Lost in Space: GPS System May Soon Begin Deteriorating

Dishing out inaccurate directions?

GPS gives directions?

The watchdog group GAO (Government Accountability Office) has stated that the GPS system could go bad.

Each GPS satellite transmits data that indicates its location and the current time. Nothing about it giving directions.

All GPS satellites synchronize operations so that these repeating signals are transmitted at the same instant. The signals, moving at the speed of light, arrive at a GPS receiver at slightly different times because some satellites are farther away than others. The distance to the GPS satellites can be determined by estimating the amount of time it takes for their signals to reach the receiver. When the receiver estimates the distance to at least four GPS satellites, it can calculate its position in three dimensions.

A problem would be the receiver and how it interprets and how it uses the data in a program that tells you directions. Being among tall building a trees can affect the GPS reception too.

The Airforce says it is unlikely that a problem will occur as they have 30+ satellites on orbit now. They will launch another in Aug 09, and again early 10. Going below 24 won't happen, the Air Force said, counting on an improvement in its ability to get satellites into space.

Jon

Sad, I hope that the powers that be are made aware and put the funding there.....maybe some international money would be a good idea.

The new German/European system is not worth the investment......

The problem is the mindless masses will get it funded in fear of nothing and the public masters will pad their pockets some more.

I wonder when they will use the cellphone system for pinpointing your location and use it for NAV.

It's coming.

Sorry which NAV?

What you mean they don't already locate you by your cell phone. Big brother only plays inept when they find it useful.

They are able to locate me but I want to see a Navigation system that uses the cellular system instead of satellites for populated area navigation.

My Roadster has GPS NAV with a woman's voice telling me what to do. (As if I don't get enough of that.)

My SUV doesn't and my cell phone has GPS NAV. I took a wrong turn in Eastern Washington last winter and my phone talked me back in the right direction.

My cousin, the EE, uses several GPS NAVs, all with synthetic voices giving directions. When we go on road trips here in eastern Washington state, they say "recalculating" a lot. After he realizes my way is faster he sets way points so they can find the fastest route.

They are a nice aid but are still buggy.

Brad

My Nav doesn't tell me that she is doing maintenance routines except for the calculation when I enter my destination.

If I miss a turn or divert from my original destination she takes my through a correction route. If I go off track and go shopping she will guide me to my original destination when I get going again.

Loosing the required number of satellite contacts while going down into a coulee causes recalculations too I guess.

Nice friendly NAV.