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Epirb good but sat phone even better as many times depending on the emergency situation, setting of an Epirb may not be the most appropriate option. Most sats also usually have an emergency button that sends out longs and lats plus alerts nominated people of your choice. 👍
 
Dog Ranger said:
Epirb good but sat phone even better as many times depending on the emergency situation, setting of an Epirb may not be the most appropriate option. Most sats also usually have an emergency button that sends out longs and lats plus alerts nominated people of your choice. 👍
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How much does a sat phone set you back, mate?
 
Phil I paid $750 and run it thru Pivotel @ $15 month and only pay for calls as used. Important to use the correct provider as Pivotel is same charge to call as a normal mobile
 
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Phil8303 said:
How much does a sat phone set you back, mate?
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I haven't used my sat phone since I have been on the east coast (years now) I didn't have a phone plan as I only wanted it for emergencies so I had a pre paid voucher that had 12 months to activate (via satellite) and would give 30 mins of call time & 1 month to use credit once activated, peace of mind cost me about $50 a year.
Even when switched of in my backpack the sat phone played up the EMI on the GPX 5000 (like the Garmin pin pointer switched off on your belt. Threw that out! ) so had to leave it in the car which I thought was ironic when I lost my car! Don't know if same applies to the Z 7000's as I haven't tried it.
 
Jaros said:
The Pivotel price has just jumped to $16-50 per mth.
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Jesus I don't believe it ................................. wrong again. But thanks Jaros up a buck fifty I'm cancelling my subscription, it's either that or I don't eat.
 
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Gold1hunter said:
I haven't used my sat phone since I have been on the east coast (years now) I didn't have a phone plan as I only wanted it for emergencies so I had a pre paid voucher that had 12 months to activate (via satellite) and would give 30 mins of call time & 1 month to use credit once activated, peace of mind cost me about $50 a year.
Even when switched of in my backpack the sat phone played up the EMI on the GPX 5000 (like the Garmin pin pointer switched off on your belt. Threw that out! ) so had to leave it in the car which I thought was ironic when I lost my car! Don't know if same applies to the Z 7000's as I haven't tried it.
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Part of the east coast I'm on you only need to go inland less than 50K and you struggle for reception, some places 5K from the Bruce and your doubtful, so always handy to have.
Never found an issue with it creating EMI on any of my sticks ?
 
Dog Ranger said:
Part of the east coast I'm on you only need to go inland less than 50K and you struggle for reception, some places 5K from the Bruce and your doubtful, so always handy to have.
Never found an issue with it creating EMI on any of my sticks ?
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I agree it's handy to have but there's many more people around compared to WA. For me detecting places like Forsythe, Georgetown & Clermont a 2 way can work & there's usually a well used track within a few km (not much good to you lying there with a broken leg, I know) I do carry a PLB in case I'm in a life threatening situation (actually happy to spend money on something I don't want to use 😂)
WA just seems more desperate, remote & higher risk I would definitely dust off my sat Ph when I go back there!
With respect to phone reception 'well' in the bush it JUST SUCKS last year my Optus connection had reception for 2 weeks!
Telstra/Boost connection with a cellfi was pretty good but not great, so have bought a better ariel for it this season, wonder if it'll work @ Western creek camp now, or if I'll still have to drive my wife up to Lornevale Station so she can play internetty stuff & talk to people - 🤞
 
Gold1hunter said:
I agree it's handy to have but there's many more people around compared to WA. For me detecting places like Forsythe, Georgetown & Clermont a 2 way can work & there's usually a well used track within a few km (not much good to you lying there with a broken leg, I know) I do carry a PLB in case I'm in a life threatening situation (actually happy to spend money on something I don't want to use 😂)
WA just seems more desperate, remote & higher risk I would definitely dust off my sat Ph when I go back there!
With respect to phone reception 'well' in the bush it JUST SUCKS last year my Optus connection had reception for 2 weeks!
Telstra/Boost connection with a cellfi was pretty good but not great, so have bought a better ariel for it this season, wonder if it'll work @ Western creek camp now, or if I'll still have to drive my wife up to Lornevale Station so she can play internetty stuff & talk to people - 🤞
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Wa being more remote (and half the population of Qld) means more minerals and gold to go round 😉. But I take your point it gets very remote.

