FAA warns pilots in Las Vegas vicinity on GPS

ozziecat35 said:
Dude, be pissed at the situation, not at the folks who are trying to inject a bit of levity into the scenario. Could it be a big deal to pilots, sure, is it the end of the world? no...that's what other navigational methods are for...hence the NOTAM.
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I get that. But it would be wasted BILLIONS of dollars if we had to upgrade ALL GPS recivers because one company wanted to transmist on a frequency that could corrupt the signal of a GPS/RNAV and make it unusuable.
 
To be fair it doesn't look like anyone even knows yet whether or not it will interrupt GPS service... hence the test.

I'm sure that if it totally blows away GPS, it aint gonna get the go-ahead.
 
moxiepilot said:
Personally I try not to get worked up about something until theressomethingto get worked up about. For folks who are gps dependent, vors are just as safe in our nas....
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I never said they (VOR's) weren't. But precision leads to enhanced saftey and speed. But if it does mess up the signal, do you honestly think it won't be a fight to the death for the side (Lightsquared) to keep there technology in place? A precious waste of everyones time and money?
 
mshunter said:
I never said they (VOR's) weren't. But precision leads to enhanced saftey and speed. But if it does mess up the signal, do you honestly think it won't be a fight to the death for the side (Lightsquared) to keep there technology in place? A precious waste of everyones time and money?
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First, it looks as if though I'm the only other person here that is as angry about this lightsquared BS as you are. Why would the FCC be so quick to grant access to these frequencies, knowing full-well the potential for interruption of GPS service, without extensive testing? I bet some upper-level FCC officials were paid-off by LightSquared for this approval.

I already asked this question before, but why doesn't the Department of Defense step in here and crush LightSquared's attempt at this network? They, being the owners of the GPS constellation, should be the final arbiter here.

Seriously, if you want ultra-high speed internet access, then wait until you get to your home/hotel and log on to your freaking computer.
 
GlenA said:
Saab 340. VOR TO VOR all day baby....
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ATR is the same, though I would hardly say it is that hard on a pilot. It is less VOR to VOR and more "Fly this heading direct XXX when able" More than likely, this GPS outage is going to be harder on the controllers too. They are the ones who have to figure out all your headings for you now.
 
Apophis said:
First, it looks as if though I'm the only other person here that is as angry about this lightsquared BS as you are. Why would the FCC be so quick to grant access to these frequencies, knowing full-well the potential for interruption of GPS service, without extensive testing? I bet some upper-level FCC officials were paid-off by LightSquared for this approval.

I already asked this question before, but why doesn't the Department of Defense step in here and crush LightSquared's attempt at this network? They, being the owners of the GPS constellation, should be the final arbiter here.

Seriously, if you want ultra-high speed internet access, then wait until you get to your home/hotel and log on to your freaking computer.
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You're not the only other one...On the other hand it shows how fragile a system GPS really is...As much as I like it's accuracy and ease of use, the more they put ground based navaides out of service (thus making GPS the primary tool for navigation, whether you like it or not it's coming...) , the less they should be able to approve this kind of crap.
 
Is the next step going to be a guy with access to Radio Shack being able to destroy an RNAV approach? I am really surprised that the DOD didn't laugh these guys out of the room when they told them they wanted to knock out signal to such a large area. Am I getting this wrong?
 
Well obviously someone in the FCC was paid off, the problem is that the FAA cant really stop the FCC from doing this, neither can the DoD which administers the GPS constellation. The very nature of satellite based navigation means that the signal strength is always going to be very low, there is just not that many watts you can get from affordable solar/radioisotope based electricity. That means it will always be easy to jam. It's too late now since all the GPS receivers have already been made but the only surefire solution to this LightSquared is if they let airplanes use the L2 frequency as well, like the European Galileo which specifies military and safety of life (air transport seems to qualify) would have it's own frequency.
 
jml2992 said:
Is the next step going to be a guy with access to Radio Shack being able to destroy an RNAV approach? I am really surprised that the DOD didn't laugh these guys out of the room when they told them they wanted to knock out signal to such a large area. Am I getting this wrong?
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Don't even need to build it yourself, can buy GPS jammers ranging in strength and size to something you might plug into your cars 12V outlet if you were concerned the FBI might put one of those warrantless tracking devices on your car to higher voltage devices - they all violate FCC regs though so are contraband.
 
The DoD should step in here and just take those frequency ranges. They should have been smart enough to block those ranges in the first place. Oh wait it just dawned on me...The have something better than GPS in the works. Since the old GPS is now unreliable due to the new fast phones you all will be forced but these new uber expensive new system....Probably owened by lightsquared too....

:end conspiracy theory:
 
This thread makes me want to watch...

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jml2992 said:
What is GPS? I have a JPS...seems to work o.k. most of the time except for crosswind landings.
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The GPS is installed next to the automatic IFR cancellator and oversquare prevention device.

Apophis said:
First, it looks as if though I'm the only other person here that is as angry about this lightsquared BS as you are. Why would the FCC be so quick to grant access to these frequencies, knowing full-well the potential for interruption of GPS service, without extensive testing? I bet some upper-level FCC officials were paid-off by LightSquared for this approval.

I already asked this question before, but why doesn't the Department of Defense step in here and crush LightSquared's attempt at this network? They, being the owners of the GPS constellation, should be the final arbiter here.

Seriously, if you want ultra-high speed internet access, then wait until you get to your home/hotel and log on to your freaking computer.
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You aren't the only one, but I'm holding back my anger on the issue because expressing it here is somewhat futile. If NextGen is truly the way, the truth, and the light...then get offa my airwaves, cell phones.
 
Article said:
The delay angered other companies participating in the group, including GPS equipment makers Trimble Navigation Ltd. and Garmin Ltd. They say LightSquared is simply trying to stall the release of tests results that reveal serious problems.
“The working group results show massive interference to GPS,” said Jim Kirkland, Trimble vice president and general counsel. “Delay will not change these results. It is disappointing that LightSquared has misused its control of the study group process filing process to delay this filing.”
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:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
 
I'm going to Vegas monday, I'll let you know what happens with my GPS.

As for navigation, I use maps and my eyeballs. I hope the towers don't interfere with that. :)
 
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