Re: Position Reporting Equipment?

[Rollie Parrish <rparrish@flightweb.com>]

On Mon, 18 Mar 2002, Joel Hochhalter wrote:

> We are currently using Outerlink.  When you go to purchase your system
> pay careful attention to what satellite system is used how the passing
> of information between stations occurs.  I do not want to bash other
> systems but this should be your most important defining criteria.

I won't specifically name any companies to avoid either, but this is a
point I'd like to echo. Flight teams considering this technology should
stay away from services that use Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites instead
of Geosynchronous satellites. It will be more expensive, but it's
worthwhile in the long run.

One problem is that the LEO satellites are constantly moving overhead and
there may be significant delays in data transmission. There can be
additional delays between the ground station to the communciations centers
as well. Services that use the geosynchronous satellites seem to have a
much better transmission rate and reliability.

Finally, be sure that the company you are considering offers flight
following as a mainstay service, not merely a side-benefit to some other
product line.

-- 
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Rollie Parrish
FlightWeb: For Air Medical Professionals
http://www.flightweb.com


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