Wireless in the Wilderness: An Overview of Communications Technologies for Backpackers

Solo. All by yourself. Middle of nowhere. 30 miles from the nearest road. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But, what if something goes wrong? What if you’re injured? What if a storm destroys your tent, or lightning starts a fire nearby? How will you get help? Modern wireless communications might be the answer. But, what kind of coverage and service can you expect? What can you do to maximize your cell phone’s effectiveness in the wilderness? What are the weight/performance trade-offs? This article should give you a better feel for the answers to those questions, and help you decide if a cell phone is worth carrying.