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From: Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android
Subject: Re: How will the police find me.
Date: 21 May 2024 17:31:22 GMT
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Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
> Frank Slootweg wrote:
> > Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:
> >> micky wrote:
> >>> Going hiking tomorrow.  Finally realized I was sending my location
> >>> to my ex-GF, but I hadn't told her how to see it.   Assuming the
> >>> worst, that I break my leg and can't get off the trail, but the
> >>> phone is broken or stolen, and assuming she actually notices it's
> >>> 6PM and I still haven't texted her to say I'm done, she can see my
> >>> phone's location using the simple instructions I found on the web.
> >>
> >> When I am out alone I always run a track on my GPS (not phone) which
> >> I can follow back so I do not get lost because I am 78 years old.
> >> If you are really worried you should look at something like a Garmin
> >> inReach.
> >
> >  We also have an old (non-phone) GPS (Garmin), which can lay
> > 'breadcrumbs' for backtracking. Got us out of a mess in outback
> > Australia where there was a maze of non-signposted dirt tracks and our
> > maps (paper and offline smartphone ones) failed us.
> >
> >  Two-way (text/SMS) satellite communication like the Garmin InReach is
> > of course better, but also more expensive, because of the monthly
> > costs for the subscription.
> >
> >  When we're in the boonies of Australia, we have a PLB (Personal
> > Locator Beacon). That gives only a signal - not a message - and your
> > location to the satellite, but doesn't need a costly subscription.
> >
> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_position-indicating_radiobeacon#Personal_Locator_Beacon>
> 
> I am sending this to you and Andrew.  If you do not have cell phone service 
> how can you send somebody your location and problem?

  Huh?

  Please (re-)read my response and reference.

  As I mentioned, with a PLB you can send a signal - i.e. the fact that
you have a severe problem - and your location. As a result, the
emergency services will come looking for you (they are required to
respond).

  And no, as I said, with a PLB you can not send a message, so you can
not tell *which* problem you have, but the signal indicates that you
have a severe problem. I.e. if you trigger the PLB because you're out of
beer, you will get a hefty fine and might have to pay all the expenses
for the bogus rescue operation.

  So: A device like the Garmin InReach is more expenswive and has
continuous subscription costs. A PLB is cheaper and has no subscription
costs, but can not send/receive messages. Nothing has only advantages
and no disadvantages and life isn't fair. News at eleven.