Satellite Phone coverage
Thu 29 Jan, 2009 2:07 pm
From walkinTas...
I'm just basing that on previous thread from tasadam...viewtopic.php?f=21&t=415&p=13184#p12557
I've yet to find a spot that the Iridium system doesn't work effectively....but I'll keep on trying.
If you also look at the coverage map from Thuraya...it just encompasses Tasmania...no more or less...which again in my opinion may give less than satisfactory service if and when it was required.
All the 3 types will no doubt provide coverage sitting on top of some range...but its being able to get reception in an emergency that I'd be concerned about...especially if solo.
My only concerns were with walkers maybe thinking of purchasing a Sat phone in place of a PLB...no other reason.
When GPS was fist introduced...it also had very little southern polar coverage...hence its use for mapping etc was greatly reduced here in Tas. Obviously it has since been fixed with a greater # of Sat's in orbit. So I guess I'm a bit wary of a similar coverage by the Sat phone systems mentioned...where there is a definite lack of polar coverage.
If others can post their Sat phone experiences in a similar manner to the GSM thread...this may help...but I expect there's not many out there.
sT
"So where is your evidence? It is not "reliable" information if you are only guessing. Is there any evidence that these satellite systems don't work in Tasmania or that they don't provide the necessary coverage."
I'm just basing that on previous thread from tasadam...viewtopic.php?f=21&t=415&p=13184#p12557
I've yet to find a spot that the Iridium system doesn't work effectively....but I'll keep on trying.
If you also look at the coverage map from Thuraya...it just encompasses Tasmania...no more or less...which again in my opinion may give less than satisfactory service if and when it was required.
All the 3 types will no doubt provide coverage sitting on top of some range...but its being able to get reception in an emergency that I'd be concerned about...especially if solo.
My only concerns were with walkers maybe thinking of purchasing a Sat phone in place of a PLB...no other reason.
When GPS was fist introduced...it also had very little southern polar coverage...hence its use for mapping etc was greatly reduced here in Tas. Obviously it has since been fixed with a greater # of Sat's in orbit. So I guess I'm a bit wary of a similar coverage by the Sat phone systems mentioned...where there is a definite lack of polar coverage.
If others can post their Sat phone experiences in a similar manner to the GSM thread...this may help...but I expect there's not many out there.
sT
Re: Satellite Phone coverage
Fri 30 Jan, 2009 8:32 am
Walkintas
Maybe the following link will explain this further..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalstar
Also the following link...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium_(satellite)
The following link from....http://www.thuraya.com/en/article/thuraya-coverage.html
It's quite clear that the coverage to Tasmania from the Thuraya Satellites is going to be severely limited given that the cutoff point is some where between Tasmania and New Zealand.
So there's no THEORY about it...IMHO...which service will give the best coverage to Tasmanian bush walkers....and after all...this is what we are all on about isn't it..OR NOT. My main concern is the SAFETY of all walkers. I was trying to highlight any deficiencies that may be there so walkers could make up there own mind as to whether they could actually TRUST THEIR LIFE by using a Sat Phone INSTEAD OF A PLB....for those who wished to go that way.
For those who may consider the SPOT Messenger service then please read the following from AMSA...viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1417&start=30#p14175
Cheers...sT
The theory says the Iridium system should be better, but that isn't the question. The question is do the other systems provide adequate coverage? I'd love to read some reliable info about how good/bad the coverage is.
Maybe the following link will explain this further..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalstar
Due to the lack of inter-satellite linking, a satellite must have a gateway station in view to provide service to any users it may see. The use of gateway ground stations provides customers with localized regional phone numbers for their satellite handsets. But if there are no gateway stations to cover certain remote areas (such as areas of the South Pacific and the polar regions), service cannot be provided in these remote areas, even if the satellites may fly over them.
Also the following link...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium_(satellite)
The Iridium satellite constellation is a system of 66 active communication satellites with spares in orbit and on the ground. It allows worldwide voice and data communications using handheld satellite phones. The Iridium network is unique in that it covers the whole earth, including poles, oceans and airways.
The following link from....http://www.thuraya.com/en/article/thuraya-coverage.html
It's quite clear that the coverage to Tasmania from the Thuraya Satellites is going to be severely limited given that the cutoff point is some where between Tasmania and New Zealand.
So there's no THEORY about it...IMHO...which service will give the best coverage to Tasmanian bush walkers....and after all...this is what we are all on about isn't it..OR NOT. My main concern is the SAFETY of all walkers. I was trying to highlight any deficiencies that may be there so walkers could make up there own mind as to whether they could actually TRUST THEIR LIFE by using a Sat Phone INSTEAD OF A PLB....for those who wished to go that way.
For those who may consider the SPOT Messenger service then please read the following from AMSA...viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1417&start=30#p14175
Cheers...sT
Re: Satellite Phone coverage
Fri 30 Jan, 2009 2:30 pm
Good info Siurius.
I have recently seen a SPOT tracking map of a tassie trip (I thought it was John McLaine's Jane-Maxwell-Denison-Gordon Rivers linkup via packraft on another forum, but now can't find it). It seemed to track well. Wil post a link if I find it again.
I have recently seen a SPOT tracking map of a tassie trip (I thought it was John McLaine's Jane-Maxwell-Denison-Gordon Rivers linkup via packraft on another forum, but now can't find it). It seemed to track well. Wil post a link if I find it again.
Re: Satellite Phone coverage
Sat 31 Jan, 2009 8:26 am
climberman wrote:Good info Siurius.
I have recently seen a SPOT tracking map of a tassie trip (I thought it was John McLaine's Jane-Maxwell-Denison-Gordon Rivers linkup via packraft on another forum, but now can't find it). It seemed to track well. Wil post a link if I find it again.
It could have been the "Cannibal run" - they had tracking - I noticed on that tracking one of the points went way off, like they took a major trip down a river or something, set a waypoint, then went back to nearly where they were - I suspect that one point they didn't have very good sat coverage (canopy perhaps).
Re: Satellite Phone coverage
Sat 31 Jan, 2009 11:07 am
God thinking tasadam, could well have been.
Re: Satellite Phone coverage
Sun 01 Feb, 2009 6:46 am
climberman wrote:God thinking tasadam, could well have been.
Yep, I went looking.
I found that the SPOT data on the actual spot website is no longer there - expired perhaps?
But they kept mapping detail which is hosted at the stormplanet link.
I found the one I was referring to when they seemed to get som inaccurate links -
Days 2 and 3 - http://www.stormplanet.com/day2day3.JPG
Day4 - http://www.stormplanet.com/day4.JPG
So on the whole, the spot system seems to have worked well for them, just a couple of misplaced dots.
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