On Monday, February 20, 2017 at 10:35:06 PM UTC-8, Mike Schumann wrote:
On Monday, February 20, 2017 at 1:40:50 PM UTC-5, Darryl Ramm wrote:
You disagree with what exactly? Show us where you find ADS-B coverage via Flightaware of glider flights, especially in some of the poor FAA ADS-B coverage areas of say the great basin.

My main point is with alternate products available, thinking about ADS-B from a SAR perspective is a lot less important/just not that interesting.

Everything else is really dependent on what scenario you are trying to cover and where you fly. Without that thinking it's a near useless question to ask. Can ADS-B help? Sure it might. And sure it might not. The question needs to be where/how/when could it help and to answer that start looking at the coverage (and access to that data) where you fly.

One BIG reason that you don't see many glider flights on FlightAware is that there are currently almost no ADS-B OUT equipped gliders flying in the US. The fleet of Dynon Skyview equipped Phoenix Motorgliders probably make up the bulk of these ADS-B equipped gliders.

In SW Florida, I can consistently see my flight traces on FlightAware down to 500' AGL. Granted, out west there is less coverage. If you fly out there, you can get a FREE ADS-B receiver from FlightAware (http://flightaware.com/adsb/request) to enhance their coverage. All you need is an internet connection. Right now they are specifically targeting Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and west Texas for this offer.

In those areas where FlightAware has sufficient coverage, and they won't provide you a free receiver, you can make your own for ~$200, and they will give you a free Enterprise account for providing data to their network.

Ultimately, we are going to see global ADS-B coverage with satellite based receivers. The satellites are starting to be launched. If the FAA signs up for this, we could see national coverage down to ground level.

Nobody is arguing that today it's not a good idea to invest in SPOT or DeLorme devices. The point is that ADS-B is the future and that the investment in ADS-B OUT is going to be a smart move in the long run.

Mike - I don't think there is any immediate plan to support 2-way text or email messaging via ADS-B. Did I miss an announcement? I kind of like the idea that I can call for help, rather than waiting for somebody to figure it out from ADS-B breadcrumbs...or not..assuming your breadcrumbs were received...and/or assuming FAA supports satellite-based ADS-B.

Not that a cheap GPS source to go with your Trig isn't a good idea at some point in the future when it is truly cheap and legal to do..it's just a different use case and rationale really.