Follow up with the Ambulance Comms Centre

[BMWST?]

my telecom phone has a "location" feature which you can turn on or off....whats that?

[Nasty]

my telecom phone has a "location" feature which you can turn on or off....whats that?

Tells you what cell tower is being activated with your phone.

[Phcyso]

I know the cell companies can triangulate cell phones quite accurately; for instance Vodafone can do it so accurately they can offer a commercial service where your cellphone becomes a home phone when you are on your own property, and it's accurate enough to know exactly when you walk out your gate, so that it can become like a cell phone again.
They have the technology, but it isn't available to us, unfortunately.

While it is true that vodafone can track a cell phone signal to a fairly small raidus it is not as simple as you say.

To narrow down where a cell phone is located requires people to actually go through the log files and do the math on the signal strength at the time and by how many cell sites it can see. because of this it is only done when a warrant or other such official request comes through.

the service you mention above actually works on setting up a 'memory' of your home cell sites and relies on your Sim card to talk back to the network about when it is in that area. the network doesn't really know where your home is, all it knows is that you are in your 'home zone'

[Radar]

FWIW:

I contacted the company that sells emergency locator beacons in NZ, Trig Instruments, and for land use they recommend a beacon that costs $530 (units for use at sea cost $725). There is no annual subscription or other costs.
See this web page:
http://www.triginstruments.co.nz/cat...roducts_id=873

[Griffin]

this lead me to another thought. each ambulance covers a set area, is that right

This isnt necessarily the case. For instance, if the Ambulance 'usually' assigned to an area gets a job, then (depending on resources) another Ambulance from a neighbouring area will be sent to cover the gap left by the one that is now unavailable. It is like a big game of chess, always moving resources around to ensure adequate coverage... and this can't always be acheived.

Here in Wellington for example, the crew in an Upper Hutt based ambulance can easily end up sitting on station at Paraparaumu to cover the area, sometimes more than once during a day/night shift.

The situation in rural areas is magnified ten fold due to large coverage areas and shortage of funds for renumerating paid staff... hence volunteers are often relied upon to take the reigns. That lends itself to a whole range of other issues such as Volunteer Officer availability and appropriate qualification / experience / knowledge etc.

Area knowledge is only one part of the huge range of problems affecting the Ambulance Service in Rural areas.

Good luck with your mission Nasty... I hope you find some solutions

[mujambee]

To narrow down where a cell phone is located requires people to actually go through the log files and do the math on the signal strength at the time and by how many cell sites it can see. because of this it is only done when a warrant or other such official request comes through.

There is software that can do that instantly; my wife can track my phone by just sending an SMS and it takes seconds...

[NordieBoy]

There is software that can do that instantly; my wife can track my phone by just sending an SMS and it takes seconds...

If your phone is GPS enabled.

[Nasty]

There is software that can do that instantly; my wife can track my phone by just sending an SMS and it takes seconds...

All very well and good, when you have the ability to transmit ... but in the part of the country where grub went down there was nothing for miles from where he was.

[mujambee]

As we are steering off the main subject, I've decided to split on a new thread the subject of phone locating.

If your phone is GPS enabled.

Not needed, see above link.

All very well and good, when you have the ability to transmit ... but in the part of the country where grub went down there was nothing for miles from where he was.

Was it just your provider or any operator?

[mujambee]

the helicopter also did but followed the road till they found him.

Would a smoke flare have helped them locate you?

[Nasty]

As we are steering off the main subject, I've decided to split on a new thread the subject of phone locating.

....

Was it just your provider or any operator?

There are large parts of New Zealand where any phone other than a satilite phone does not work. They do not work because of the terrain - to keep it simple the helicopter could also not radio they found him under they lifted up a bit - as radios also do not work.

[Nasty]

Would a smoke flare have helped them locate you?

Probably not ... but then again the right instructions to the service didn't work so we will never know will we.

[Lucy]

Probably not ... but then again the right instructions to the service didn't work so we will never know will we.

So true. When I broke down on the Paraparas, it took nearly my whole cellphone battery to explain to the person where I was. "Are you near ...... don't know sorry, I'm 54 k from Raetihi which makes me 35k from Wanganui", ok, do you remember passing ......?" "no", "are there any cross streets near you?" no, there is nothing near me, I am 54 k from Raetihi and 35 k....." "ok, are you near.....?" "No idea, all I know is that I zeroed my trip meter at Raetihi Caltex and I've come exactly 54k", "oh, ok cool, so you are 54 k from Raetihi?" "yes"....(that is the short version).

Vodafone refuse to spend money to increase their coverage in the Naki anyway, let alone in the wops.

Good for you for persisting, you're a legend.

[Mom]

Probably not ... but then again the right instructions to the service didn't work so we will never know will we.

Does this sound remotely familiar to you?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10564798

[Nasty]

Does this sound remotely familiar to you?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10564798

Too right .. scary as shit .. they are revising their report and we have a final meeting shortly. I think these people need to know they are fucking up and badly .. but they don't seem to be getting it