building electronics beacon for survival

[2006Young]

I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and traveling.
After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to let searchers
locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple electronics light and
electronic signal beacons so that searchers can find us - once we are in
trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these beacons must be cheap and
small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[maxfoo]

I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and traveling.
After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to let searchers
locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple electronics light and
electronic signal beacons so that searchers can find us - once we are in
trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these beacons must be cheap and
small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

How about carrying extra batteries for your gps enabled cellphone?

 

[Don Bowey]

How about carrying extra batteries for your gps enabled cellphone?

There is already a "standard" for Beacons for use in snow. I don't recall
the details, but the devices are available.

The Kims were out of cellular range, but if they had a pair of FRS
transceivers, Mr Kim would have most likely been in range of talking with
has wife who probably could have helped him by comparing landscape details.

Don

 

[[email protected]]

I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and traveling.
After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to let searchers
locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple electronics light and
electronic signal beacons so that searchers can find us - once we are in
trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these beacons must be cheap and
small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

I bring Tane flashers for long trips.
http://galls.com/style.html?assort=clearance&style=HS057&cat=1099
The next step up would be EPIRB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Position-Indicating_Radio_Beacon
I also bring a ham radio for really remote areas. Cell phones are far
and few between in the boonies.

 

[Jim Yanik]

I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and
traveling. After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to
let searchers locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple
electronics light and electronic signal beacons so that searchers can
find us - once we are in trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these
beacons must be cheap and small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

you can BUY them,that xmit to a satellite that locates your approximate
position for rescue. No worry about being out of cellular range.

 

[maxfoo]

There is already a "standard" for Beacons for use in snow. I don't recall
the details, but the devices are available.

The Kims were out of cellular range, but if they had a pair of FRS
transceivers, Mr Kim would have most likely been in range of talking with
has wife who probably could have helped him by comparing landscape details.

Don

Too bad the cops didn't try to activate the 173MHz lojack beacon in their
vehicle, a tower could of picked it up easier then a cellular signal.

 

[D from BC]

It's the LED blinking post I've been waiting for!!!
I think posts like this irritate the mensa engineers. Kinda like
watching a rerun of Gilligan's Island.

My first thought:
I suggest a pulse circuit driving a Luxeon LED cluster.
But the design can get tricky.
Good Luck
D

------------
I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and
traveling.
After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to let
searchers
locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple electronics
light and
electronic signal beacons so that searchers can find us - once
we are in
trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these beacons must be
cheap and
small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

It's the LED blinking post I've been waiting for!!!
I think posts like this irritate the mensa engineers. Kinda like
watching a rerun of Gilligan's Island.

My first thought:
I suggest a pulse circuit driving a Luxeon LED cluster.
But the design can get tricky.

As long as you add a Saturn rocket to launch it through the snow!

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

I bring Tane flashers for long trips.
http://galls.com/style.html?assort=clearance&style=HS057&cat=1099
The next step up would be EPIRB.

That and an avalanche beacon shold be required equipment for alpine
travel, IMHO.

 

[Roger_Nickel]

I am thinking to build electronics beacons for both outdoor and traveling.
After seeing James Kim and the Mt. Hood climbers unable to let searchers
locate them. I wonder what I can build some simple electronics light and
electronic signal beacons so that searchers can find us - once we are in
trouble and scream for help. Obviously, these beacons must be cheap and
small and light to carry.

Any suggestions are welcome.

How much is your life worth?; get a proper EPERB and be done with it. The
satellites can see you wherever you are, the cost is cheap and the beacons
are designed for marine use so you can almost guarantee that it will work.
Cheaper than a GPS cellphone.

 

[[email protected]]

As long as you add a Saturn rocket to launch it through the snow!

That must be the tricky part. This guy's a hoot! I wonder what the D
stands for...

 

[AZ Nomad]

On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:22:32 -0800, "2006Young"

How about carrying extra batteries for your gps enabled cellphone?

A lot of good that will do if you're out of range of a cell phone tower.

 

[[email protected]]

How much is your life worth?; get a proper EPERB and be done with it. The
satellites can see you wherever you are, the cost is cheap and the beacons
are designed for marine use so you can almost guarantee that it will work.
Cheaper than a GPS cellphone.

It's really an interesting mentality, this "survival beacon must be
cheap" thing.
I suggest a vacuum tube WWII walkie-talkie, it'll just melt itself
through the snow.
Speaking of which, a good old 4W Radio Shack CB with a telescoping
antenna would be a good idea, no?

