Satellite goes out when it rains...so why doesnt your cell phone?

Question

Digital cable goes out during the rain...Satellite goes out when it rains...so why doesnt your cell phone??? they all use satellite technology....just one of those things that make you go hmmmmm?

Answer 1

The satellite is in synchronous orbit at about 27,000 miles and uses a much high frequency, from 12 to 18 gigahertz. You cell phone is in the 800 megahertz range and typically only has to reach a few miles to find the nearest cell tower, which is on the ground. I'm not sure about digital cable. Maybe they use some microwave links before it reaches the cable going to your house.
As far as the satellite TV goes, you can get a larger dish that will reduce the rain fade. The are very common in areas that get a lot of rain.

Answer 2

The satellite's position over the earth always stays the same so that you don't have to repoint your dish every few minutes. There is only one orbital radius where satellites can remain over the same spot on earth and that's at a distance of 22,300 miles above the earth's surface.

A signal coming from that distance and spread out to cover the whole United States will be a lot weaker than the cell phone signal that only has to go a few miles. Cell phones by the way, do not communicate directly with satellites but to a nearby tower. That's why you see so many towers everywhere.

In addition the satellite tv signal is broadcast at 12 GHz which is affected much more by rain drops than is either 900 MHz or 1900 MHz, the two common cell phone frequencies.

Answer 3

Satellite television works in the 12 GHz band. Unfortunately, radio waves in this band get bent, or "refracted," by liquid water. Snow, hail, water vapor, and clouds do not affect satellite signals but liquid water does. It's a fascinating problem that only affects signals above around 10 GHz which includes just about all satellite TV.

Cell phones work in 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. Those frequencies are not affected by rain but they are affected by solid objects like buildings and trees. Cell phones do not use satellites.

The GPS system and its satellites work at 1.5 GHz and are not affected by rain but they are affected by buildings and trees, but it helps since 12 or more satellites can be "seen" at one time.

Digital cable only goes out the rain because your local cable company has let their cable system deteriorate. A cable system can run in any weather, but old and broken cable equipment does not.

Answer 4

it goes out because it is receiving a signal from thousands of miles up. That signal has to come thru the clouds producing the rain. They are also in the 10GHZ range.

At least u get a good near term weather forecast.

Cell phone signals travel below the cloud (usually) and only for a few miles at most.They are also in the 1-2GHZ range

The higher the freq the more likely they are to be stopped by clouds, buildings, mountains, etc. GPS signals have the same issues.

Answer 5

mmmmm
u r talking logically..
but i don`t what about the quality of the mobile to broadcast
and what about the sound..

i think it will be much more wonderful if it in on ur pc so that u have sound system and monitor with at least 15 inch
and this is already done

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hope it can help