[Tagging] [RFC] Feature Proposal - Cell Phone Reception

[Colin Smale]

Two users on the same network standing next to each other can get different results. They may be connected to different base stations. CDMA is a whole other can of worms.
 
There are so many variables, it's impossible to give detailed data for "cell phone reception at location X". But the original intention of the proposal was limited to campsites and a couple of other specific categories of place, which are often out in the sticks with no coverage. and I can see why it might be useful to have some kind of indication whether you can expect any kind of usable coverage at these locations. This would need to be specific about network, service provider (MVNO) and frequency band at least to be useful.
 
Some networks allow voice-over-wifi. This might be a useful thing to record - if the location operator provides wifi, you may be able to use "WiFi Calling" even if the cellular coverage is dodgy.
 
Interesting fact: Mountain rescue organisations often use SIMs from a different country, which are free to roam onto any network with a tiny bit of signal. If you are in your home state you will probably be locked to a specific network.

> On 07/08/2023 01:55 BST Mike Thompson <miketho16 at gmail.com> wrote:
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> On Sun, Aug 6, 2023 at 6:39 PM Evan Carroll <me at evancarroll.com mailto:me at evancarroll.com> wrote:
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> > While I don't disagree, that's not an argument for OSM. OSM's job isn't to mitigate real world safety issues caused by technology. It's to map generally useful geographically verifiable things.
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> I don't understand how cell coverage isn't verifiable - visit the site (e.g. campground) in question, pull out your phone, note how many bars, try to make a call, send a text, use some data (perhaps run a speed test). Yes, it is only good for your carrier, but the carrier should be recorded. Yes, there could be network congestion, or a tower could be out, but we map roads, and they can be congested, or closed due to accidents, flooding, landslides, construction, etc.  In some way, this is getting back to our roots, actually getting out and surveying, rather than just relying on satellite/aerial imagery.
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> Mike
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