I carry in my backpack:
EPIRB
Snake Bite bandage & alligator clip
Flint striker & waterproof matches
Compass
Whistle
Pocket knife
2L water bladder and hydralyte tablets
Swiss Safe Thermal Blanket

I'm open to suggestions or advice on what others include in their pack, or car?
 
Due to being in an SBS or on a quad, I'm usually pretty close always to a vehicle of sorts, but I never walk away from anything without water. Good torch and a mirror. (and not one that can break) An aerial search won't hear a whistle and their damn hard to blow with cracked ribs. Trust me when I say FNQ will kill you just as quick as any other part of remote Oz, injury is bad enough, but if your laying in the heat it will complicate the situation ten fold. Don't rely on others to get you out the **** as others may not be around. Finally and more important than anything else bar water. STAY CALM as once you panic logic is lost.
 
Dog Ranger said:
Due to being in an SBS or on a quad, I'm usually pretty close always to a vehicle of sorts, but I never walk away from anything without water. Good torch and a mirror. (and not one that can break) An aerial search won't hear a whistle and their damn hard to blow with cracked ribs. Trust me when I say FNQ will kill you just as quick as any other part of remote Oz, injury is bad enough, but if your laying in the heat it will complicate the situation ten fold. Don't rely on others to get you out the **** as others may not be around. Finally and more important than anything else bar water. STAY CALM as once you panic logic is lost.
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Too true on the panic situation; Ive seen people start hyperventilating when they think they're lost! I've had some orienteering experience and learnt the old school 1m stick in the ground rule to establish the clear East West line (https://www.briangreen.net/bbb/2011/02/navigating-without-compass-part-3.html). When I was a kid, we went on a school camp out bush, beyond Kalgoorlie. One of the Aboriginal elders showed us what plants we could eat from and which ones had fresh water beneath them. Shame I cant remember it anymore, as this was more than two decades ago.
 
Gold1hunter said:
so have bought a better ariel for it this season, wonder if it'll work @ Western creek camp now, or if I'll still have to drive my wife up to Lornevale Station so she can play internetty stuff & talk to people - 🤞
Click to expand...
I used to get good coverage up top of the heap towards the house from camp?
 
Phil8303 said:
Wa being more remote (and half the population of Qld) means more minerals and gold to go round 😉. But I take your point it gets very remote.

I carry in my backpack:
EPIRB
Snake Bite bandage & alligator clip
Flint striker & waterproof matches
Compass
Whistle
Pocket knife
2L water bladder and hydralyte tablets
Swiss Safe Thermal Blanket

I'm open to suggestions or advice on what others include in their pack, or car?
Click to expand...
Definitely a jump starter, I've got one of these
https://www.ozsale.com.au/product/O...es-up-to-10-0-Litres/s/_85t6bEuj0_Kf2rmEoOIXg
I have a 200 series landcruiser (4.5lt V8 Diesel) I've used it on that and it started which is pretty amazing as it uses your flat battery to start the car, so you don't have to keep it charged as there is no internal battery to charge.
I also carry a Lithium Gooloo GP4000 battery pack also, there's no way I'm getting stranded with a flat battery

I have an Engel in the car so have a fold out solar blanket that I put on the windscreen (put solar reflector under it as heat can turn laminate in screen opaque) to keep the axillary battery charged.
Other items in the car or carried, plenty of water, Staminade & food + big bag of nuts & biscuits (just in case you have to walk out) small first aid kit, eye rinse saline tubes, hat fly net, spare battery for GPS & torch, zip ties & superglue (for bush fixes), gloves, Tyre repair kit & compressor, RYOBI rattle gun (awesome) 5 Watt 2 way radio and most important thing is a big bucket to put the gold in 😎
 

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