N2EY wrote:
In article , Mike Coslo
writes:


N2EY wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote in message

...


A local bike race decided to try using cell phones as an experiment last
year. The hams were along, with the knowledge that we might be
"redundant in the future. They found out:

Every person had to be called separately. When a message had to go to
the whole group, everyone had to be called.

Those who were out of coverage range did not get the messages.

Coverage over the entire course was pretty bad.

Using cell phones was an immediate and complete failure. they realized
this on the first call that had to go to everyone.


They couldn't figure all that out ahead of time?

Amazingly enough, no! Cell phones are seductive little things. After
all you can call around the world, send pictures of whatever, and even
look up your email on the web with them. So how on earth can such a
wonderful instrument *not* be good at running a race? Imagine, each and
every participant with their own little radio, ready for direct contact.


Well, there you have it: They did not understand their communications needs.

And they really don't have to. Problem is that so many people think
that they are "high-tech" when they use a cell phone or surf the web,
when in truth, they don't know one thing about what they are doing. Ask
the average person about how a cell phone works, or how that computer
works, and odds are they will draw a blank.

That's okay, as knowledge isn't mandated, but if they try to put
together a comm support network with the level of knowledge that they
*do* have, they are more likely than not to suffer failure. In other
words, they are reaching a conclusion with insufficient thought. My
thoughts are to learn to do it correctly, or allow someone that *does*
know to do their job.




- Mike KB3EIA -