Found a good "Signaling" link? Let Us Know!

Trail Blazing, Signaling & Navigation: TRAILS. BLAZING A WAY. SIGNALLING. DIRECTION & DISTANCE. MEASURING HEIGHTS & DISTANCES. ONE may camp out for years and never acquire a knowledge of woodcraft if hired guides or woodsmen are employed, but one never knows when a knowledge of woodcraft, of trailing, or of similar matters, may be necessary. It is an easy method to depend upon one's guides and never give a thought to the mysteries of woodcraft, but it is much wiser to be able to depend upon yourself and to feel confident that you can follow a trail, find your way or eke out a living in the woods without any one to aid you, and every camper should strive to become as skilled in woodcraft as the professional guide. Excerpt from the: "Book of Camping" By A. Hyatt Verrill, 1917; Chapter Four

The Universal Language of the Plains by Bob Campbell The babel of the Indian was conquered by simple sign or hand language. Traders, explorers, and scouts found it useful in their contact with the many tribes. It was not as simple or literal as charades, however, and had to be learned. But, once learned, it was very beneficial. [Link recovered 5/9/11]

Smoke Signals The author has been asked many times to include a code of smoke signals in this book, for the benefit of the Boy Scouts and others. Smoke signals were not a standardized code as in the sign language. Inasmuch as they aimed to transmit secret knowledge, most or many of the signs were devised privately and to suit a particular purpose or the caprice of the transmitter

Heliography (Communicating with Mirrors) This website is dedicated to the preservation and furtherance of the art of Heliography, or using mirrors for communications. Because the site contains considerable material on the heliograph and will be regularly updated, you may want to bookmark it for further reference.

THE HELIOTROPE by Dale Beeks. The word "Heliotrope", when examined in detail, means "the sun" and "to turn". It is a fitting name for an instrument which does just that, reflects the sun toward a given point. The heliotrope was utilized by surveyors as a specialized form of target; it was employed during large triangulation surveys where, because of the great distance between stations (usually twenty miles or more), a regular target would appear indistinct.

HELIOGRAPH The heliograph is a device that was used in the British Army for signaling to a distant point. It comprised of a wooden tripod of which each leg was adjustable. The mirror assembly was usually kept safely packed in a stout leather or wooden box. [Link recovered 5/9/11]

Mirrors and Flags It is easily confirmed that you can get anyone's attention quickly, even at large distances, by reflecting the sun into their eyes with a shiny surface. This could have been done also in antiquity, probably in a playful way, to amuse or to annoy. There are, however, indications that heliographs have a history of use for more serious signaling purposes as well. [Link recovered 5/9/11] See also: Torches & Beacons

How to Make Mirrors - Part 1 & How to Make Mirrors - Part 2

Welcome to the Morse practice page. This page is designed to help you learn and practice Morse Code. There are also other pages which cover the Morse code itself and a few hints on how to approach learning the code

FLAG SIGNALS FOR ARMORED AND MECHANIZED UNITS. Flags are issued to armored and mechanized units for control purposes and as an alternate means of communication within these units. Each combat vehicle is equipped with a flag set consisting of one red, one yellow, and one green flag. Flag signals may be given by using a single flag or a combination of two or three flags, according to a prearranged code. Flag signals, when understood, are repeated and executed at once (Figures 3-1 through 3-7).

Semaphore Flag Signaling System The Semaphore flag signaling system is an alphabet signaling system based on the waving of a pair of hand-held flags in a particular pattern.

International Code Flags or Signaling Flags Although you may never see them displayed except at fleet parades, around naval installations, and areas with heavy international shipping traffic, International code flags are used to signal between two ships or between ship and shore. Also called signaling flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used singly or in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three substitutes or repeaters.

Visual Distress Signals for Recreational Boaters. All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals.

Combat Hand Signals. These hand signals are compiled from several sources. Wait for the page to load and the .jpg's are animated. [Link recovered 5/9/11]

Signals and Sirens Have you ever heard sirens going off by your home, or in movies, and wondered what they were for? If you were lost in the wilderness would you know how to signal for help? Understanding warning sirens and knowing how to signal for help are an important facets of your preparedness knowledge.

