Your very right about how analog cellular is laid out, however, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is laid out somewhat differently. Each base station uses the same exact frequency now as all the others around it. They simply encode the frequency that they are transmitting with a different PN (Psuedo-code Number).
It seems to me that by the time NASA actually uses the Satilite technology, the data transfer rates sould be very high and they could integrate the always on high speed connection into the works also.
It's not likely that they are going to put a transceiver next to your head that is strong enough to punch a signal out of the static noise barrier that surrounds most building now because of all the electronic equipment, gadgets and wiring in the building.
Older analog cell phones had the same problem. They were a little more reliable around buildings because the base stations we ussually sitting on top of the building in downtown areas, but inside was murder. CDMA and TDMA have helped relieve this problem because they are noise tolerant technologies.
It could be that they are planning on using the phone for their telemetery and data communications. (at least a portion of their telemetery.)
CDMA service works on GPS provided timing. The phone has to be sync'd up to the gps system on three (we currently use three, but the technology provides specs for six) antennas in the phone. There is a fourth antenna in each phone right now, but it is for searching the network for your next cellsite.
Also, with a lauch date of six years from now, NASA may be thinking about the fact that 3G Cellular telecommunications will be availible. Data transfer rates right now are a pathetic 14.4 kbps. That will soon be changing. The first step CDMA2000 will move the transfer rate up to 144 kbps, and then full 3G will be at 1.44 Mbps.
Full 3G has been expected to come out for a while now, however there have been many delays in it's coming. Lucent has some information posted. But not the hard and fast facts most people will be looking for. Oh, and here is a cute picture of what they want as an all IP based cellular network.
Not to mis-state what Mr. S was talking about, but I believe he was refering to the fact that with telemetry information being provided to cellular (and satilite) communicaitons, your whereabouts now become public knowledge if they decide to sell it.
Watching the telecommunications industry develop with this new system for E911 (Lat and Long. provided to Emergency service.) is going to be loads of fun. Companies are trying to develope software and databases full of location information that they can sell to cellular companies so that you can be notified when you are driving near something that might be of interest to you.
From my understanding, these services are going to be optional for you, and no-one (entity) is going to be getting your location information, the network servers will recieve it and respond back with a short message alerting you of whats around you.
My guess if that Mr. S. beleives people will be worried that their location is being given to someone that they don't know and that it could be concidered an invasion of privacy.
Think about this one example:
Law Enforcement: Your driving along at 45 mph in a 35 mph zone. Because your telemetry was being recorded, the police department sent a nice shiney high speed driving certificate to your house.
It's issues like this that can raise fears in people. However, there are tons of benifits that could come from it also. For example:
Travel: You visit a new town and decide on Chinese for diner but don't have a yellowpages. Just open your phone and select Local Restraunts:Type=Chinese (or something else that they dream up as a menu system) and your informed of the name of the 5 closest (distance shown next to their name) restraunts from where you are standing and then when you select which one you want, you get a step by step set of instructions on how to get there.
So, do cell phones have a future, or are they going to invade privacy to the point that people will stop using them and find another means to communicate? My guess is that cellular companies want to stay in business selling cellular service.
I agree, with both you and Parkaran2. Nasa did begin using off-the-shelf components quite a while ago for several of it's system's rather than the design-from-scratch model that they used to follow.
This began in earnest back in 1991 I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong please) when Military and Space Exploration budgets were being hacked in half. (Part of an attempt to balance the ever growing budget)
NASA was told that they needed to explore more commercially availible products and begin using as many as they could (without sacrificing mission safety) in order to save money. They have done a fairly good job of it.
It's good to see that they are starting to use commercially availible telecommunications systems also. One point that should be made however, is that this is not a Cellular system that we are talking about. This is a Satilite telephone system. Cellular systems are land based and have no satilite components within them directly. They may be linked to other systems through some sort of satilite (by an outside provider) but in and of themselves, all cellular systems rest firmly on the ground.
It's pretty awsome that NASA feels that satilite phones are reliable enough to include as communications links for missions.:)
Actually Tablets have alot more use that you might think. Maybe not for yourself, but in industries where the users are in automobiles, a tablet takes up less room in the vehicle than a laptop does and provides virtually all the functionality. (minus the keyboard bit)
They'll buyers in the personal and professional market that want more power than a PDA or Palmtop, but don't want to carry a laptop. However, I think their real market is going to be people who spend alot of their time driving from one place to another.
