by pete_the_caver » Sep 23, 2007 6:25 pm
just noticed the comment about wireless communications. It just so happens that there is a set of Heyphones stored at the Waitomo cave rescue depot. The problem is that when I was home in NZ a few months ago no one could be bothered to learn how to use them. They couldn't even work out that the reason they didn't work was because they had flat batteries (you can't charge 12V batteries with a 6V charger).
But getting back to wireless communication... Recently Swedish cave rescuers have been using fairly standard two-way radios with built in repeaters to relay wireless communications underground. And I heard today at the BCRA conference (Hidden Earth) that Spanish cavers may even have an underground repeater system that allows the use of cell phones!!!!