If you ever find yourself stranded in the woods... I think I figured out a way to "send an email." You

Written: November 4, 2024

If you ever find yourself stranded in the woods... I think I figured out a way to "send an email."
You know that thought experiment where you're dropped in the middle of nowhere with nothing but your knowledge, and the question is: how long would it take you to send an email? Well, I think I've got a way to pull it off using the resources of the woods themselves.
Here's the plan: first, I'd scavenge for a long wire, something like 70 meters if I could find it from old discarded power cords or wires. I'd get it up as high as possible, like in a tree, turning it into a makeshift antenna. Then I'd need a solid ground connection, maybe using a piece of copper pipe stuck deep into the ground where it's damp--perfect for grounding the charge.
Now, here's the clever bit. That long antenna wire would pick up ambient radio waves, especially from a nearby AM station like 1070 AM if I'm within range. Without any power, it would resonate with that station's frequency, basically passively absorbing its signal. By grounding and ungrounding the antenna at regular intervals, It would create small dips in the radio signal, which would show up as little "clicks" or "pops" for anyone tuned in nearby.
In theory, I could tap out an SOS by grounding the wire in short and long pulses. To anyone listening, it would sound like a faint Morse code, a call for help buried in the static. So, while it's not exactly an email, it's close enough to get the message across--and it just might save me if anyone hears it.
Does it actually work? I don't know, get lost and find out :)