Careful with your GPS during the next few weeks...

[Guest]

Reports that the US may be about to tinker with civilian GPS:

http://www.spacedaily.com/2003/030318154133.7p1uva5u.html

http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.a...318064.7iw&verticalID=223&vertical=Technology

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/29818.html



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[joanne2]

Great - just as we are about to buy one and use it for our first trip out onto the Solent this weekend!

Joanne

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>What a load of codswallop. They turn down selectivity then all their equipment is affected too {DUH!}

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[jfm]

Is that right Byron? The US military have special GPS sets that can get an accurate fix even when selective availability is activated to screw up the accuracy of civilian sets. Indeed, that's the whole point.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

Only if they're using civilian kit... US military kit is unaffected.

If I remember correctly though, in Gulf War 1, there weren't enough military units available, so they didn't bother.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

worst case they are going to switch back on the signal degredation taking accuracy back to the 10-30m level for normal users. DGPS or WAAS will still bring that back down unless some agreement to shut those off has been reached - can't believe that one!
If you are worried, check your readings before you set off!
Any digital communications can be disrupted, and with little regard for 'harm' but unless they completely reprogram the sats for use with different receivers, with the issues already highlighted by others, they will do themselves more harm than good!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>The difference between Civilian/Military even if selectivity is turned on is only a matter of 30 metres or so. British land forces are using bog standard kit, I can't speak about U.S. forces but would hazard a guess the G.I.Joe too has off the shelf stuff . Ships, Planes and maybe even U.S. tanks might, just might have selectivity. I will lay a penny to a pinch of poo that we will not notice an iota of difference. There is no point in playing with the selectivity anyway because the Iraqis will have the military equipment as do all armed forces world wide which is the very reason it was made more accurate a while back.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>Thanks Duncan... the voice of reason

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[Guest]

I understand it`s only in Brighton as Pres. Bush is sending sadam there for his Day skipper course. With Sun Coast of course.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Steve_D]

Thats true, and if I wanted to get a motorised handgrenade under saddams chair it might make a difference but all I want to do is find the pierheads so the selective availability is less relevant to me.

I used GPS for years on selective availability with no problems at all, alongside my trusty compass (also known to spin around for no apparent reason) and mark I eyeball (also known to get a bit blurry at times)

I think that I read somewhere that the US system is not the only one thats up there, I find it difficult to believe that the russians and chinese rely on it but I could be mistaken.

All IMHO of course

Regards

Steve D

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

They also have the capability of degrading the signal for non commercial / military users region by region. So as Byron says don't expect to see any difference here.

<hr width=100% size=1>