Remote breakdown??

Lazylux16 - If you report in as being stranded in a remote area, you can ask the local police to organise recovery of your vehicle.
They have usually have intimate knowledge of who's available to do that type of work locally.
Or you can contact your insurance company when you get within reach of communications again, and let them organise it, if it's going to involve an insurance claim.
And don't forget to thank all the SAR crews for their efforts, and make a donation to all their Christmas parties or selected charities!

Cheers, Ron.

Daughter's partner had problems on the Canning. He had a Sat phone. Quote was $15k to get a low loader in to get him.

SPOT is not setup to do what you are asking. Unless you use one of the canned messages to go direct to a response organisation such as your automobile club or similar. If not then a satphone is your best option. We use SPOT for tracking so folk know where we are and for duress to call for a rescue if all goes really badly. Satphone is used to contact folk for things like organising parts/repairs/recovery etc. Depending on where you are going there may not be anyone to offer a vehicle recover service. For example on the Western edge of the Simpson it is Mt Dare if they are available and you are prepared to pay them. Barnsley offers the same thing from Birdsville and we have used both to rescue broken cars. In Alice Springs I recollect Outback Recovery used to do the work all the way to the WA border. Can't comment on anywhere else

Rob

What sort of message will you Spot send to the police. Does it only send out set messages, or can you send a custom message describing your dilemma and asking for assistance. Will you know that the message is understood and assistance being sent?

If you have Roadside Assist with your motoring organisation, and you can call them or get another travelling to call them when in phone reception area on the Australia wide number, which also works from a satellite phone, it will still cost you packet if a long way from help, but they should arrange assistance for you.

When we have had remote breakdowns, we have had to manage ourselves, or on one occasion with the help of other campers which made the job easier for us. Another time our satellite phone was invaluable. Most of these involved the caravan, so in some cases we were able to drive for help.

We take a satellite phone. A comprehensive list of phone numbers "lives" in the car. If I am feeling like it before departure I will stick an abbreviated list on the back of the phone. (See part of it below) Our list started back in 2009 and added and edited on a very irregular basis. Not sure if it correct these days but we would soon work it out.

I looked at EPIRBS, SPOTs and such gizmos but preferred the phone as it is way more flexible and any passer bye could use it if I am unable. Even the grandkids know how to use the satellite phone.

Cost = who cares. Isn't it more important to get the correct message across and get the right aid. Just imagine trying to get first aid on how to bind up a broken leg with through an EPIRB. No way.

Satellite phone - hire one or buy one.

And with the phone I can call up the club and get the footy results. Try that with a SPOT!!

Phil