On Dec 14, 10:46 am, JS wrote:
Don't see how anyone can say losing coverage is a good thing. You
actually trust that all the analog towers will be replaced with
digital?
There were already enough holes in Nevada without losing analog.
Ye olde CDMA/Analog phone died and had to be replaced with a just
CDMA phone. Must say that only having digital is inferior. GSM
coverage in CA/NV seems to be even worse. Looks like the only way to
get phone coverage in the Great Basin will be rental or prepaid sat
phones. Text messages may be possible from the cell phone, as the
phone keeps trying until it's sent. You can climb a mountain or two
and hopefully send the text from the top. Bring enough drinking water
and a spare phone battery.
Have ordered the SPOT Tracker to see if it works. Press a button and
a text message is sent to your crew with lat and lon. Anyone on RAS
try this thing yet? Seen some reviews, it appears to do what it
claims. Caveat: it cannot be wired to external power or antenna.
Australia is dealing with a similar cell phone problem, CDMA being
replaced by 3G and NextG. Had to replace the CDMA/Analog phone with
NextG. While NextG is excellent when it works and looks good on the
coverage map, the newer coverage is reportedly better in crowded areas
but worse in the countryside. And 3G uses the same antenna as CDMA so
the only changes that are done are on the ground. Telstra's claim is
something like "we cover 98% of the population". Better hope the cows
and sheep near where you land count as population.
Bring back the original Motorola analog brick. It had real transmit
power.
Jim

On Dec 13, 8:35 pm, K l e i n wrote:





This is actually a good thing unless you happen to be in love with
your old analog-only phone.
No, the carriers will be installing digital services in these areas.

K l e i n- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

there is a fair amount of info about the SPOT system at www.vansairforce.net
The guy who runs that site, Doug Reeves I think, uses it while flying
his Vans RV-X airplane. He is a big believer.