Anybody doing any flying ? If so, I'm interested in your experience with available service at whatever altitude your using and wherever you are ( i.e. route of flight, TOD(Z), altitude and availability of service along that track). Even spot reports of around the patch flying can be useful if properly identified. Another point of Salient interest is altitude where you feel you may have lost service due to whatever cause. I'll be logging my personal results over the next couple of months and will attempt to summarize if sufficient response is received. Previous experience over the last couple of years is also pertinent. Thanks.
Dale
3G/4G service along the way
Re: 3G/4G service along the way
Gent I fly with is in charge of the CAP here in Arizona and he is one of the members of the rescue team that is called to track someone down when they get lost, have an accident or the ELT triggers.
The biggest improvement in the last years is that of the cell phone, especially the smart phones with a GPS in them. He can now find someone within 10 feet almost anywhere in the country if needed. They cannot do this "just for fun" but once someone is reported lost or missing, the phone companies give them access to the cell phone tracking info and its a done deal then.
Best recommendation I can give anyone is to ditch that I-POS phone and get a Droid. Reason is that if the apple product runs out of battery you are sunk and no way to recharge it, they can only guess where you are. With the Droid style of phone you can carry 2-3 extra batteries and keep the signal going for a week to 10 days, more than enough time to be found.
The biggest improvement in the last years is that of the cell phone, especially the smart phones with a GPS in them. He can now find someone within 10 feet almost anywhere in the country if needed. They cannot do this "just for fun" but once someone is reported lost or missing, the phone companies give them access to the cell phone tracking info and its a done deal then.
Best recommendation I can give anyone is to ditch that I-POS phone and get a Droid. Reason is that if the apple product runs out of battery you are sunk and no way to recharge it, they can only guess where you are. With the Droid style of phone you can carry 2-3 extra batteries and keep the signal going for a week to 10 days, more than enough time to be found.
Re: 3G/4G service along the way
joea,
Good info. Is the CAP man able to track the phone in the air or is the telephone co. Data just that good that he can get to the last spot they heard from and see the downed Acft ? I know the local honch in the CAP her and I'll check with him to see if they have any similar experience. I am interested in the in-flight viability of 3G/4G and the distances/altitudes over which it remains viable. So far, I have gotten all kinds of negative input but continue to search because my personal experience is not that bad. Thanks for the input.
Dale
PS. guess I'm stuck on the battery problem since I fly with two apple devices whenever I "go somewhere". Hope one or the other battery lasts.
Good info. Is the CAP man able to track the phone in the air or is the telephone co. Data just that good that he can get to the last spot they heard from and see the downed Acft ? I know the local honch in the CAP her and I'll check with him to see if they have any similar experience. I am interested in the in-flight viability of 3G/4G and the distances/altitudes over which it remains viable. So far, I have gotten all kinds of negative input but continue to search because my personal experience is not that bad. Thanks for the input.
Dale
PS. guess I'm stuck on the battery problem since I fly with two apple devices whenever I "go somewhere". Hope one or the other battery lasts.
Re: 3G/4G service along the way
As long as the phone is turned on and "pinging" (communicating) with a cell phone tower, they can locate you. Once you go out of range of a tower they can DR (dead recon) your flight path.
If you are one of those who love the apple devices then keep it charged at all times, especially while flying. Once the battery dies, its not going to send any location info out...
Ask your friend if he knows the Col. in charge of the Arizona wing of the CAF. Thats who I work with...
Joe
If you are one of those who love the apple devices then keep it charged at all times, especially while flying. Once the battery dies, its not going to send any location info out...
Ask your friend if he knows the Col. in charge of the Arizona wing of the CAF. Thats who I work with...
Joe