Random Thoughts

Grid Down Communications: Satellite Text Communications

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EMP – electromagnetic pulse. Opinions vary as to how extensive damage to our nation’s infrastructure would be should this unfortunate event occur. The overall consensus is somewhere between serious and catastrophic. One area when considering the effects of EMP is communication. Most agree that cell phones, the Internet, and even landlines will be rendered inoperable. While short-distance communication can be covered with protected standard walkie-talkies, CB radio, and ham radio – reliable long-distance communication is very difficult. When I say reliable – I am referring the ability to reach family and loved ones 1,200 miles away days after and be able to share information.

Imagine this scenario:

You have a daughter several states away at college. You have discussed preparedness with her. You have pre-staged some supplies and even have a close friend nearby that she is to go to should something occur.

On Tuesday while at work the power goes out. Probably just some utility work or a branch fell, right? You pull out your cell phone to use the flashlight and find it inoperable. “Could this be…..err……” You get up and go to the window and look outside and see cars on the busy street down below not moving. People have their hoods up and you see a lot of shrugs and head shaking. “EMP”

Your mind goes straight to Kelly. 

Where is she? How will she get to Sheila’s and Jerry’s? Is she ok? How can you contact her?

One solution is satellite communication. While sat phones are available they are very costly and for most people not realistic. Another form of satellite communication is a text-based device. There are numerous models on the market that allow texts to be sent from one device to another from virtually anywhere in the world. While like satellite phones a subscription plan is required it is much less expensive.

In doing research on this topic I could find no absolute proof on how well satellite communication can withstand an EMP. Satellites are well guarded against solar flares. Ground-based operations have emergency power systems that may or may not work after an EMP. Like many things regarding EMP we won’t know for sure until it happens. In my mind – and planning – the best case for me is an additional two weeks of communication after an EMP event.

Two weeks. Think about that. How valuable would two weeks be? Extremely. Even a couple of days which to communicate with someone to plan a rendezvous or to know they are safe.

The two text-based satellite communication devices I’ve identified as the absolute best option are both made by Garmin:

sat comms, satellite, communication, EMP, SHTF, prepper

Garmin inReach Mini

Garmin inReach Explorer+

One of the main reasons I have targeted these two is their use of the Iridium Satellite network. The Iridium network offers the highest level of connectivity wherever you are in the world. You can follow either of the links above to check out prices and features for each one.

I hope within the next month or so to provide a hands-on review of one or both of them.

Well, another option could be two tin cans and A LOT of string.

Rourke

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16 Comments

  2. NormlChuck says:

    It is good to see that you are back.Hope all is well.
    The uncertainty of effects of an EMP/CME will keep you up at night.I will definitely be taking a hard look at these new communication devices.
    Right now we are saving for the EMP SHIELD equipment for the cars and generators.
    It’s the SHTF event that most of us will not recover from.Hopefully the kids will

    Reply
  4. goinggray58 says:

    CME/EMP is basically highly charged Gama particles shearing off Electrons from other molecules .. Electrons are negatively charged and this makes them, light and fast as well as very much like electricity.. That means the electrons will travel down any conductor like electricity at near the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). One of the issues is that when it hits it travels so fast it gets past the majority of normal electrical breakers built to stop electrical surges by tripping. an HEMP (High-Altitude EMP) can cover a large portion of the US and is a flash and over. A CME is a durable long term WAVE that gos much much longer (minutes to days). In the 1800’s we had a CME and the waves traveled long lines (telegraph) and set some poles on fire, but there was no such thing as micro circuitry like today. In the 40s-50’s they a project “Starfish” that tested pacific Ocean based nuclear explosions and bunged out street lights in Hawaii. So as John says there really isn’t much actual recent testing .. Cars are insulated byt tires from the ground.. will it hurt them ? The closer and stronger the pulse.. the more likely it is. Unplugged appliances .. may not be impacted at all. I’ll keep spares of important things in insulated metal canisters sealed with Aluminum HVAC tape. Just in case. for what it is worth, CME/EMP is the only thing that can break the electrical grid.. more conventional methods can take it down and communications and electric as well as fuel could be at risk.. long term. It would not affect Satellites as much as EMP/CME might of course. The real weakness is anything that eliminates the transformers in the grid.. they are unique and the grid is not independent (with the exception of Texas). We don’t house spares .. and new ones in any number would take significant time to produce .. we no longer have the ability domestically. That means we have to “order them”.. anything that affects them in more than just a localized area might take years to resolve. The EMP Commission Report painted a very grim picture of an event like this. The report, written by the experts, was immediately discounted. All up in the air .. is it really not a big deal or ist that normalcy bias ? The really cool thing is when we prep, almost all of it is prepping for almost all situations.. The basics at least… areabout the same.. Later you can specialize for specific likely or unlikely situations. I do my reading and prepare as I see fit.. whether it is a waste or not is on me.. same as any prep.
    Prepare deliberately
    Axios.. GG58

