In times of natural disasters and other emergencies, time is of the essence. The timely availability of effective communications can make the difference between life and death. When the power and communications infrastructure are heavily damaged, HF radio is often the only low-cost, long-distance communications method available. Because HF radio uses the ionosphere to refract radio waves, it is independent of any terrestrial infrastructure and is not destroyed or effected by natural disasters. The downside of high-power HF radio for emergency communications is the long time that it takes to set-up a high-performance station. 

​

The RIB is a complete station that integrates into a single weather-tight box a modern SDR transceiver, a 1 kW power amplifier, all power supplies, and remote-control management hardware and software. It only needs the power to be plugged-in at one end and the antenna at the other. It can be remotely controlled via a radio bridge, Ethernet or WiFi. Unlike a traditional HF station, it can be deployed in minutes. Because it is weather-proof, the RIB does not require a building or shelter. Its power supplies are specially designed to work off emergency generators, with features for improved fuel efficiency. Using a RIB, a complete station can be operational in 30 to 40 minutes.