 

[AZ Nomad]

How much is your life worth?; get a proper EPERB and be done with it. The
satellites can see you wherever you are, the cost is cheap and the beacons
are designed for marine use so you can almost guarantee that it will work.
Cheaper than a GPS cellphone.

Better yet, stay out of avalanche country during the winter. Anybody
without this level of common sense would probably take the wrong batteries
with them if they had a beacon.

 

[D from BC]

As long as you add a Saturn rocket to launch it through the

snow!

That must be the tricky part. This guy's a hoot! I wonder what
the D
stands for...

..
---------
Well...looks like you're fishing for more detail..
Consider the following for a luxeon cluster:
There's the thermal coupling method, heatsink design, battery
type selection, maybe an efficient power converter is needed,
low power oscillator design, .. Then there's the possibility of
pulse overdrive for increased brightness which leads to
respecting the junction temperature...picking an optimun energy
efficient duty cycle (coordinated with eye persistance)..choise
a flash rate that looks urgent..durabilty..waterproofing..lens
design....
It's ok if one plans on doing this as a product idea..otherwise
fk it and use flares.

One more...the drive current might need regulation to account
for harsh enviromental temperatures..

Of course all of the above can be boiled down to 2 wires, a 3V
pack and spit on the luxeon for cooling..The blinking can be
done by tapping the wires on the battery..
All depends on your design style..
D
---------------------

 

[Le Chaud Lapin]

The Kims were out of cellular range, but if they had a pair of FRS
transceivers, Mr Kim would have most likely been in range of talking with
has wife who probably could have helped him by comparing landscape details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_kim

There is conflicting information. It says that James's cell phone
emitted a signal to a cell tower after it received a text message. [A
quick note for those of you who have mothers, sisters, daughters, etc:
A deactivated cell phone can still be used in emergencies to dial 911
in the USA. I save my old phones specifically for this purpose and put
them in the glove compartment powered off].

Accidental loss of life is regrettable, but I wonder:

Assuming that there were no cell towers in range, how many people in
this group think they would be able to build some concoction that would
result in their rescue, using only parts canabalized from the vehicle?
Let's say that you get the car, the umbrella, a full tank of gas and a
charged battery, and a very basic set of tools, the kind that would be
found in trunk of an automobile.

What would you do?

-Le Chaud Lapin-

 

[me]

The Kims were out of cellular range, but if they had a pair of FRS
transceivers, Mr Kim would have most likely been in range of talking
with has wife who probably could have helped him by comparing
landscape details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_kim

There is conflicting information. It says that James's cell phone
emitted a signal to a cell tower after it received a text message. [A
quick note for those of you who have mothers, sisters, daughters, etc:
A deactivated cell phone can still be used in emergencies to dial 911
in the USA. I save my old phones specifically for this purpose and put
them in the glove compartment powered off].

Accidental loss of life is regrettable, but I wonder:

Assuming that there were no cell towers in range, how many people in
this group think they would be able to build some concoction that would
result in their rescue, using only parts canabalized from the vehicle?
Let's say that you get the car, the umbrella, a full tank of gas and a
charged battery, and a very basic set of tools, the kind that would be
found in trunk of an automobile.

What would you do?

-Le Chaud Lapin-

drive home...

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Better yet, stay out of avalanche country during the winter. Anybody
without this level of common sense would probably take the wrong batteries
with them if they had a beacon.

Beacon? He thought you said to make sure and take BACON! ;-)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[The Real Andy]

The Kims were out of cellular range, but if they had a pair of FRS
transceivers, Mr Kim would have most likely been in range of talking with
has wife who probably could have helped him by comparing landscape details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_kim

There is conflicting information. It says that James's cell phone
emitted a signal to a cell tower after it received a text message. [A
quick note for those of you who have mothers, sisters, daughters, etc:
A deactivated cell phone can still be used in emergencies to dial 911
in the USA. I save my old phones specifically for this purpose and put
them in the glove compartment powered off].

Accidental loss of life is regrettable, but I wonder:

Assuming that there were no cell towers in range, how many people in
this group think they would be able to build some concoction that would
result in their rescue, using only parts canabalized from the vehicle?
Let's say that you get the car, the umbrella, a full tank of gas and a
charged battery, and a very basic set of tools, the kind that would be
found in trunk of an automobile.

What would you do?

-Le Chaud Lapin-

I am a regular hiker. I carry an EPIRB/ELT/PLB. Cost me AU$220, cheap
insurance.

 

[Jan Panteltje]

Let's say that you get the car, the umbrella, a full tank of gas and a
charged battery, and a very basic set of tools, the kind that would be
found in trunk of an automobile.

What would you do?

Drive home ? ;-)