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#1
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Cellphone weather inflight
I was at the local Altell cellphone shop the other day, and they were
showing me a new USB doodad that you can plug into your laptop computer and use the internet anywhere they have signal coverage (most of the nation from the chart they showed me) at DSL speeds. It's aimed at people who are on the road a lot. Does anyone here have that service, does it work well for you, and more importantly, does it work inflight? Might be a good answer for those of us whose GPS' don't have XM Weather capability. Scott Wilson |
#2
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Cellphone weather inflight
wrote in message .. . I was at the local Altell cellphone shop the other day, and they were showing me a new USB doodad that you can plug into your laptop computer and use the internet anywhere they have signal coverage (most of the nation from the chart they showed me) at DSL speeds. It's aimed at people who are on the road a lot. Does anyone here have that service, does it work well for you, and more importantly, does it work inflight? Might be a good answer for those of us whose GPS' don't have XM Weather capability. It is still a cellphone, and illegal to use in flight. Cellphones on traditional frequencies are no good above several thousand feet, and the net generation frequencies that technically are legal, seem to have their antennas on the towers pointed downward, so contact is gone at a relatively low altitude. No free lunch, here. |
#3
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Cellphone weather inflight
On 26-Feb-2009, "Morgans" wrote: It is still a cellphone, and illegal to use in flight. Cellphones on traditional frequencies are no good above several thousand feet, and the net generation frequencies that technically are legal, seem to have their antennas on the towers pointed downward, so contact is gone at a relatively low altitude. No free lunch, here. Thanks. Too bad though, it'd sure be nice to get the weather on long X-Cs without spending so much for a new GPS. Scott Wilson |
#4
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Cellphone weather inflight
In a previous article, said:
road a lot. Does anyone here have that service, does it work well for you, and more importantly, does it work inflight? Might be a good answer for those of us whose GPS' don't have XM Weather capability. I have a Palm Treo smartphone, and when I'm on the ground I can get weather. But I lose signal around 3,000 feet in the air. -- Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/ The problem with eating a high-fibre diet is that, before you know it, your lower bowel will have attracted a whole mass of backhoes. -- Tanuki |
#5
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Cellphone weather inflight
That's interesting. So if you really needed to see what's ahead, descend to
2000 agl and it might be possible. I really appreciate that info, thanks! Scott Wilson |
#6
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Cellphone weather inflight
wrote in message ... That's interesting. So if you really needed to see what's ahead, descend to 2000 agl and it might be possible. I really appreciate that info, thanks! Don't forget that it is still illegal, on some of the frequencies, and if the phone companies and fcc decided to prosecute, it would be an easy task. -- Jim in NC |
#7
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Cellphone weather inflight
"Morgans" wrote in message ... Don't forget that it is still illegal, on some of the frequencies, This has been hashed around here many times in the past, and if memory serves, it is only the original 800 mHz frequencies where it is technically illegal. Are those frequencies even used for the data services? and if the phone companies and fcc decided to prosecute, it would be an easy task. Can anyone name a case where it has happened; especially where it has happened to a casual aviator? Vaughn |
#8
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Cellphone weather inflight
On 27-Feb-2009, "vaughn" wrote: "Morgans" wrote in message ... Don't forget that it is still illegal, on some of the frequencies, This has been hashed around here many times in the past, and if memory serves, it is only the original 800 mHz frequencies where it is technically illegal. Are those frequencies even used for the data services? and if the phone companies and fcc decided to prosecute, it would be an easy task. Can anyone name a case where it has happened; especially where it has happened to a casual aviator? Vaughn I read into this quite a bit awhile ago, and found that the FCC has proposed lifting the inflight cellphone ban, but they won't do it until the FAA signs off on it. The FAA is still deciding, but all of the negative comments I found on the FCC and FAA websites pertinent to lifting the ban had to do with airlines and aircraft flying in the flightlevels. I could find nothing referencing any concern about using a cellphone inflight at the altitudes my Cessna 172 flies. I found an article written by someone high up in either ARINC or the Aircraft Electronics Association or some such group in which he said he uses his cell phone inflight in his private aircraft regularly with no qualms about it. So what I got out of everything I read is that while technically still illegal, using a cellphone while flying a small aircraft at altitudes lower than the flight levels causes no problems at all and is extremely unlikely to result in any enforcement actions. All of which really doesn't seem to be an issue, I'm pretty darned sure using the Alltell data network to access the internet is not the same as placing a cell phone call. Yes, they use the same towers, but it's still not the same thing. As circumstantial evidence to this, they charge minutes per call, but use of the internet is unrestricted with no limits or per-minute charges, just one monthly charge no matter how much or little you use it. So if I go this route and try using the internet through the Alltell data network, it's my risk and I know that. XM isn't really a consideration for me as I want this service for just one long cross-country each year, when my wife and I fly from Wisconsin to Texas to see my parents. It'd hardly be worth buying a new GPS and signing up for XM for one trip per year. If we sign up for Altell's plan, we'll be using that for our home internet service as well as for the one annual flying trip. I hope that explains my motivations better. Scott Wilson |
#9
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Cellphone weather inflight
"v" == vaughn writes:
v This has been hashed around here many times in the past, and v if memory serves, it is only the original 800 mHz frequencies v where it is technically illegal. Correct. While we still call them "cellphones", the FCC calls all the mobile stuff at 1900 MHz "Personal Communications Service" and there are no FCC restrictions on use inflight...if you can get them to work. Like the other posters, I don't have much luck. -- "Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second, if there is one." -Winston Churchill's response to George Bernard Shaw |
#10
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Cellphone weather inflight
I think inflight wx by cellphone is pretty much a dead end.
One cheaper GPS route is to get the Garmin Marine GPSMAP 376C. But you still need the XM subscription. You can get more info about this at http://www.csobeech.com/nexrad-weather.html |
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