Our company is installing them in all of our field vehicles (one with a Celeron rather than Crusoe) so that we can test our network as we drive.
Other uses might be for Real Estate Agents who go to meet someone at a location. They can connect to thier Multiple Listing Service (MLS) from where ever they are and provide extra information about the home they are showing or get more information about others in the area that meet the customers needs without having to return to the office. (It is alot easier to hand someone a tablet than a notebook, and as you said, it lacks the un-social folded up screen)
Outdoor sales, techs who work in the field and others could have a real use for these tools.
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Your very right about how analog cellular is laid out, however, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is laid out somewhat differently. Each base station uses the same exact frequency now as all the others around it. They simply encode the frequency that they are transmitting with a different PN (Psuedo-code Number). It seems to me that by the time NASA actually uses the Satilite technology, the data transfer rates sould be very high and they could integrate the always on high speed connection into the works also.
Older analog cell phones had the same problem. They were a little more reliable around buildings because the base stations we ussually sitting on top of the building in downtown areas, but inside was murder. CDMA and TDMA have helped relieve this problem because they are noise tolerant technologies.
CDMA service works on GPS provided timing. The phone has to be sync'd up to the gps system on three (we currently use three, but the technology provides specs for six) antennas in the phone. There is a fourth antenna in each phone right now, but it is for searching the network for your next cellsite.
Also, with a lauch date of six years from now, NASA may be thinking about the fact that 3G Cellular telecommunications will be availible. Data transfer rates right now are a pathetic 14.4 kbps. That will soon be changing. The first step CDMA2000 will move the transfer rate up to 144 kbps, and then full 3G will be at 1.44 Mbps.
Full 3G has been expected to come out for a while now, however there have been many delays in it's coming. Lucent has some information posted. But not the hard and fast facts most people will be looking for. Oh, and here is a cute picture of what they want as an all IP based cellular network.
Watching the telecommunications industry develop with this new system for E911 (Lat and Long. provided to Emergency service.) is going to be loads of fun. Companies are trying to develope software and databases full of location information that they can sell to cellular companies so that you can be notified when you are driving near something that might be of interest to you.
From my understanding, these services are going to be optional for you, and no-one (entity) is going to be getting your location information, the network servers will recieve it and respond back with a short message alerting you of whats around you.
My guess if that Mr. S. beleives people will be worried that their location is being given to someone that they don't know and that it could be concidered an invasion of privacy.
Think about this one example:
It's issues like this that can raise fears in people. However, there are tons of benifits that could come from it also. For example:
So, do cell phones have a future, or are they going to invade privacy to the point that people will stop using them and find another means to communicate? My guess is that cellular companies want to stay in business selling cellular service.
This began in earnest back in 1991 I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong please) when Military and Space Exploration budgets were being hacked in half. (Part of an attempt to balance the ever growing budget)
NASA was told that they needed to explore more commercially availible products and begin using as many as they could (without sacrificing mission safety) in order to save money. They have done a fairly good job of it.
It's good to see that they are starting to use commercially availible telecommunications systems also. One point that should be made however, is that this is not a Cellular system that we are talking about. This is a Satilite telephone system. Cellular systems are land based and have no satilite components within them directly. They may be linked to other systems through some sort of satilite (by an outside provider) but in and of themselves, all cellular systems rest firmly on the ground.
It's pretty awsome that NASA feels that satilite phones are reliable enough to include as communications links for missions. :)
Actually Tablets have alot more use that you might think. Maybe not for yourself, but in industries where the users are in automobiles, a tablet takes up less room in the vehicle than a laptop does and provides virtually all the functionality. (minus the keyboard bit)
They'll buyers in the personal and professional market that want more power than a PDA or Palmtop, but don't want to carry a laptop. However, I think their real market is going to be people who spend alot of their time driving from one place to another.
Our company is installing them in all of our field vehicles (one with a Celeron rather than Crusoe) so that we can test our network as we drive.
Other uses might be for Real Estate Agents who go to meet someone at a location. They can connect to thier Multiple Listing Service (MLS) from where ever they are and provide extra information about the home they are showing or get more information about others in the area that meet the customers needs without having to return to the office. (It is alot easier to hand someone a tablet than a notebook, and as you said, it lacks the un-social folded up screen)
Outdoor sales, techs who work in the field and others could have a real use for these tools.