Easy way for an uncertified hiker to broadcast a distress signal

Question

I am wondering whether shortwave can be used as an effective distress call for a hiker who is a non-ham operator.

More specifically,

1. Are non-certified operators permitted to broadcast distress calls on particular parts of the spectrum?
2. Are there user-friendly transmitters available in the US retail market that could be used for this purpose, ideally weighing <3kg?

Please let me know if this is a duplicate question or a bad idea.

Answer 1

If you are in mortal peril, use any means necessary to make your situation known and get help. It doesn't matter if you are licensed or not. Consider the alternative.

But a shortwave transmitter is not especially effective. Among the many issues:

• A relatively high transmit power is required, meaning heavy batteries.
• Effective antennas are large.
• Propagation is unreliable.
• Requires some degree of training to operate.

If you are looking for a radio to buy, you want a personal locator beacon (PLB). These communicate on a designated distress frequency via satellite. Compared to a shortwave radio, these have advantages:

• Pre-programmed to do exactly one thing. Consider your mental faculties may not be at their sharpest when you are a few hours from death. Or you may be incapacitated and relying on someone else to use it.
• Keeps working if you lose consciousness.
• No ambiguity in what the transmission means.
• Nearly global coverage, provided you have a view of the sky.
• Transmits your precise location. Locating a shortwave transmitter is also possible, but more difficult and less precise.
• More rugged. Especially important considering half the circumstances where you might need rescue involve physical trauma, extreme temperatures, or submersion in water.
• Smaller.
• Lighter.

Answer 2

I think the term you are looking for is unlicensed rather than uncertified/non-certified.

There are no provisions to use ham radio frequencies if you are not a licensee. You could use CB frequencies although this is not a guaranteed method of communications when in remote areas.

Perhaps a satellite based device like The Spot Gen3 would meet your requirements. No license required and ensured communications.

Answer 3

In case of an actual emergency, you can of course do anything you want. If it's truly a matter of communicating with somebody or else dying of exposure or being eaten by bears, then you can use absolutely any means necessary to make yourself heard.

Of course if you are intending to carry amateur radio equipment with you when you go hiking in the wild, that equipment would be a lot more useful to you if you did have an amateur radio licence. For a start you would have a good idea of standard operating procedures, but additionally you might have the ability to send an SOS in Morse code, and to pass your coordinates on to anyone who might answer.

If you have no interest in the technology of radio, or in the amateur radio community, then I would advise that your best bet would be to carry a satellite phone with you, as it will also work anywhere in the world. And can be used to call the emergency services directly. Chances are the equipment would be lighter than a short-wave transceiver plus antennas, it would be easier to set up and would work just like a regular phone.