cell phone as emergency GPS beacon

[sunnygrant]

I found the forum when I was looking for an app to use my cell phone as an emergency GPS beacon. The forum had a thread titled Emergency Scenarios With No Signal, which indicates that the cell phone and GPS signal can't be used that way.
I do a lot of hiking in 9,000ft high mountains, where there is no cell phone service. Always hike with a friend, but if one of us were hurt, it would be tough for the other one to get help back before dark.
As it turns out, I work for my local city and county, and know emergency and search and rescue personnel well, so I will ask them if there is any way a cell phone app could be configured to send a 9-1-1 beacon in an emergency where there is no cell service.
There is apparently an app for the iPhone -- Emergency Distress Beacon Cell Phone ap -- but I suspect it works when you have cell service - textually.org: Emergency Distress Beacon cell phone app
Also, I just downloaded MyTracks app. and am wondering how/if it will work with no cell service.
I've had my Droid for over a year, and just haven't taken the time to fool with it much. I was really irritated that it wouldn't complete a phone call just with voice dialing (you have to tap the OK button to actually make the phone call), until I just discovered CAR PHONE which completes the phone call hands-off. Yay!
Sunny

 

[ilikemoneygreen]

I dont believe this is possible... Sounds cool if it was. I beleive some phones have different type of gps. like cGPS or something that works off the 3g network. IT does use gps but it needs the 3g to work. I beleive this is a feature becuase on regular gps units it takes some time to aquire a signal to the satellite. Its much faster on our phones. My guess would be to buy a tom tom or something of that nature that has true GPS and can get a signal on top of the mountain. And if your on a wicked mountain such as everest...id suggest a good old expensive sat phone.

 

[sunnygrant]

Too old and decrepit to do "wicked" mountains. Am truly blessed that merely incredible mountains exist in my backyard.
I expect to use my Droid for GPS navigation when I take long car trips, so hope to not have to purchase a real (i.e., dedicated) GPS unit.
So, for now, we'll just pray for good footing <grin>.
But thanks for the reply and if you or I discover anything new and different, we'll be in touch.
Sunny

 

[ilikemoneygreen]

Too old and decrepit to do "wicked" mountains. Am truly blessed that merely incredible mountains exist in my backyard.
I expect to use my Droid for GPS navigation when I take long car trips, so hope to not have to purchase a real (i.e., dedicated) GPS unit.
So, for now, we'll just pray for good footing <grin>.
But thanks for the reply and if you or I discover anything new and different, we'll be in touch.
Sunny

lol, I see what your saying. Im in AZ, i love hiking on the trails here. Really good Mountains to climb. And i must correct myself from earlier post dGPS is what i was referring to. cGPS is a school lol. When i go hiking i bring my phone just in case but a good 70% of time i get 0bars and no 3g. If you do get stuck out their at least you have a friend. Maybe invest in a flare gun? (lots of cool factor in those.)