IP: a "new" Iridium customer field report

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: "the terminal of Geoff Goodfellow" <geoff@iconia.com>
>To: "Dave E-mail Pamphleteer Farber" <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
>Subject: a "new" Iridium customer field report
>Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 11:38:14 -0700
>
>
>I received a new SIM chip from Iridium service provider Stratos on Friday.
>My last 3 days experience is, well, disappointing
>
>
>About 70% of my "long calls" (i.e. calls that "attempt" to last greater than
>4 or 5 minutes) DROP at around 4 mins 30 secs on the average.
>
>The voice quality still SUCKS, just as it did before the "old" Iridium
>closed down.
>
>This all seems very consistent with the Canadian DoD Iridium system
>performance report from 9/99 that is presently circulating around the net,
>see
>http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.dnd.ca/PDFS/zbc78/p512119.pdf
>
>HOWEVER, in fairness, i understand there is a new software load (INC0620)
>that is suppose to improve voice quality (and also support data). I am
>running INC0607. I do not know if INC0620 also improves on the ability to
>maintain the connection without dropping as well improving voice quality for
>as long as the call lasts).
>
>[as readers of this list know, i'm not entirely "new" to wireless, see
>http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/01/biztech/articles/17drop.html :),
>and yes, I have the antenna fully extended and maintained in the most
>vertical position possible with clear view of The Heavens -- but the "long"
>calls keep on dropping like flies and the voice quality is really sucky.]
>
>I am still willing to give the "new" Iridium service the benefit of the
>doubt until such time as my ISU is upgraded to the latest software release
>which will hopefully fix these "old" Iridium problems.
>
>Geoff Goodfellow
>Prague, CZ
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>geoff.goodfellow@iconia.com, Prague CZ * tel/mobil +420 (0)603 706 558
>"success is getting what you want & happiness is wanting what you get"
>http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/01/biztech/articles/17drop.html



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