Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
A realist is someone who points out that the glass is actually the wrong size.....
GPS: death by solar flare ?
- Thread starter sarabande
- Start date
theforeman
Well-Known Member
Re: DEATH ....
by a thousand disaster plans /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
by a thousand disaster plans /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Ah sure I wouldn't worry too much about it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif By then we'll all be using 3rd generation GPS which makes extensive use of ground augmented signals anyway, and sure by then Galileo will give a true heading to Brussels. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
So the celestial nav course I'm starting might turn out to be useful. I think I'll buy one of those cool digital sextants that has the almanac built in along with sight reduction software, and an accurate time piece. Take three sights, press a button and hey presto your long/lat is displayed on an LCD panel.
So the celestial nav course I'm starting might turn out to be useful. I think I'll buy one of those cool digital sextants that has the almanac built in along with sight reduction software, and an accurate time piece. Take three sights, press a button and hey presto your long/lat is displayed on an LCD panel.
DaveS
Well-Known Member
I can't get your link to work.
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I can't get your link to work.
[/ QUOTE ]
Here it is www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/geninfo/Volpe%20Slides.ppt
I can't get your link to work.
[/ QUOTE ]
Here it is www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/geninfo/Volpe%20Slides.ppt
Ships_Cat
Well-Known Member
Re: GPS: Solar cycle low.
I regularly get emailed solar data and the one this morning is still indicating that there is no end yet to cycle 23 (sunspot numbers are still declining and one expects several months of no activity at the bottom of the cycle). My interest stems from a long time interest in hf/mf radio propagation and the physics department I studied in did alot of the original work in propagation between antipodes (which propagation is a special case as radio amateurs who work around the world on 160m and 80m will know).
Regarding the upcoming cycle 24, for any interested I fished out this link which refers to predictions based on the Sun's conveyor belt (a respected prediction method) http://www.physorg.com/news66581392.html.
As one can see they are predicting a very low cycle for cycle 25 (the one after next) and one is predicting a "high" one for cycle 24 (the upcoming one). But by "high" they mean higher than cycle 23 (the one just ending) but only about the same as the preceding two and not as high as cycle 19 (around 1960 and one of the highest ever).
Wikipedia has a piece on past cycles and cycles of the cycles at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_variation which may be of interest to some.
John
I regularly get emailed solar data and the one this morning is still indicating that there is no end yet to cycle 23 (sunspot numbers are still declining and one expects several months of no activity at the bottom of the cycle). My interest stems from a long time interest in hf/mf radio propagation and the physics department I studied in did alot of the original work in propagation between antipodes (which propagation is a special case as radio amateurs who work around the world on 160m and 80m will know).
Regarding the upcoming cycle 24, for any interested I fished out this link which refers to predictions based on the Sun's conveyor belt (a respected prediction method) http://www.physorg.com/news66581392.html.
As one can see they are predicting a very low cycle for cycle 25 (the one after next) and one is predicting a "high" one for cycle 24 (the upcoming one). But by "high" they mean higher than cycle 23 (the one just ending) but only about the same as the preceding two and not as high as cycle 19 (around 1960 and one of the highest ever).
Wikipedia has a piece on past cycles and cycles of the cycles at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_variation which may be of interest to some.
John
bilbobaggins
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
So, you see, I do not have my head in the sand
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, then , my dear old pussy, where exactly is it that you have your head in, at present.....?
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
So, you see, I do not have my head in the sand
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, then , my dear old pussy, where exactly is it that you have your head in, at present.....?
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Ships_Cat
Well-Known Member
How about on pragmatic shoulders? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
John
John
Bergman
Well-Known Member
Hmmm
A bit confused by this
Not sure how many solar flares have occured in the last 10 years but must have been a few.
I have not heard of any receivers being put out of action which leads me to question the data a bit.
For sufficient energy to damage a receiver on the surface would call for an enormous amount of power, the sort of levels which one would worry about health hazards.
As for the satellites, yes there is a risk of damage, not only from solar flare but also from space debris and from a variety of "particles". That is why the network has a degree of over provision.
You see the GPS system was always meant as a military system first, and like military always are, they are conscious of possibility of losing assets and invariably (almost) have contingencies in place, and you cant use a sextant while flying a F16
So I would say that having the ability to navigate without GPS is a sensible precaution, not specially for solar flares, but for much simpler things like breaking the wire to the antenna, or losing electrical power, dropping the hand held overboard or... or..... or.
As someone in a similar line of work I sympathise with your enthusiasm but perhaps if you temper it a bit. Its very easy to be seen as some doomsday merchant and by that you lose your credibility - which does not help anyone.
Real world is that there are plenty of disasters to go round, no need to develop any new ones.
A bit confused by this
Not sure how many solar flares have occured in the last 10 years but must have been a few.
I have not heard of any receivers being put out of action which leads me to question the data a bit.
For sufficient energy to damage a receiver on the surface would call for an enormous amount of power, the sort of levels which one would worry about health hazards.
As for the satellites, yes there is a risk of damage, not only from solar flare but also from space debris and from a variety of "particles". That is why the network has a degree of over provision.
You see the GPS system was always meant as a military system first, and like military always are, they are conscious of possibility of losing assets and invariably (almost) have contingencies in place, and you cant use a sextant while flying a F16
So I would say that having the ability to navigate without GPS is a sensible precaution, not specially for solar flares, but for much simpler things like breaking the wire to the antenna, or losing electrical power, dropping the hand held overboard or... or..... or.
As someone in a similar line of work I sympathise with your enthusiasm but perhaps if you temper it a bit. Its very easy to be seen as some doomsday merchant and by that you lose your credibility - which does not help anyone.
Real world is that there are plenty of disasters to go round, no need to develop any new ones.