Virtual ELT

[Bill Daniels]

This seems a far better idea than built-in 121.5 MHz ELT's.
http://www.vpos.no/

I wonder if it could work in the USA.

Bill Daniels

[Marc Ramsey]

Bill Daniels wrote:
> This seems a far better idea than built-in 121.5 MHz ELT's.
> http://www.vpos.no/
>
> I wonder if it could work in the USA.

A different GPRS module would be required for US frequencies. Digital
signal coverage is sparse in wilderness areas here. I've also noticed
that even in areas with coverage, GSM signals can't be received much
over 5000 ft AGL, whereas analog cell signals work to at least 18K.
Base station antenna technology must have improved...

Marc

[Bill Daniels]

"Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
m...
> Bill Daniels wrote:
> > This seems a far better idea than built-in 121.5 MHz ELT's.
> > http://www.vpos.no/
> >
> > I wonder if it could work in the USA.
>
> A different GPRS module would be required for US frequencies. Digital
> signal coverage is sparse in wilderness areas here. I've also noticed
> that even in areas with coverage, GSM signals can't be received much
> over 5000 ft AGL, whereas analog cell signals work to at least 18K.
> Base station antenna technology must have improved...
>
> Marc
>
>
>

How about something like packet radio? I understand the ARRL has a pretty
widespread network.

Bill Daniels

[Marc Ramsey]

Bill Daniels wrote:
> How about something like packet radio? I understand the ARRL has a pretty
> widespread network.

I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are few
and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing with,
but it starts to get expensive to update position more frequently than
every 15 minutes or so:

http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7

Marc

[Bill Daniels]

"Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
m...
> Bill Daniels wrote:
> > How about something like packet radio? I understand the ARRL has a
pretty
> > widespread network.
>
> I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are few
> and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing with,
> but it starts to get expensive to update position more frequently than
> every 15 minutes or so:
>
> http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7
>
> Marc

Define expensive.

Bill Daniels

[cfinn]

Bill Daniels wrote:
> "Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
> m...
> > Bill Daniels wrote:
> > > This seems a far better idea than built-in 121.5 MHz ELT's.
> > > http://www.vpos.no/
> > >
> > > I wonder if it could work in the USA.
> >
> > A different GPRS module would be required for US frequencies.
Digital
> > signal coverage is sparse in wilderness areas here. I've also
noticed
> > that even in areas with coverage, GSM signals can't be received
much
> > over 5000 ft AGL, whereas analog cell signals work to at least 18K.
> > Base station antenna technology must have improved...
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> >
>
> How about something like packet radio? I understand the ARRL has a
pretty
> widespread network.
>
> Bill Daniels

[Marc Ramsey]

Bill Daniels wrote:
> "Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
>>I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are few
>>and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing with,
>>but it starts to get expensive to update position more frequently than
>>every 15 minutes or so:
>>
>>http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7
>>
> Define expensive.

$2.20/month access fee per unit, $0.15 per 72 bit message, which is
adequate for lat/lon and a status code. Note that this device is
transmit only, and the latency between transmission and availability at
the data portal is presently unspecified...

Marc

[Bill Daniels]

"Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
om...
> Bill Daniels wrote:
> > "Marc Ramsey" > wrote in message
> >>I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are few
> >>and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing with,
> >>but it starts to get expensive to update position more frequently than
> >>every 15 minutes or so:
> >>
> >>http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7
> >>
> > Define expensive.
>
> $2.20/month access fee per unit, $0.15 per 72 bit message, which is
> adequate for lat/lon and a status code. Note that this device is
> transmit only, and the latency between transmission and availability at
> the data portal is presently unspecified...
>
> Marc
>

So, for less than $10 for a nice XC flight, your crew could track you real
time. That sounds like a great idea to me. Now, if that data could be sent
to the retrieve car....

Bill Daniels

[Eric Greenwell]

Marc Ramsey wrote:

>
> I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are few
> and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing with,
> but it starts to get expensive to update position more frequently than
> every 15 minutes or so:
>
> http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7

Every 15 minutes would still be useful. That would be, at worst, about a
40 mile diameter circle of "potential location" around the last
transmission of a flying glider. It might still transmit after a crash,
too. What kind of antenna does it need? Is that the antenna on the top
of the unit in the picture?


--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Marc Ramsey]

Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Marc Ramsey wrote:
>> I know a few people who are experimenting with it, but repeaters are
>> few and far between where I fly. Here's what I'm planning on playing
>> with, but it starts to get expensive to update position more
>> frequently than every 15 minutes or so:
>>
>> http://www.sensservice.com/proddetail.php?prod=AA-2100-0149&cat=7
>
>
> Every 15 minutes would still be useful. That would be, at worst, about a
> 40 mile diameter circle of "potential location" around the last
> transmission of a flying glider. It might still transmit after a crash,
> too. What kind of antenna does it need? Is that the antenna on the top
> of the unit in the picture?

I believe it uses a separate patch antenna, similar in size to those
used by GPS receivers...

Marc