Ray Lovinggood wrote:
The few times I've even thought about using my cell
phone while in the glider, I never could get a signal.

I was always flying over populated areas where, on
the ground, I usually get good signal coverage.

My service provider is Alltel. Is my lack of signal
in the air due to the phone I have, the service provider,
the cell phone tower locations and orientation?

Your experience is a common one for the pilots I know. The phone and
provider are factors, but I think the biggest factor is population
density: the bigger it is, the smaller the cells. My explanation is
smaller cells means lower power for each cell and each cell uses a more
"focused" antenna, both of which means the signal stays closer to the
ground. In rural areas, the cells are bigger, power is higher, the
antennas are less focused, and the signal goes higher.

Asking other pilots about their experience might lead you to a better
combination of provider and phone. I don't know of any better way to
determine what's likely to work the best.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
* "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org