SafeTRX phone app

Bushwalking requirements and mobile phone usage

• Mobile phones are usually not kept turned on for extended periods during bushwalks.
• Many remote bushwalking locations do not have mobile network coverage
• Simple user operation is an advantage
• The ability to send out an emergency alert is a desirable feature.

Safe TRX features

• Trip details are entered by user – there is a fee payable per trip
• The app communicates location information from phone’s GPS via its mobile data connection (when available)
• Australian Volunteer Coastguard receives trip information on their central console.
• Overdue trips are flagged for attention at the central console.
• Overdue trips can be escalated to Police SAR by Australian Volunteer Coastguard when they cannot be resolved and details of the trip forwarded
• An alert/incident notification feature(s) recently added
• SafeTRX provides a “location last seen” reported by the app when the phone last had a network connection.

Limitations and issues

• On land phone network coverage is not reliable in remote bushwalking areas – phones trying to connect can rapidly flatten the battery
• SafeTRX does shut down the app at low battery levels but the phone continues to try to maintain a signal with the network while turned on.
• Enabling the phone GPS required by SafeTRX increases phone battery usage and therefore also decreases battery operating time.
• A flat phone battery compromises the use of the phone for emergency communications via the apps and voice/SMS
• Those with a good technical knowledge will recognise limitations, but non-technical people may rely on the app without fully understanding them.

External links

• SafeTrx – Australian Coastgaurd
• SafeTrx – International 

Last Updated on February 17, 2021