Re: [Paddlewise] SPOT - Yes, it floats but....

From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 13:41:19 -0700
On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 9:32 AM, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:

> I'm confused by one aspect of Derek's report:  why can't the unit
> communicate via wireless transmission with its satellite(s) when on its
> back?  Is there some sort of shield which prevents radio waves from going
> through it?
>

I suspect that the antenna for SPOT includes a radiator (the "driven
element") and a reflector which would be used to help focus the RF energy in
the approved direction; namely, up. If I were the designer I would want as
much energy as possible to go "up" as energy focused "down" would not be the
direction a designer would imagine the satellites to be.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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Received on Wed Oct 08 2008 - 13:41:32 PDT

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