Communications…. it makes the world go round. 

Traveling on the road you need to be able to send and receive messages.

Out on the Alaska highway there is limited cellphone service, you need alternative means to be able to communicate on the road. On the Cassiar highway, for example, expect to go days without cell phone service or data on your phone. Communicating where you are going and when you expect to get there is an important safety consideration.

In this blog we discuss the various methods of communication that can be used out there on the road in the far north. There are a lot of tools out there to help you on your travels.

Cell Phone Booster

An easy way to increase your cell phone reception is to get an integrated cell phone booster with an external power source. They can be mounted on the vehicle and will increase the cell phone reception; it works well for off roading and overlanding. The cell phone booster can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot for a computer, so you don’t miss that important business call out on the trail. There are many different types but having a module separate from vehicle power is critical out there in the bush.

Cellphone service on top of a mountain is great!

CB Radio

Not used much anymore like it was in the 70s but they still have their place on the road and can be an asset. CB radios work well for vehicle convoys when you’re traveling in groups. You can pick a channel and have communication between vehicles when you are out of cellphone range. CB radios can be great entertainment, pass the time with a chat or relay important information such as NOAA weather, navigation and logistical information about the journey.

Channel 19 and channel 17 are general channels that you may use from time to time. Channel 9 is the emergency channel but is not monitored by anyone anymore. There are a series of NOAA weather channels as well.

The radio has numerous other channels that you can select from and most times they are unoccupied. They also work well for spotters when off roading in tricky sections.

You gotta have a CB radio, 1970 here we come!!!!

Ham Radio

Ham or amateur radios are old school, but still have a place out there on the trails. Ham radios can also be mounted or handheld and have a variety of models and features to choose from. They work effectively for communicating with fellow drivers as well as communicating in an emergency if you run into trouble. They can provide information about the NOAA weather broadcasts. Ham Radios are stronger than CB radios and can reach different frequency ranges which are monitored more frequently. They will reach further.

They can be fun to use and allow for that extra security and safety out there in the bush!

VHF Radio

Very High Frequency radio is a form of radio communications used out on the resource and logging roads. It has various channels such as LAD (Logging Administration Dispatch) and RR (Resource Road) channels which are used by various forms of industry. Recreational travelers will use them when traveling on a forest service road. There are signs at the beginning of the roads which will have information about the road, its channels and the calling procedures for the specific kilometers. These radios are critical for road safety to communicate your position out on the road as well as knowing where other traffic is. Traveling on a forest service road without a radio is very dangerous and could have fatal consequences.

A VHF can be handheld or engine mounted and will broadcast to other radios when the mic is keyed. They are used primarily for communicating positions or performing working operations, but they are used for emergency communication if needed. They are used for off road spotting as well if the operator doesn’t have access to a CB radio. A VHF should be installed in any serious off-roading or overlanding vehicle.

Be careful out there on those forest service roads!

Have fun and be safe on those trails!!!

Satellite GPS Communicator

A GPS communicator is a tool essential for traveling out in the remote wilderness. It can broadcast your location and an SOS to a satellite network so you can be located and rescued. They are personal locator beacons and can prevent you from being stranded in the wilderness, small enough to carry without noticing. The GPS communicator is a subscription-based service and can send text messages to people to communicate valuable information. There are various models and levels of GPS communicators with various features that include navigation, weather and various metrics on topography and altitude. They allow for communication almost anywhere in the world by using a network of satellites, the subscription service is monthly and has different levels.

A GPS communicator can be a life saver out on the mountain and should be a serious consideration for off-roaders and overlanders.