Emergency SMS

If you have a GSM (digital) mobile phone, the emergency number is 112. This will force the phone to make a call on whatever network coverage is available, even if that's not your normal network. If it's a CDMA phone 000 does the same, though there is only one CDMA network in Australia - Telstra. Orange does have a limited network in capital cities.

It is also worth noting that dialling 112 will not only pick up the closest network cell (regardless of if it's 'your' carrier or not), but it will also bump other calls off the cell if needed to ensure your call goes through. So if the cell is full - already carrying as many calls as it can handle - someone else's call will get disconnected to make room for your 112 call. This doesn't happen if you simply dial 000.

112 is the standard emergency number for most GSM networks around the world, so you don't have to memorise the local emergency number when roaming.

Something people should be aware of is that with GSM, the distance that a phone will work from a tower is limited by the GSM protocol. So if you are outside that maximum distance then climbing a hill won't help at all.

CDMA works more like military data transmission and the distance signals can travel is only limited by normal factors, so climbing a hill is more likely to be of use.

But can anyone honestly say that a life is worth less than a personal EPIRB? You should always try all other methods of communication before using an EPRIB, but it's nice to know it's there if all else fails.