As long as you think about what you need and check ability against need you many options could work well.
In practice, I’ve seen SPOT fail to deliver a help message, and worse, the pilot had no idea this had happened. Without SPOT and no phone reception, first option is glider chat frequencies, then area frequency, then 121.5, and at least you know that you got through. I’ve also seen 3G/4G routinely provide tracking down to below 500’ AGL in the full comp task area from Narromine. If they don’t re-appear within 30 minutes, either the phone went flat, or they landed, and using google maps (which is how the trackers usually display this anyway), you can probably pick the paddock they landed in InReach sounds like a good improvement all round though. > On 29 May 2015, at 8:01 , Michael Zupanc <m...@zupy.net> wrote: > > Watch the coverage.... > There are quite a number of different personal locator devices on the market > and they use different satellite phone systems, with different coverage areas. > > In terms of satellite communication systems, Thuraya and Inmarsat use > Geostationary satelites, while Iridium uses Polar Low Earth Orbiting > satellite constellations. > > Spot trackers seem to be very popular, but probably just because they are one > of the older brands, but Spot does not have global coverage. Anyone wishing > to use such a device should do some homework and determine exactly what > coverage they require as the Systems which use geostationary satellites are > typically cheaper. But a cheap phone is rather useless if it doesn't work > where you are :-)... > > > > On 28/05/2015 7:29 PM, Matthew Scutter wrote: >> Since we're going down this tangent, there's a new kid on the sat tracking >> block - Delorme's InReach. >> Offers higher update frequencies than SPOT's, *two* way messaging (this is >> the killer feature), and I believe they also send altitude information, >> unlike the SPOT's. >> Roughly twice the cost though. >> >> I think this one is especially cool, includes a solar panel - >> http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreachse_extreme_bundle.php >> <http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreachse_extreme_bundle.php> >> >> I haven't used one myself but I have heard very good things from pilots >> overseas. >> Do check of the coverage maps for both SPOT and InReach, they're not >> actually global (ask the pilots in Namibia...) >> >> On Thu, May 28, 2015 at 7:07 PM, Mark Newton <new...@atdot.dotat.org >> <mailto:new...@atdot.dotat.org>> wrote: >> On 28 May 2015, at 4:25 pm, Mike Borgelt <mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com >> <mailto:mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com>> wrote: >> > >> > It has been pointed out to me that all we really need is the cellphone >> > network. >> > Implement flight tracking for everyone using the web via the cellphone 3 >> > or 4G and receive the information on tracked aircraft via the same method. >> > Essentially unlimited range and 15 second updates are plenty at longer >> > ranges. >> > AMSA are about to implement the tracking via AvPlan so you can let them >> > know you'll be doing this. If you don't show up it will help the search. >> >> That’s essentially what Spot Trackers are: Hockey-pucks that know how to >> send Iridium satphone SMSs, so they can work anywhere, including where >> terrestrial cellphones aren’t. >> >> - mark >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Aus-soaring mailing list >> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >> <mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> >> To check or change subscription details, visit: >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring >> <http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Aus-soaring mailing list >> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net >> <mailto:Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> >> To check or change subscription details, visit: >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring >> <http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring> > -- > Michael Zupanc > 0408662328 > zupy.net > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
