In vast, rugged, or isolated areas where cellular networks are unreliable or absent, radio systems become the essential means for rescuers to coordinate their efforts, request medical or logistical assistance, and report on situational changes or mission status. Rapid, reliable communication can mean the difference between life and death for those lost or injured in the wilderness.
SAR teams use both handheld and vehicle mounted radios, chosen for their portability and dependable range in outdoor environments. These radios allow direct team-to-team contact, but their effectiveness can be limited by natural obstacles like mountains. Each team will be issued squad radios at the start of the mission.
SAR teams use preassigned channels or frequencies to avoid interference with other users such as local law enforcement or emergency services. Standard radio etiquette, such as using call signs, keeping transmissions short, using plain language, and confirming receipt of messages, helps prevent misunderstandings. Scheduled radio check-ins are performed at regular intervals to monitor the welfare and location of teams, especially those operating in hazardous or isolated conditions.
Ultimately, robust and adaptable radio communications are fundamental to the success of wilderness search and rescue. By combining the right equipment, clear protocols, interagency coordination, and ongoing training, SAR teams ensure that every voice can be heard no matter how remote the mission may be.
Radio Operations
SAR members are expected to be able to properly operate a radio and to know the squad’s reporting procedures.
Channels
VHF High Band (155-156 MHz) radio frequencies are widely utilized by local fire departments, emergency medical services, and dedicated search and rescue teams. These frequencies offer good propagation in forested and mountainous terrain, making them ideal for rural and remote deployments.
The squad’s radios are preset to designated channels. These channels are referred to by name and not by frequency.
- Graham SAR 1: Guthre Peak tower repeater.
- Graham SAR 4: Simplex.
- Graham SAR 5: Simplex.
- Graham SAR 7: Simplex.
- Graham SAR 8: Simplex.
- Graham SAR 9: Simplex.
- State SAR: Simplex.
- Graham 2H: Heliograph Peak tower repeater.
- Graham 4K: Crazy Horse tower repeater
National Search and Rescue Frequency: 155.160 MHz is recognized across the country as the primary emergency SAR channel. Also known as State SAR in Arizona. This frequency is monitored by government agencies, park rangers, and volunteer organizations, allowing for immediate response to distress calls and coordination between disparate groups. SAR organizations recommend keeping this channel clear for priority communications.
Procedures
First, select Correct Channel. Know the proper channel before leaving the squad house on a mission. Ask if necessary.
Next, think about what you are going to say: Compose your thoughts and note what information needs to be conveyed. If it is a grid write it down or enter a marker on to SAR Topo as a reference.
Listen Before Transmitting: Always listen to ensure the frequency is clear before you start talking.
Identify Yourself: Begin your transmission by identifying yourself using your call sign. The standard format is “This is” your call sign “to” receiver call sign. The call sign can also be your team number or group such as “Command” or “Team 3”.
Keep It Short and Clear: Use short, clear, and concise language. Avoid using slang or unnecessary words.
Speak Slowly and Clearly: Speak at a moderate pace and enunciate your words to avoid misunderstandings.
Acknowledge Communications: Confirm receipt of messages with an acknowledgment (e.g., “Team 1 Copies that”, “Team 1 Roger”, or “Team 2 Affirmative”).
Use Plain Language: The Federal Government has mandated in all ICS situations that first responders should use plain language. Below is a section with more information.
Employ standard radio phrases to punctuate your communications:
- “Over” – end of message
- “Out” – end of communication
- “Stand by” – wait for further instructions.
- “Break” – brief pause while speaker composes his thoughts or look at notes.
Read Back: Repeat critical information back to the sender to confirm receipt.
Radio Checks: Each team should do a radio check with command at the start of the assignment followed by regular radio checks to ensure all equipment is functioning properly.
Respect Protocol and Privacy: Always follow the established protocols and respect the privacy of communications. Use the phrase “clear for traffic” to indicate the need to talk sensitive and/or confidential information. Respond with “Go ahead with traffic.” Indicating that it is safe to convey the information. Or respond “Negative, standby.” Indicating that it is not safe to convey the information.
In extreme circumstances, use the phrase “Request coordinator support at my location” to give Command time to compose their thoughts in a worst-case scenario.
Radio Equipment
Team Radio Box
Each team should check out a Team Radio Box before leaving the command post. This box contains two radios with two spare batteries (four total in box), two GPS devices, and two headlamps. There is also a bag of AAA batteries for the headlamps and GPS.
Vehicle-Mounted Digital Mobile Radios
Vehicle-mounted digital mobile radios are designed for professional voice and data communications. These radios operate across VHF, UHF, and 800/900 MHz bands, plus support for both analog and digital operation.