    Reply
  5. 3rdMan says:

    The odd are in favor that most of the 82 Iridium communication satellites would survive a EMP attack on the U.S. These satellites being in low earth orbit (180 t0 1000 miles) are moving fast to stay in orbit, unlike GPS satellites (12,540 miles), that move at the rotation speed of the earth. While any Iridium satellites directly above the U.S. during an EMP detonation might be affected. It would be a short term issue since one of the other surviving Iridium satellites would eventually pass over the U.S. providing an uplink. The 31 GPS satellites would also remain operational since they are 12,540 miles above the earth, which would be beyond the EMP effective range.

    Reply
    1. NormlChuck says:

      Thanks for the information on the satellites.Saved me a lot time searching google.Ive heard that there are classified projects in the works to possibly reduce the EMP damage a little.
      Hope it’s true and they hurry.

      Reply
      2. 3rdMan says:

        Arlene

        20,000 feet is less than 4 miles, GPS are at 12,540 miles. Also a center of nation EPM strike to cover most of the lower 48 would have to be at about 300 miles up.

        Reply
  6. jh says:

    If a EMP event would kick off, why would the waves only travel downward to cause serious effect and not upwards and take out the satellites? Sure, I know they’re built to withstand the enormous cosmic waves and constant pluses generated from space. I had read a article that low orbit satellites will most likely be wiped out but leaving the mid and high orbit satellites unaffected. Which satellite does this device use – low or mid orbit? Mid and High orbit would gradually fall/become inoperable in as little as a few days to the constant tweeking of their orbits that’s required.
    So to end my rambling, satellite comms may be a viable issue especially if you have a ham system set up to bounce a messages off one of the mid/high orbit satellites. It’s good thinking outside of the box, but to expand on grid down comms, maybe having group members with PSK31 software on 20m or 40m frequencies, one could send messages in shorter bursts and even encrypted using a one time pad code. Not every SHTF event is going to be a EMP that so many people are stuck on at the moment, it could be a dozen other things too.

    Reply
    1. 3rdMan says:

      It has to do with how the effects of the EMP weapons are reflected back towards the earth’s surface by the ionosphere. The refection back down would reduce the effect on satellites. Also EMP weapons like all weapons have effective range limits. Here’s an article that might help:
      https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/emp.htm

      Also this system used 82 satellites in low earth orbit on 6 orbital planes spaced 30 degrees apart (you can google and see the map). So, not all 82 would be over the U.S. at the same time, because it a global network. Also because they’re is low earth orbit they travel around 11,000 mph on their assigned plane.

      Reply
  7. zenblaster says:

    One question might be if satellite comms survives a serious attack on overall communications, wouldn’t the government more or less seize the available satellite bandwidth for its own purposes? A group I know decided against sat comm devices for just this reason. Has various Ham radio & mesh devices etc in foil taped (3M 3340 metal hvac duct tape) galvanized garbage cans for this reason. We studied what Dr Arthur Bradley published in various books/videos to make Faraday cages(cans). Some of us also took his class at Heritage Life Skills in Waynesville, NC.

    Also check out the Starfish Prime test which accidentally EMP’d part of Hawaii.

    Reply
  8. NormlChuck says:

    What the government may do or not in an EMP attack is anyone’s guess.Personally I
    hope to cover as many communication options as I can afford.To discard any preparation tool because it’s usefulness is not certain may not be the best way to go.
    The Starfish Prime Test was a very low yield device at relatively low altitude and still caused problems.Nuclear science advances have made quantum leaps by both sides,
    which bodes ill for us all.

    Reply
  9. insider says:

    These devices won’t work because the texts are routed via server on the ground. They use SMS numbers and email. So if mobile network and internet goes down, these devices won’t work.

    You think it’s device > satellite > device.

    In reality it’s device > satellite > server > satellite > device.

    Reply

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