GPS - Can it happen w/o hardware?

[mpfeifer]

Do you think they will be able to provide your location to the PPCPE w/o additional hardware? Can't the cell companies get your location now? If so, why can't they broadcast that your your phone? If we had the info, then we wouldn't need the additional hardware, right?

Mark

[ECOslin]

I think they could tell you what cell you are in, that narrows it down to a couple of thousand feet. Also cellular towers are terrain blocked, so scattered coverage goes out irregularly out from the tower, 500ft may not work, 2300ft might be fine. Metal concentrations in the soil, and buildings, also affect communications, either grounding or boosting.

Edward

[mpfeifer]

Thanks for the info. Aren't cell companies supposed to be upgrading hardware for the GPS location when calls come into 911?

Just thought I heard that somewhere and figured maybe they could "sell" that feature back to the user. $$$

Mark

[ECOslin]

No, I hadn't heard that, I've heard that they've had to upgrade to provide caller ID on cell phones.

Edward