Orion wrote: It won't be that much longer before mobile phone coverage is virtually total.
myrtlegirl wrote:I was on a walk where rescue was required. An InReach was set off - BUT IT FAILED (confirmed this with AMSA). The InReach was new. The owner had been using it to track, and when they set it off there was a message saying something like resuming tracking, and the screen was frozen. Owner has been in contact with Garmin.
Xplora wrote:... It was not mentioned but I would assume you tried your phone before setting off the PLB...
Kickinghorse wrote:...once I get off the b…y crutches!
potato wrote:I'm going to say it as I'm sure others are thinking it... you went out alone.
GregG wrote:but as Dirty Harry said a man has to know his limitations...
myrtlegirl wrote:An InReach was set off - BUT IT FAILED (confirmed this with AMSA)... Another person in the group had the Emergency Plus app (an absolute must!)
Warin wrote:It will be decades before cell phone coverage is even 50% of Australia's area.
I only got 6 screws, you got 10 and walked out on it!Kickinghorse wrote:Not an issue re the cast pong or itch Crolly as I have a plate and ten screws!
Phil
Orion wrote:Warin wrote:It will be decades before cell phone coverage is even 50% of Australia's area.
Maybe I'm being overly optimistic about technology but it wasn't that long ago that it was believed that cell phones would never be a replacement for land lines. The future of mobile phones (not cell phones) is likely just as difficult to predict accurately. We'll see.
Xplora wrote:I chatted with a bloke from Sydney who is developing technology to replace mobile phone towers with low altitude satellites that can be accessed by normal mobile phones instead of sat phones. Early days though and his trouble is getting funding. Forget the remote areas we go to just for fun, there are many remote communities that have no mobile phone reception. I live in one. Landlines fail regularly. There is an expectation now for many that good communication is right and not a privilege. It does save lives and I have battled with the government for nearly 7 years to improve (provide) communication on a 100km stretch of road that people keep dying on. It all comes down to money.
Warin wrote:Xplora wrote:I chatted with a bloke from Sydney who is developing technology to replace mobile phone towers with low altitude satellites that can be accessed by normal mobile phones instead of sat phones. Early days though and his trouble is getting funding. Forget the remote areas we go to just for fun, there are many remote communities that have no mobile phone reception. I live in one. Landlines fail regularly. There is an expectation now for many that good communication is right and not a privilege. It does save lives and I have battled with the government for nearly 7 years to improve (provide) communication on a 100km stretch of road that people keep dying on. It all comes down to money.
Not only funding for that satellite coverage - things are getting more and more crowed up there with more and more satellites wizzing around...
The situation in Africa is worth considering. Cheaper to put in cell phone towers compared with landlines, even in populated areas.
And then there is the Oodnadatta Track ... there the locals got funding for CB radio coverage as the 2G cell phone that used to cover it from the main highway went to 3G and reduced coverage...
The NBN ... not that reliable in the bush .. and even cell phone coverage failed in the recent bushfires.
Telstra had mobile satellite connection to their network that would provide fixed line connection to payphones for remote events. That could be changed to provide an emergency cell phone service .. the 3 second delay is something most users find annoying but they do manage to get messages across.
Xplora wrote:I am amazed there is still no 000 for SMS as often SMS signal will get through.
Warin wrote:Xplora wrote:I am amazed there is still no 000 for SMS as often SMS signal will get through.
+1!
There are stories of throwing the phone in the air to make a connection for SMS to get through ... might want a tarp to catch the phone on return.
An SMS to a mate who then rings 000 ??? Would need a lot of checking to avoid false call outs. Might be an idea to send driver licence and medicare numbers with the SMS.
wildwanderer wrote:Warin wrote:Xplora wrote:I am amazed there is still no 000 for SMS as often SMS signal will get through.
+1!
There are stories of throwing the phone in the air to make a connection for SMS to get through ... might want a tarp to catch the phone on return.
An SMS to a mate who then rings 000 ??? Would need a lot of checking to avoid false call outs. Might be an idea to send driver licence and medicare numbers with the SMS.
You might be able to still do this using the national relay service. https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media ... ay-service
SMS info- https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/depar ... y-services
Its designed for deaf people but in an emergency id hope they wouldnt mind if you used it.
However I heard a rumour that the sms relay service had been discontinued.. though its still on the government website so im not sure..
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