Barbra Olson Story Debunked! Proof Cellphones Work in Aircraft.

C J Campbell wrote:

And the FCC has no ban on PCS phones.

Correct. Many PCS phones use the cell phone frequencies as backup, however, and
aerial use of those is banned (they're "cell phones" when using those
frequencies).

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

"Matt Barrow" wrote in
:

Modern digital (aka PCS)
type phones do not... usually limited to about 2000 AGL.

I regularly make phone calls with my PCS phone from 10,000 feet AGL
in my own plane. I have never had any trouble with it. I made such a
call yesterday, in fact.

If it can work over several miles laterally in rolling terrain, why
wouldn't it work for 2-5 miles vertically?

Antenna pattern.

And while I won't say that you absolutely could NOT find a case where a
true PCS call would work from 10K AGL, I suspect more likely your phone is
rolling back to another mode. What's the phone model?

jmk

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:14:21 -0800, Richard Riley

Doing it with a PCS phone from a private plane is even legal. The FCC
reg prohibiting cell phone calls from airplanes only covers first
generation analog cell phones...

Where did you get that information? A web search finds much
information about ending the ban, but absolutely nothing about "some"
kinds of cellphones being allowed in aircraft.




Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR22.925]

[Page 189]

TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

PART 22_PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES--Table of Contents

Subpart H_Cellular Radiotelephone Service

Sec. 22.925 Prohibition on airborne operation of cellular telephones.

Cellular telephones installed in or carried aboard airplanes,
balloons or any other type of aircraft must not be operated while such
aircraft are airborne (not touching the ground). When any aircraft
leaves the ground, all cellular telephones on board that aircraft must
be turned off. The following notice must be posted on or near each
cellular telephone installed in any aircraft:
``The use of cellular telephones while this aircraft is airborne
is prohibited by FCC rules, and the violation of this rule could
result in suspension of service and/or a fine. The use of cellular
telephones while this aircraft is on the ground is subject to FAA
regulations.''
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"Dana M. Hague" d(dash)m(dash)hague(at)comcast(dot)net wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:14:21 -0800, Richard Riley

Doing it with a PCS phone from a private plane is even legal. The FCC
reg prohibiting cell phone calls from airplanes only covers first
generation analog cell phones...

Where did you get that information? A web search finds much
information about ending the ban, but absolutely nothing about "some"
kinds of cellphones being allowed in aircraft.


PCS phones use a different frequency spread than regular cell phones, and
technically are not considered cell phones. Therefore, no ban on their use
in airplanes.

It is interesting that people who have used them in the air report poor
reception, at higher altitudes with PCS, but not so with conventional cell
phones. Something about the signal polarization being horizontal, or
something. So still, unless you are low and slow, no joy with "air phones"
working. (legally)
--
Jim in NC

"Dana M. Hague" wrote:

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:14:21 -0800, Richard Riley

Doing it with a PCS phone from a private plane is even legal. The FCC
reg prohibiting cell phone calls from airplanes only covers first
generation analog cell phones...

Where did you get that information? A web search finds much
information about ending the ban, but absolutely nothing about "some"
kinds of cellphones being allowed in aircraft.

You can start here http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular with the definition
of what's a cell phone. Then follow the links on that page to "Aircraft Usage"
and "Broadband PCS." As Jim says, PCS phones are not cell phones.

George Patterson
He who would distinguish what is true from what is false must have an
adequate understanding of truth and falsehood.