Another idea, besides those discussed two days ago, is the Starlink Mini for emergency communications. I don’t have experience with it myself, but the folks in the video below think it’s worthwhile for more rural use and for times when cell phones fail, such as emergencies.
What I also found of particular interest was how she ran the Starlink Mini off of a power bank using an AC adapter. That alone means you can use it almost anywhere and in any situation besides a vehicle. Perhaps even better is that Starlink offers a “Standby” plan that costs only $5 per month, so you only pay for it when activated; that said, the unit itself currently costs about $250.
As with all things tech, there are some downsides, which he discusses around the 11:20 mark. Perhaps most concerning is that, although satellite-based, it still depends on some ground-based infrastructure to work, so it’s not a perfect solution. Regardless, it’s a step in the right direction for keeping in touch with family.
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