Battery/solar-backed radio or satellite communicator

Keeps emergency communication working through a grid or network outage (cross-ref power storage and distribution).

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
Embodied carbon
Medium
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
On-demand/controllable
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.