New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

im looking at buying a unit called the "spot" it a gps unit that can send emergency message out if need be.my question is how far under ground are gps units effective to.as i am usually exploring/ fossicking by myself. i have also found a area with old mines ect in a remote area. i wanted to go in but no one new were i was so made me think twice about entering. i no i probly shouldnt enter any way but being young i do stuff as if not more dangerous/stupid on a regular basis.

i would feel alot more confident knowing someone knows my exact location if the need arise's

cheers from chch

You tend to need open sky and several sats to tri-angulate your position for them to work. Theres no way they will work in a mine.

Going into a mine where no-one knows where you are is pretty risky. Cheap way to get a burial and an unmarked grave if something happens. Not worth the risk. Have been tempted myself but when you see the supports have rotted away and the floor is now where the roof used to be then its just not worth it. Its just a yellow metal mate, its not woth losing your life over.

I would be very surprised if there was any GPS that would work underground - somehow I dont think so.

The idea above about leaving some sort of time preset communication device outside the mine when you go in could be a good idea IF you tell someone where you are going and they monitor it, if you can get reception keeping it in mind that where many mines are in hidden out of the way places there is possibly no reception, if no one likes me comes along and finds it...If anyone finds it then unless you have left a note beside it then it will be naturally assumed as lost and removed accordingly!

If it is getting lost that worries you then remember Theseus and the Minotaur - if you walk along the mine drive and the floor suddenly disappears because you have walked into a shaft then you might be beyond caring - especially if there is freezing cold water at the bottom and if you have rock fall then...

Twice on the West Coast away in behind Nelson Creek I managed to bring the roof down in drives but it was all alluvial gravels.

I also remember years ago taking my sister - there was a pop group named after her years ago - it was called 'Twisted Sister' - and her husband down a long mine drive - he kept telling me that the ground was moving as he could hear it and was getting more terrified every moment - now I had taken my rifle down the mine drive rather than leave it in the truck so when he wasnt looking I fired a shot in the opposite direction down the drive - As far as he was concerned it was every man for himself so my sister was forgotten and he just took off - he ran down the drive as fast as he could go even though his candle had gone out and it was pitch black so that how he didnt knock himself out I will never know. Come to think of it maybe he had an inbuilt GPS - perhaps you could take him...no batteries required!

Edited by user Wednesday, 7 December 2011 9:32:37 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

That is a really good idea DB. Provides an alert and position at same time.

I always tell the family which park / beach I will be at so that if I don't return the cops would have at least a starting point to try and find me, or maybe I am being too cautious? lol.

i will also be a starter if you are up this way
i use a gps all day have to log where im walking all my kills etc no they dont work under ground even your eperb wont work
i have been losing signal under big bluffs arond the back of charleston i have a 62s works really well
thinking of getting a satphone just for the places where we have no reception at present we carry cell phone, gps, and hand held 5watt portable radio its all getting to red taped

i rule i have is if the drive or tunnel has timber propes i dont go in there
carry a tilley latteen because they will go out when they run out of oxygen so will you