Cell phones work just fine from mountain tops.I'm not buying that; I think we would have heard MORE from these guys AND have successfully placed calls TO them that one of them would have PICKED UP and ANSWERED.
(As an aside, I would really like to hear from any other celular systems designer's to hear their 'take' on engineering for 'coverage' of any given "mountain top" here in the US; specifically, did they run any propagation plots and choose sites and suitable antennas having some 'uptilt' to achieve reliable mountaintop coverage. Also, how does one perform 'frequency planning' in a situation like that.)
It still doesn't negate having proper COMMS (communications equipment) that can talk DIRECTLY with rescuers FLYING overhead.
Something as simple as an FRS radio can accomplish that feat.
Cellphones typically have trouble functioning properly above 10,000 feet. Tower antenna are not placed in a way for good support of that...they positioned for lower elevation support. If the cellphone has a direct line of sight to a tower that can improve the odds of getting reception. Personally I find it amazing that he was able to make a call at all there.
" I would really like to hear from any other celular systems designer's to hear their 'take' on engineering for 'coverage' of any given "mountain top" here in the US; specifically, did they run any propagation plots and choose sites and suitable antennas having some 'uptilt' to achieve reliable mountaintop coverage. "
Definitely possible, and even likely that they would have some coverage. Biggest issue would be interference, but intermittent capability to make a call would be quite likely.
Cell systems are designed with the typical ground "clutter" - which impedes signals at a far greater rate than the "free space" that would control coverage from a mountain top.
Modern cell systems don't do frequency planning like cell systems of old....most modern technologies use the same chunks of spectrum at the same time and use special processing to separate the individual calls.
More Another little known variant of the ubiquitous Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the C-130H2 Scathe View, is operated by the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152 Airlift Wing based at Reno-Tahoe international airport.
The 152 Airlift Wing operates eight of these unique aircraft that are designed to provide Combatant Commanders with reach-back communications and increased awareness of what is actually happening on the battlefield.
The aircraft are fitted with an extensive communications fit, including SATCOM.
In addition, they carry a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) daylight TV system, a spotter scope and a laser rangerfinder.
A particularly important capability carried by this aircraft is the ability to provide a video link to the US Air Force ROVER (Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver) that can provide near real-time sensor fed video footage to laptop based portable ground receivers.