Sea Scouting: Signaling (it's down the page a bit.) and for an excellent write-up (no images) International Code of [email protected]

Pat's Boating in Canada: Distress signals Visual & audible signaling.

Marine Signal flags The following flags are international signals used by ships at sea. They can be used to spell out short messages, or more commonly, used individually or in combination they have special meanings. Strung end to end and hung bow to stern from the rigging they are used to dress the ship for ceremonial and festive occasions. For another means of communicating with flags, see the semaphore flag waving system. See also: International Marine Signal Flags and International Marine Signal Flags and international code of signals nautical, marine and signal flags

US Navy Signal Flags site Some flags have special meanings. See also: Australian Site

River Signals by William McGinnis On the river, where distance and the roar of rapids can make it impossible to hear, hand and whistle signals can be useful for everything from coordinating groups of boats to aiding in fast, effective responses to life threatening emergencies. In the course of my 38 years of river running, I’ve adopted a "language" of hand and whistle signals. Some of these signals were already universal--coming as a byproduct of sign language--and we’ve tried to make them as intuitive as possible. Like any language, this one is ever evolving.

Survival - SIGNALING TECHNIQUES As a survivor, you must get your rescuer's attention first, and second, send a message your rescuer understands.

Hand, Flag and Lamp Signals for trainmen. Are these still used? See also: Hand Signals

Hand Signals on the trading floor (Stock Market)

ATV/Off Road Bike Hand Signals

Indian Sign Language OnLine Dictionary! And much, much more.

American Sign Language Browser Click on a letter or word to see sign language phrases being performed.

Tips from the Field - May 2001

A FLASHY USE FOR OLD CDs
One of the easiest-to-use and most reliable pieces of safety gear for kayakers is a hand-held mirror for signaling under sunny conditions. A small unbreakable mirror never needs batteries, tuning, adjustment, or maintenance.

Signaling mirrors can be found for free and made from a material that is rustproof, lightweight, and unbreakable, but still easy to cut with an Exacto knife and shape with sandpaper or a light file. Those mirrors are called CDs.

Everywhere you look, someone seems to be giving away CDs. Cut one down to fit in the pocket of your PFD, and someday it may save you. At the very least, you'll have a mirror to check how you look after the rescue, before the newspaper photographer arrives.

Aiming a mirror is easy, too. Face the sun. Catch the sun's reflection and aim it toward your feet. Using your wrists, arc the mirror away from you and toward your intended target in a straight line. If you're trying to signal a distant target at eye level, face the sun and hold the mirror in front of your mouth with one hand. Hold the other hand out in line with your nose and the target. Using your thumb as a sight, flash the mirror rapidly back and forth between your hand and your target.
Greg Meyer
Santa Cruz, California

Wilderness Survival: Signaling Techniques Describes signaling techniques used in a survival situation, as well as how to construct your own. Includes diagrams.

How to Build Overflight Birthday Candle Powered Model Hot Air Balloons. Have a wire one that folds up. Could also be used as a signaling device of sorts, given some imagination, or for training and education. Try chasing down your balloon on a mountain bike and catching it before it hits the ground. If you’re stuck in the woods and you need to attract an aircraft you could launch a balloon. Lasts longer than a flare. Could be good on a boat too. (Thomas Taylor).

A Beginner's Guide to Making CW (Morse Code) Contacts - Jack's Radio Fundamentals Homepage

A Code Oscillator Set - BADX

Full Text Articles Online (using a cootie key, adjusting Morse keys & paddles, learning code...) - Milestone Technologies, Inc.

General Information (build telegraph set, learn morse code, telegraph restoration tips...) - Professor Tom Perara Homepage

United States Army Air Force Emergency Signals

Please Read The Website Disclaimer!
Copyright 1986-2012, The Survival & Self-Reliance Studies Institute (SSRsi), All Rights Reserved
Site conceptualized, designed, created & maintained by MEG Raven
Snail Mail: SSRsi, PO Box 2572 Dillon, CO. 80435-2572

Page Updated
5/9/11