The news has been reporting that they are using the angle of the last known ping from the ACARS system to the satellite. This is where the 40-degree arc around the satellite comes from.
What I don't understand is how INMARSAT knows what that angle is. CNN says that the satellite steers its antenna to the location where it expects the next ping, but that doesn't make sense. I have been looking for the algorithm, but I can't find it. Signal strength? Some sort of electronic steering? Trade secret? I don't know. Tom WB8WOR On Sun, Mar 16, 2014 at 10:57 PM, R.T.Liddy <[email protected]> wrote: > Tony, > > They would use the time differential between receipt > to measure the distance versus the location of the > satellites. The more satellites, then the more accurate > the triangulation. > > 73, Bob K8BL > > > ________________________________ > From: Anthony Japha <[email protected]> > To: amsat-bb <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 4:49 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Malaysian airliner puzzle > > > Thanks Rick, > How do those sats determine distance to the source? > Tony, N2UN > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > _______________________________________________ > Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
