Weather Radar Over GPS-NOT Cellular Signal

[flyhigh]

I'm looking for an app which would let me view live weather radar on my phone (touch pro) without using the cell radio. I'd like to be able to use my phone in an airplane or boat where there is no cell signal and still get live radar. I'm not sure if this is possible but it does seem plausible. It is possible to use the phones GPS without having cell coverage so why not receive radar? I wouldn't mind even using some kind of USB adapter (or Bluetooth) to connect to a seperate receiver if needed to get this info from either GPS or even an XM/Sirius signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a way to view live weather radar on my phone in an area where there is no cell signal?

[bfaber]

Originally Posted by flyhigh

I'm looking for an app which would let me view live weather radar on my phone (touch pro) without using the cell radio. I'd like to be able to use my phone in an airplane or boat where there is no cell signal and still get live radar. I'm not sure if this is possible but it does seem plausible. It is possible to use the phones GPS without having cell coverage so why not receive radar? I wouldn't mind even using some kind of USB adapter (or Bluetooth) to connect to a seperate receiver if needed to get this info from either GPS or even an XM/Sirius signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a way to view live weather radar on my phone in an area where there is no cell signal?

I don't believe this is possible. Every time I've seen weather done on GPS devices, it's been done via a non-GPS signal, FM spectrum from the looks of it and the TP has that part disabled...

[mstevens]

Forget doing this on a cellphone for a moment. Do you know of ANY device on which it is possible to receive any signal other than GPS data using the GPS antenna? If so, perhaps it's possible on a phone.

Personally, I strongly doubt there's any practicable means to alter the GPS antenna and radio to receive from other satellites. GPS data streams are just limited to... well, GPS data. Not weather radar or porn movies.

As far as airplanes go, IMO you're better off as a pilot not relying on a cell phone and its tiny screen for your weather radar (unless, I suppose, you're talking purely about backup). A Touch Pro is not avionics. If you're talking about using this in someone else's plane, keep in mind that the regs prohibiting cell phone usage are actually regs prohibiting radio receivers and transmitters being used in the passenger compartment- it's just that cell phones are the most common example of such a thing.

As far as boats go, I don't think you have any business relying on a device this small for weather radar when you're far enough offshore that there's no cellular signal if you're in charge of the vessel.

Of course, that's just me. Perhaps there is some actual use for live weather radar a few inches across in a plane or boat that's out of cellular range that I just haven't thought of.

[PuckSR]

So many things wrong with these posts. I feel obligated to clear them up.
Let us start with some random mistakes...

"If you're talking about using this in someone else's plane, keep in mind that the regs prohibiting cell phone usage are actually regs prohibiting radio receivers and transmitters being used in the passenger compartment- it's just that cell phones are the most common example of such a thing."

This is wrong. This is completely wrong.
The "regs" regarding using a cell phone in a plane are FCC regulations, and they ONLY ban cell phone usage. They ban ALL cell phone usage in a plane(for communication issues). There are other FAA regulations(which I will not discuss), but the FCC regulations against cell phones in planes has nothing to do with safety of the plane. It is a bit complicated, but it involves a potential problem with cell systems.
NO ONE can use a cell phone in a plane(including the pilot). Many small aircraft pilots have been known to use a cell, but they are technically in violation of FCC regs
However, the pilot uses all kinds of approved communications equipment(but not a cell).

Next....
"I'd like to be able to use my phone in an airplane or boat where there is no cell signal and still get live radar. I'm not sure if this is possible but it does seem plausible"
It isn't plausible..
GPS transmits at 50bit/s
Let me put it to you this way. Let us say you wanted to download a 100kb picture(size of a picture that would fill your screen(assuming compression)) It would take half an hour to receive the picture. Also, in that half hour, the GPS satellites wouldn't be sending any time data(which is how you determine your position.
GPS is simply a clock. It does not broadcast any additional information.

"I wouldn't mind even using some kind of USB adapter (or Bluetooth) to connect to a seperate receiver if needed to get this info from either GPS or even an XM/Sirius signal. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a way to view live weather radar on my phone in an area where there is no cell signal?"
You could use a satellite phone
but you probably just want to purchase a device specifically designed for this type of stuff.
try http://www.sirius.com/marineweather
or visit your local marine outfitter(he can probably tell you more than I can)

At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do with a radio or antenna. They aren't magical devices, they are simply electrical machines. Asking if GPS can suddenly pick up weather radar is a bit like asking if you can make your bicycle fly.

Hope that was informative for everyone

[mstevens]

Originally Posted by PuckSR

This is wrong. This is completely wrong.

You're saying I can use my remote-controlled car or my FRS radio in a commercial airliner during flight without running afoul of any regulations?

[ESsprint]

What fcc regs are there that prevent cell phone use in a small plane? Just curious as I have never heard of it.

[sdlucky7]

Just wanted to throw a few things our there to the masses:

http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/...fm?newsId=6275

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Gu...C?OpenDocument

[PuckSR]

No...I said that there were regulations regarding all sorts of electronics.
Specific targeting of cell phones is an FCC issue.
I had to avoid discussing FAA regulations for professional reasons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_on_aircraft

This has some extra information.
SDLucky7's link essentially agrees with my post(and links to relevant information)

BTW, there is strong evidence to suggest that cell phones(or more specifically cell-phone like devices) will never be allowed on planes. Not for a legal reason, but because it would be highly annoying. Why do I say this? Recent roll-outs of wireless internet aboard airplanes have all blocked voip services(this seems to be less of a bandwidth issue and more a fear of customer complaints). That is just my opinion though.

[Laos101]

3G is used for internet because its the most reliable method available to transmit data over radio signals.

in the end, with the right equipment, any form of radio transmitter can send data, but at different bit rates.

For example, a Ham Radio can be used to transfer an internet connection across a range as far as the transmitting and receiving antennas can perceive (although there will be a lot of heat emitted from the equipment). But you get something like a few bytes per second. In other words, it would take you hours to download a 10 KB set of data. This form of data transfer is used best for sending custom made data that is either compressed or converted into a code that can be decoded. This is getting REALLY into it though.

Anyways, to explain shortly, all communications use radio frequencies in different spectrums which range from MHZ, to GHZ. One of the popular ones you know is the 2.4GHZ frequency set, AKA WiFi

To add to the post below, I dont know why they dont allow communication, because it's honest B.S. They claim radio frequencies, which is seriously not true, there are enough communications on the same frequency for decades that still cause no interference, and as for being able to comprehend a problem occurring, thats a lie because nobody is ready for disaster and if there is disaster, they will be slow to respond. I guess complaints is the only possibility.