[pct-l] personal locator beacons

[Dennis Phelan]

I stand corrected.

Dennis


On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 2:27 PM, Fred Walters <fredwalters2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I actually looked into this, both here (PCT-L) and with my phone
> manufacturer - and both agreed that most smartphones do not require
> GSM/xG/data service to give you a position.
>
> Most Smartphones use aGPS and my understanding was that aGPS (on
> Smartphones) uses the data connection (WiFi or GSM) to periodically
> download data that speeds up the GPS system giving you a position fix.  The
> downloaded data is often downloaded daily and will become useless after a
> few days to a week.  This aGPS data speeds-up the fix and without it (i.e.
> without a data connection) you will still get a position, just it will take
> a lot longer to get that position.
>
> I understand phones can also use the carrier cellular system to get an
> approximate position from masts (but in my experience (in UK) this is so
> inaccurate as to be worthless when out hiking.
>
> When I asked the manufacturer (directly) they responded:
> *"Thank you for contacting the xxxxxxx support centre regarding the GPS on
> your Sony Xperia Sola handset.
>
> We can confirm that the GPS on the handset will work without any network
> coverage or Wi-Fi/3G connection. In order for this to access GPS satellites
> without any network coverage, you must be outdoors however you may find
> that the GPS connection is slower without any coverage.
>
> You can test this on your **xxxxxxx** handset by removing the SIM card,
> standing outside and following these steps:
>
> 1. Dial yyyyyyyyyyyyy**
> 2. Select Service Tests.
> 3. Select GPS.
> 4. Select GPS Location test.
>
> The handset will then use GPS satellites to determine your location.
> **
> We hope this infromation has been helpful to you."*
>
> I've blanked out the manufacturer but having done that am unsure quite why
> 'cos it's not confidential.  Sony Xperia Sola Android if anybody wants the
> magic details let me know.
>
> Whilst not all smartphones use the same hardware I suspect most provide
> comparable functionality.
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 9:25 PM, Dennis Phelan <dennis.phelan at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > However if you don't have cell service i don't believe the GPS
> > functionality works and therefore you don't see the nice little flashing
> > spot that tells you where you are on the trail.  However you do have a
> nice
> > map that does show the trail and the mile markers.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 1:07 PM, Ed Jarrett <edjarrett at msn.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Cell service is not required for Backcountry Navigator if you pre-cache
> > > the maps or just load the map set upfront.
> > >
> > > Ed Jarrett Blog: http://aclayjar.blogspot.com/  Twitter:
> > > https://twitter.com/EdJarrett53 Facebook:
> > > https://www.facebook.com/ed.jarrett.71
> > >
> > > > Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 12:13:38 -0800
> > > > From: rgraybill44 at gmail.com
> > > > To: srhspaded at yahoo.com
> > > > CC: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > > > Subject: Re: [pct-l] personal locator beacons
> > >
> > > > On the other hand, if you use the *Backcountry Navigator* app (which
> > has
> > > no
> > > > relationship to Delorme's *inReach*), download the PCT waypoints to
> it,
> > > > turn on your smartphone's location services, and happen to have a
> > > > connection to your service provider's network, then you can see quite
> > > > precisely where you are and that you're still on the trail. And at
> many
> > > > points along that 20 miles stretch, I did have cell phone service,
> > > > sometimes even 4G, so I could use *Backcountry Navigator*.
> > >
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