Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
Battery/solar-backed radio or satellite communicator
Passive
One of 2 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
A radio or satellite messenger that runs on its own battery, charged by a small solar panel. It does not need the grid or the phone network. The household can still get news and send messages during a power or network outage.
Build it
This solution is not buildable as a DIY project.
Cost
Medium
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Basic
Lifespan
Radio unit: 10-15 years; satellite communicator hardware (e.g. handheld units): 5-10 years; battery/solar backup per the battery bank entries
Levels are relative to the other options for this need, not absolute. Fewer dots is lighter.
Battery/solar-backed radio or satellite communicator (This page) Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Medium · Skill to build: Basic · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want news and messages through a power or network outage.
Local mesh / long-range radio network (LoRa) Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Medium · Skill to build: Intermediate · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want messages and sensor readings to flow around the property without any network.
Sources
General emergency-radio/satellite-communicator industry durability consensus
Limitations of this page
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.