Your communication plan is another important part of your daily itinerary, so it needs to be robust.  You should have at least one reliable means of communication.  If there is no single reliable method, then a backup method should be employed.  Before traveling to a remote area, test to confirm that your communication equipment is operating properly. Be sure to carry back up batteries and cables.

Everyone needs to know the emergency communication procedures at the site.  For extended trips, all members of the field research team should receive a safety briefing reviewing key items such as the emergency communication plan, check-in times, weather, active hazards, and changes that have a potential for affecting site safety. 

You can’t always expect to have a reliable cell phone signal while working.  If you plan to work regularly in remote locations with limited or unreliable cell service, your project should invest in a GPS two-way communication device.  These devices use satellites instead of cell towers for communication.  The latest models offer two-way communication and panic buttons that send your location with a pre-determined message to summon immediate emergency assistance.  Use of these types of devices is strongly recommended for anyone working alone or for teams working in remote areas with limited cellular service.  The lab has two SpotX GPS two way communicators that can be borrowed for research purposes.  Follow this link to learn more about reserving a unit. 

Two way radios can also be helpful when crews need to separate, but want to communicate for research and safety reasons.

Satellite phones can also be rented if needed.

It is important to remember, though, that nothing works perfectly, so planning and redundancy are both essential.