In SAR, vehicle-mounted digital mobile radios are most useful as a mobile command or support radio installed in, the command vehicle, a 4X4, or UTV. The output power is up to about 25–45 watts for VHF versions, which can provide stronger coverage from a vehicle than a typical handheld radio when paired with the right antenna and system design.
For SAR missions, this radio is well suited to incident command, staging-area coordination, vehicle-to-team communication, and logistics support. It can help maintain intelligible communications in noisy environments such as roadside staging areas, running vehicles, or windy trailheads.
A practical limitation is that the radio’s real-world performance depends on terrain, repeaters, antennas, interoperability, and programming. So, while vehicle-mounted digital mobile radios can be an excellent communications hub for SAR, it works best as part of a broader communications plan that also includes handheld portables, repeaters, and clear operating procedures.
Compared with handheld radios, the XPR 5000e offers higher transmit power, stronger vehicle-mounted antenna performance, louder audio, and better suitability for command, dispatch, and logistics roles. Handheld radios remain the better choice for searchers on foot because they are portable and can move with field teams through rough terrain. In practice, SAR operations often use both: mobile radios such as the XPR 5000e for command vehicles and staging areas, and handheld radios for line search teams, medical personnel, and field supervisors.
Some vehicle-mounted radios used by the squad:
Handheld Radios
Handheld radios are portable two-way communication devices that allow search-and-rescue teams to stay connected when cell service is weak or unavailable. In wilderness search and rescue, they are one of the most important safety tools because they provide immediate voice communication between field teams, incident command, medical personnel, aviation resources, and law enforcement partners.
A handheld radio, often called a portable radio or HT, is battery-powered and designed for field use. Unlike a phone, it does not depend on a commercial cellular network. Instead, it transmits directly to other radios or through repeater systems that extend communication range across remote areas.
Radio performance can be affected by mountains, canyons, dense forest, distance, and battery level, so teams often rely on repeaters, relay stations, spare batteries, and clear communication procedures. Even with these limitations, handheld radios remain a primary communication lifeline in wilderness search and rescue because they improve coordination, speed up emergency response, and help protect both rescuers and subjects.
Some handheld radios used by the squad:
Wouxun KG-Q10H
Relay Communications
Effective communication stands as a cornerstone of wilderness search and rescue (SAR) operations. The unpredictable and often rugged terrain, ranging from dense forests and steep mountains to deep valleys, can severely limit direct radio or line-of-sight contact between team members. Under such challenging conditions, traditional communication devices may lose signal or become unreliable. To overcome these obstacles, SAR teams frequently employ relay communications, which involve using intermediate personnel or technological equipment to pass messages between rescuers positioned too far apart to communicate directly.
Relay communications serve a critical function by ensuring that essential information, such as updates on victim location, status reports, resource needs, and medical emergencies, can be quickly and reliably transmitted throughout the search area. This flow of information allows incident commanders to monitor field progress, react to changing conditions, and coordinate the efforts of multiple teams simultaneously.
In practice, relay stations are often established at elevated vantage points, ridgelines, or strategic trail junctions, where radio signals can travel further without being blocked by natural obstacles. Team members assigned to these relay points are typically equipped with high-power radios, satellite phones, or even mobile mesh network devices to maximize coverage. In particularly remote regions, relays might utilize portable repeaters, temporary devices that receive and amplify radio transmissions, extending range across valleys or around geographic features. In some advanced operations, drones equipped with radio repeaters or mobile command vehicles may be deployed to cover even greater distances or to quickly adapt to the evolving search area.
The human element remains crucial: relay operators must maintain unwavering vigilance, keeping constant contact with both field teams and base command. They are responsible for listening attentively, relaying messages with precision, and confirming receipt to avoid miscommunication. Clear, concise, and standardized message protocols are vital since any confusion or error can result in significant delays or misdirected resources, especially in life-and-death situations.
For instance, during a multi-day SAR mission in the Rocky Mountains, a relay chain might stretch across several peaks and valleys, with each operator relaying position updates, weather advisories, and logistical needs up and down the line. Similarly, in forested regions like the Pacific Northwest, relays positioned on fire towers or hilltops can bridge the gap between searchers deep in the woods and the incident command post miles away.
Beyond radios, modern SAR teams often supplement relay communications with satellite messengers, text-based mesh networks, or even hand-carried message runners in areas where electronic communication is impossible. Regular training in relay techniques and message formats ensures that all team members, regardless of their role, can both send and receive critical information effectively.
Ultimately, the integration of relay communications into search strategies enhances team coordination, improves responder safety, and increases the likelihood of a successful rescue. As SAR operations venture farther into the wild and face new technological and environmental challenges, strong relay communication systems remain indispensable for saving lives.