Glossary

Community emergency communications routine: channel 3 on CB radio (26.985 MHz, AM) or PMR446 (no tone), every 3 hours, listening for at least 3 minutes before and after the hour. Weekly practice on Saturdays at 21:00, also on the MeshCore network (#plano333 channel). A volunteer initiative; it does not replace 112.

Technique of splitting wood using a knife as a wedge and a stick as a mallet. Calls for a sturdy knife, preferably full tang.

27 MHz radio, licence-free in Portugal since 2017, for home or car with an outdoor aerial. Channel 9 is the distress, urgency and safety channel.

Shelter made of natural debris (leaves, pine needles) over a frame of sticks. Works like a sleeping bag: needs a thick, dry layer above and below.

Intermediate material between tinder and firewood — thin sticks 2–15mm that establish the heat base of the fire.

Lithium iron phosphate: battery chemistry that lasts thousands of cycles and is more heat-stable than other lithium batteries. Common in portable power stations.

Long-range, low-power radio technology that sends small amounts of data over many kilometres. It underpins MeshCore and Meshtastic.

Text messaging over LoRa radio, with no internet or mobile operator. Each person pairs a small radio with their phone over Bluetooth, and repeaters — often solar-powered — pass messages on to their destination. In Portugal, the MeshCore Portugal network uses 433.375 MHz (up to 10 mW) and 869.618 MHz (up to 500 mW), licence-free.

LoRa radio messaging system (EU_868 region in Europe), with no internet or SIM card. Each node receives and relays messages. It is different from MeshCore: they can run on the same devices, but the two networks do not talk to each other.

Licence-free walkie-talkies: 446.0–446.2 MHz band, up to 0.5 W and a fixed aerial. Short range, ideal for family and neighbours.

Knot made with a loop of accessory cord around a thicker rope. Slides when unloaded, locks under load. The cord must be thinner than the main rope.

Snow shelter made by piling snow, letting it settle and hollowing out the inside. It stays much warmer inside than outside.

Solar water disinfection: clear PET bottles up to 2 L, with clear water, in the sun for at least 6 hours (2 days if cloudy). A last resort.

Finest and driest ignition material, ignites on first contact with heat.

Survival protocol that tells you to taste an unknown plant bit by bit. It is not safe: some deadly plants and mushrooms only cause symptoms hours later. Do not eat plants you cannot identify with certainty.