WEBPAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Businesses Catering to Bear Viewers (c) 2006 WildWatch
Telecommunication
Sat-Phone
Nowadays, many of us in the Alaskan wilderness rely on a sat-phone -- which can communicate with cell phones, which are carried by many pilots, as well as by boats and people on the ground.
In past, sat-phone reception has been spotty at these high latitudes. But I’ve had good luck with a late model Iridium phone from Surveyor’s Exchange, even in very remote areas -- as shown below. Their equipment is improving all the time.
Cell Phone
There are a few viewing sites -- e.g., on the west coast of Cook Inlet -- where a cell phone suffices to reach “civilization.” Although most viewing sites are too remote for that, cell phones can be invaluable for short range communication at the viewing site, for instance to coordinate activities of viewers and their boat or aircraft pilot.
Hand-held Radio
At remote coastal sites, we have traditionally used handheld marine-band VHF radios (e.g., the Uniden brand, purchased from Radio Shack), to communicate with boats and the Coast Guard. A different type of radio is needed for contacting aircraft.
Emergency Locator Transmitter
Even when we have a phone or radio, we also carry an ELT in case we are in a plane or boat that sinks, or in case we cannot talk to summon help -- perhaps because of poor reception or injury or low battery. The ELT would allow any rescuer to home in on our location. As the rescuer draws near, communication by radio or cell phone would be easier. And conversation might be essential to communicate the kind and severity of emergency, our precise location, or other details; or we might need to receive medical advice if the rescuers couldn’t reach us.
