Signaling Techniques
Edit on GitHubThe full signaling toolbox: radio, whistle, mirror, fire, and ground signals, and how to choose the right one for the situation.
Signaling Techniques
The beacon is the best signaling tool in your kit, but it is not the only one, and sometimes it is not the best one. The full toolbox, ranked by reliability in different situations.
The toolbox
| Tool | Best for | Range | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon (radio) | Night, bad weather, over terrain | Up to km | Battery |
| Whistle | Near teams, forest | 500 m - 1 km | Nothing |
| Mirror | Clear sky, daytime | Up to 15 km | Sun |
| Fire / smoke | Day or night, open sky | km (visual) | Fuel, care |
| Ground signals | Aircraft, open ground | km (visual) | Space |
The six-blast whistle
The universal distress whistle signal is six blasts in a row, pause, repeat. The reply is three blasts. It is the audible version of SOS and works on any whistle. One long blast is “attention” and is not a distress call.
Combining signals
Use them in layers: beacon transmitting continuously, whistle when you hear searchers, mirror when you see or hear an aircraft. Layers cover each other’s failure modes. A beacon in the snow plus a mirror flashing at the search helicopter is a textbook combination.
Signal discipline
- Do not waste battery on beeping when you know searchers are close; the whistle works and preserves the beacon.
- Mirror flashes should be slow and deliberate; frantic flashing is unreadable.
- Fire smoke color matters: white smoke from green wood is standard; black smoke from plastic is toxic and confusing.
Related pages
- Whistle Signals for the whistle code
- Mirror Signaling for the aiming technique
- Ground to Air Signals for the aircraft side