By the way, regarding the off the grid communications. The smartphone can provide that as well utilizing the peer-to peer mesh network solutions such as the famous FireChat app without any special effort (although for the base camp communications you can deploy high gain directional antennas, wifi repeaters/extenders with wired segments, etc). Also there are mobile (foot long inch wide stick like) mobile cell towers are available on the market already: http://www.cnet.com/news/gotenna-creates-cell-network-out-of-thin-air-anywhere-on-earth/