For those that rely on GPS, don't go near Cyprus!
- Thread starter dolabriform
- Start date
boatmike
Well-Known Member
No one should ever "rely" on GPS. It is fundamentally an aid to navigation not a primary navigation system. Apart from the fact that it relies on electronic systems that can fail at any time it is primarily a military system owned and run by the USA and can be switched off or degraded deliberately for strategic or tactical reasons at any time, anywhere. With RAF and US based at Akrotiri and being very much in the front line regarding Syria and the middle east generally it would not be surprising if decisions were made to turn it off or as also sometimes happens deliberately feed errors into it to protect "assets"
[70521]
Well-Known Member
As long as you have paper charts, a compass, a straight edge, a 2B pencil and an eraser you will be fine. A sextant is an optional extra.
SaltIre
Well-Known Member
Leadline and some tallow also??
Gary Fox
N/A
No, it's clearly a primary navigation system in practice, used by most of the world's population, who have been relying on it for years. Seafarers, unlike most, are often trained to use more traditional methods.
Resolution
Well-Known Member
In my heyday what you really needed down that end of the Med was a galley, a plentiful supply of slaves to man the oars, and a good rhythm on the big drum.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Please tell me what the primary ones are other than a sextant, when out of sight of land, as I can't think of any
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
...and I'd hesitate to describe astro as a primary navigation system since it's weather dependent.
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Gallant Spirit
Well-Known Member
I have recently been on the receiving side of this Jamming on a commercial vessel in this area, it affected all DGNSS systems so bad we fitted special anti jamming DGNSS at great cost , we should never lose our traditional seafaring skill set
dolabriform
Well-Known Member
Any idea what they do if signal is jammed and the ship is using ECDIS, and not carrying paper charts?
Iliade
Well-Known Member
Anchor?
No, the plotter should still be able to display the chart, it is just a bugger getting the chinagraph marks off the screen.
No, the plotter should still be able to display the chart, it is just a bugger getting the chinagraph marks off the screen.
Gary Fox
N/A
Good question!
Mark-1
Well-Known Member
Yeah, or boats/ships can just stooge around if there's no vis and a need to fix a precise position before progressing.
Aircraft, on the other hand....
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Call up ground radar to guide them in ----or shoot them down-- depending on which airfield they call
?
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ip485
Well-Known Member
Once true, but aircraft now fly GPS approaches, fully reliant on GPS. RAIM predictions are checked to ensure no expected loss of integrity.
The America constellation is no longer the only one and most chart plotters provide support. Jamming trials are well published. It is true in a war zone anything is possible and you may be unwise to rely on GPS within one, but you may be unwise to be there as well ?.
Gary Fox
N/A
I wonder if any aircraft or ships still use inertial navigation systems? I bet submarines do, but maybe GPS has allowed inertial to be phased out for normal commercial operations.
SolentDavid
Well-Known Member
I’ve lost GPS coverage in that area and to the south, when flying. The aircraft I fly is, like more and more modern aircraft, navigated using GPS as the primary source of navigation.
We carry out RAIM checks pre flight and during, also, many outages are known in advanced and are shown on NOTAMS.
We carry out RAIM checks pre flight and during, also, many outages are known in advanced and are shown on NOTAMS.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
A bit like GPS if it's jammed ?
Nauti Fox
Well-Known Member
Slowboat35
Well-Known Member
With respect this is a myth that is long overdue to be shut down for good.
The US government have repeatedly and unequivocably stated that under no circumstances will GPS be "switched off". Their military rely on it as much as the rest of us do as does much of their kit which would be rendered useless without it. Civilian life would come to, if not a complete standstill then an agonising crawl without it. The economic consquences would be immense as would the furious global political outrage resulting from such a damaging move. If they ever were forced to shut it down I suspect the world wouldn't be in a mindset to be worrying about a mere few thousand aircraft and ships getting lost.
As you say it can and is locally degraded or (rarely) jammed for military reasons but this appreciably jeopardises civilian traffic and can pose a hazard to air-safety. It is and must always done with due warning by NOTAM - which we all read assiduously, I'm sure...
