How do you ensure reliable communication for mountain rescuers operating at 1,700 metres – in an area with steep cliffs, deep valleys, unpredictable weather and no line of sight? For TOPR, the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service, the answer was RipEX.
https//www.racom.eu/ru/case/mountain-rescue-operations-for-topr-in-the-polish-tatras
Challenge: Isolated PMR Base Station Without Backhaul Connectivity
TOPR (Tatrzańskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe), founded in 1909, is responsible for:
- mountain rescue operations
- avalanche and weather reporting
- supporting helicopter rescue teams
- protecting hikers and climbers in the Tatras region
A key element of the rescue infrastructure is a permanently staffed mountain shelter located at 1,700 m altitude. While the PMR base station near the shelter provided local radio coverage, it had no backhaul connection to:
- other PMR base stations in the valley
- dispatch teams
- helicopter crews
As a result:
- rescuers at the shelter were isolated from the main communication network
- GSM service was extremely unreliable due to mountainous blind spots
- tourist traffic often congested the mobile network
- coordination during emergencies was significantly hindered
Solution: RipEX 450 MHz PtP Link Overcomes NLOS and 15 km Distance
TOPR needed a private, reliable, trunked PMR backhaul link between the mountain base station and the valley.
A 5 GHz microwave solution was evaluated, but link analysis showed it was impossible due to NLOS conditions.
RipEX was selected because it could reliably operate:
- in full NLOS,
- over a 15 km mountain path,
- with high interference resistance,
- and with sufficient throughput for PMR backhaul.
Technical design:
- 450 MHz UHF operation
- 50 kHz channel
- 16DEQAM modulation
- 140 kbps throughput
- 2 W RF power
Despite the challenging terrain, RipEX delivered stable connectivity for Kairos trunked PMR communications.
Results: Reliable, Life-Saving Communication for Mountain Rescuers
Benefits for TOPR:
- continuous interconnection of PMR base stations
- reliable communication between rescuers in the shelter and teams in the valley
- restored coordination with helicopter crews
- independence from unreliable GSM networks
- robust operation in freezing temperatures, wind and snow
- resilience to multipath propagation across steep terrain
RipEX now plays a critical role in ensuring that TOPR can coordinate rescue missions quickly and safely.
With its proven reliability and rugged industrial design, RipEX will continue supporting life-saving operations in the Tatras for many years to come.
