[pct-l] cellphone (and ham radio link)

[AsABat]

I've sometimes pulled my cell phone out and seen 4 bars, only to find I
still cannot connect. This is usually on a high point where I can see
civilization far below. I've been told that my cell phone is receiving a
strong signal but does not have enough power to send a signal back.
Others have said the cell site was busy, but one spot (near Red Tahquitz
overlooking Palm Springs) I tried in three trips, including midday and
late at night, with the same results.

So, testing a signal may mean actually making a call rather than just
looking at the bars. 

Testing would mean either leaving the phone on for long periods to time
or turning it on frequently, either way running the battery down. That's
why I use the carrier's maps first, to see if there's any hope. The
battery drain is greatest searching continuously for a signal.

AsABat

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Lewis [mailto:brianle at nwlink.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:19 PM
> To: 'AsABat'; 'Lon Cooper'
> Cc: 'Pacific Crest Trail List'
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] cellphone (and ham radio link)
> 
> I agree that this is challenging.  There is or shortly will be no
longer
> the
> distinction of digital vs. analog, but maybe CDMA/TDMA have different
> characteristics than GSM, and individual phones might vary in terms of
how
> much signal strength they get from the same carrier at the same
location
> at
> the same time (?), etc.
> 
> Still, a "best approximation" would be a lot better than ad hoc &
random
> very small data samples.   Part of the value IMO is that it's not just
> about
> the hiker, but about the comfort level and expectations for their home
> support unit.
> 
> I definitely looked at the various cell phone coverage areas in
selecting
> my
> carrier.  I knew I wanted a GSM phone, so that limited me to T-Mobile
or
> AT&T, and from punching in a selection of interesting zip codes to
each, I
> came to the conclusion that AT&T might be better.
> 
> To further strain the value of a collected list, I later found out the
> AT&T's "pay as you go" (called 'Gophone') has a different --- a lessor
---
> coverage map than does their contract plans.  It's like it's two
different
> companies, but with the same name.
> 
> I'll be doing a couple hundred miles of section A starting later this
week
> (actually more like the same hundred miles twice); I'll see if I can
> remember to test and record coverage there a few times ...
> 
> 
> 
> 	Brian Lewis
> 
> 
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