

I've only ever used mine in Aus but there have been no problems at all.

The Spot doubles up as an emergency beacon as well. I take one plus EPIRB plus Sat phone. All start to look really cheap compared to a funeral.

I'm old school

Route itinerary to known parties and check ins..

Failure to arrive = Call for a search

Having worked remote, Sat phone only helps for break downs - IF you can get a signal to a bird...

Easiest was "I will be going abc, will be back by xyz, if not send someone on this route"

Heart attack, mortal wound etc a Sat phone / Epirb are useless.
Last thing you can do during a heart attack is climb in to get the device.

I always carry sufficient water/rations to exceed my designated check in and allow for search and rescue.

To each their own...

A couple of years ago in central Qld , whenever I did work for Sunwater , they encouraged me to carry one of their portable locaters.

I cannot recall the name of the product but you can put your home contact numbers in and with a touch of a button it sends an ok to the number you input any time of day.

It reports positional info back to the base monitors continuously and has emergency alert function as well.

Anyone here work for Sunwater?

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

A couple of years ago in central Qld , whenever I did work for Sunwater , they encouraged me to carry one of their portable locaters.

I cannot recall the name of the product but you can put your home contact numbers in and with a touch of a button it sends an ok to the number you input any time of day.

It reports positional info back to the base monitors continuously and has emergency alert function as well.

Anyone here work for Sunwater?

That would be an early SPOT device, come a long way from those early ones, from memory, they used a USA based rescue authority, message would go the them and they would relay the message to Australia.

We carry an EPIRB, also plenty of food and water(ie) if we are away for 2 weeks, we carry 3 weeks of food and water(lots of canned food)

Baz.

I'm really only talking 18mths ago Baz.

they had a name.....wasn't spot though.

Sat phones are cheap,you can also get plans that are cheap but with higher call costs,all up 24/7 phone coverage Oz wide for under a grand. Pat

Agree Pat with all but the 24/7 part
Been in several locations / times where no coverage capable of conveying conversation was available.