The manual for my cell phone (Samsung SPH A-460) refers to an internal GPS
used to locate the phone. I normally have it (the GPS function) turned off
but the manual states it will override and turn on GPS if I make a 911 call.
I did a quick Google on "GPS cell phone" and found a bunch of info
including:

"assisted GPS, a form of location detection in which cell phone towers help
GPS satellites fix a cell phone caller's position"

"Enhanced 911 - Mobile phone companies are under orders from the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission to incorporate some kind of
location-reporting technology into cellular phones. Dubbed E-911, or
enhanced 911, the communication initiative is meant to give law enforcement
and emergency services personnel a way to find people calling 911 from
mobile phones when callers don't know where they are or are unable to say.
The FCC issued waivers permitting carriers to add location-detection
services to new phones over time, so that 95 percent of all mobile phones
are compliant with E-911 rules by 2005."

Interesting...
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca

"akcarlos" wrote in message
ups.com...
thats not GPS , I asked about GPS in cellphones.

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:44:01 GMT, "Ken Heaton"
wrote:

The manual for my cell phone (Samsung SPH A-460) refers to an internal GPS
used to locate the phone. I normally have it (the GPS function) turned off
but the manual states it will override and turn on GPS if I make a 911 call.
I did a quick Google on "GPS cell phone" and found a bunch of info
including:

"assisted GPS, a form of location detection in which cell phone towers help
GPS satellites fix a cell phone caller's position"

"Enhanced 911 - Mobile phone companies are under orders from the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission to incorporate some kind of
location-reporting technology into cellular phones. Dubbed E-911, or
enhanced 911, the communication initiative is meant to give law enforcement
and emergency services personnel a way to find people calling 911 from
mobile phones when callers don't know where they are or are unable to say.
The FCC issued waivers permitting carriers to add location-detection
services to new phones over time, so that 95 percent of all mobile phones
are compliant with E-911 rules by 2005."

A few kidnapping victims thrown in trunks have been found this way,
and similar technology is used in tracking stolen cars, I believe.

The only problem would be range: digital phones die about 1.5 NM
offshore, and analog (when you can FIND one) not only likely don't
have the GPS feature (too antique) but have a typical range similar to
a hand-held VHF...line of sight or 5-6 NM.

EPIRB with GPS if offshore, otherwise, just swim for it G

R.

In article ,
rhys wrote:

The only problem would be range: digital phones die about 1.5 NM
offshore, and analog (when you can FIND one) not only likely don't
have the GPS feature (too antique) but have a typical range similar to
a hand-held VHF...line of sight or 5-6 NM.

Maybe the laws of Physics are different in your universe, but up here in
alaska, and on the west coast of the USA, we routinely have Digital Cell
coverage out to 20 miles, and there really isn't much difference in
coverage between analog, and digital in the 800 Mhz Cellphone band.
It could be that the poster is confusing Cellular and PCS, in which case
he/she should specify the definition of the system they are discussing.
PCS has significantly smaller cell coverage areas, due to the fact that
it use frequencies more than triple the Cellular frequencysin the 800
Mhz band.
If you have a Handheld Marine VHF that can only communicate out to 6
miles over water, you need to have it checked out by a compitant Tech,
because it is certainly not operating correctly. I can sit in my cabin
and communicate with vessels transiting the 16 mile wide Straight,
anywhere within that area, with my simple Motorola Marine Triton
Handheld Vhf Radio, as it was produced at the factory.


Me

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 19:45:03 GMT, Me wrote:

f you have a Handheld Marine VHF that can only communicate out to 6
miles over water, you need to have it checked out by a compitant Tech,
because it is certainly not operating correctly.

I am referring to using a Standard Horizon VHF handheld (a 260S...nice
unit) while bobbing in a Zodiac a mile south of the Leslie St. Spit at
Toronto and raising my wife at dock (42 feet of mast height) at
Ontario Place. The signal must transit several low islands (Toronto
Islands) and I found that six to seven miles at dawn was about as good
as I got.

If I am a mile south of the Islands in the main boat, I can frequently
hear U.S. Coast Guard traffic in Youngstown, 24 miles or so south
south east.

So I don't think there's a problem, but I am merely pointing out a
worst-case scenario. The wife commented she had trouble hearing me: I
heard her 5 by 5 on 06.

I could also raise Prescott Radio (Canadian Coast Guard) which is
miles away and a few repeaters (Oakville, Fonthill, etc.). I reported
a nav hazard (a twelve-foot tree limb low in the water) in Ashbridge's
Bay early in the morning on a Sunday,and was gratified to get an
immediate response. I gave 'em the GPS co-ords and went on my merry
way.

"rhys" wrote
I could also raise Prescott Radio (Canadian Coast Guard) which is
miles away and a few repeaters (Oakville, Fonthill, etc.).

I wasn't aware there are repeaters on the authorized marine channels. There's nothing like that out
here on the west coast of Canada.

In article 5iKEd.47483$Xk.14784@pd7tw3no, "Richard P."
wrote:

"rhys" wrote
I could also raise Prescott Radio (Canadian Coast Guard) which is
miles away and a few repeaters (Oakville, Fonthill, etc.).

I wasn't aware there are repeaters on the authorized marine channels.
There's nothing like that out
here on the west coast of Canada.



I think he was refering to Mountain Top Remote Radio Sites, that both
the US and Canadian Coast Guards use out here on the Left Coast.....
Actually there is a provision in Part 80, for Repeaters on Marine VHF
Channels, and they actually are used in certain places in alaska....


Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @