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West Wight Potter Mailing List maintainer
dfarrell@ridgecrest.ca.us
List hosted by www.tscnet.com
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Globalstar is now in service, providing full portable phone coverage of the
United States plus Canada and Mexico. The Globalstar phones operate as
cellular phones but switch automatically to satellite when out of cellular
range. Globalstar now has its full constellation of 52 low-earth-orbit
satellites launched and operating and capable of providing phone service to
most of the world except, I think, the polar regions. Globalstar is
rapidly bringing more gateways on line and expanding service around the
world. It is not intended to compete with existing cellular and landline
service but to serve the many areas where cellular and/or landline phone
service is not available.
The phones initially have a suggested retail price of $1500 but will
probably come down in price. (No, I don't have one.) They are not much
larger than cell phones, and the sound quality is said to be excellent.
Okay, I admit I have a few shares of Globalstar and (its parent) Loral
Space in my IRA, and I am a former employee and sometimes temp employee of
Space Systems/Loral, but I don't get paid to publicize Globalstar. I just
thought it was apropos to the current discussion, and someone might be
interested.
For more and better info go to Globalstar's web site at
<http://www.globalstar.com/en/about/index.html>.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA
>Cell phones by definition don't reach very far and depend on having a
>cell tower in the immediate area. Beyond about a mile from shore things
>can get kind of sketchy. VHF radios, even the walkie talkie types, have
>considerably more power (10x +) and can talk to shore base stations that
>have high antennas --- so they can be expected to work further out.
>And, of course you can reach other boats in your area directly.
>
>The antennas and gear inside of a cell tower are purposely designed to
>have limited range.
>
>Sometimes on the Cellular fringes you can get an indication that service
>is available, but when you make the call it poops out because of spotty
>signal strength as you move about. Something about fresnel effects etc.
>
>But, of course I prefer both and maybe signal flags, some flares, a
>megaphone and a whistle. ;-)
>
>Regards
>Rye
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