"Blunkett u-turn on data privacy plans"

[Brian Morrison]

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On Sat, 1 Mar 2003 10:52:37 +0000 in v8cNnwP1DJY+Ew2A@perry.co.uk Roland
Perry <ukcrypto@netcomuk.co.uk> wrote:

> In message <03022709501700.13929@bbzen.edsc.ulst.ac.uk>, Brian Beesley
> 
> <BJ.Beesley@ulster.ac.uk> writes
> >I gather that GPS receivers are on the list of
> >"wanted" features. This would enable the phone to be located to a few
> >cm.
> 
> IMHO they are much over-sold for this kind of application, needing a 
> clear view of lots of sky, a long time to "lock on" when powered up
> (at the same place as powering off helps a lot), and a general
> accuracy of about 10m. These reasons are not a problem when you are
> out sailing :-)

While I find I get somewhat better performance than this, admittedly
using an external powered antenna, the main issue in a phone is that the
standby consumption of a modern GSM phone is of the order of a few mA
whereas a GPS receiver is generally between 50 and 100mA.

To maintain constant positioning data, the phone battery will last only
half a day at best.

- -- 

Brian Morrison

bdm at fenrir dot org dot uk
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