[Elecraft] April 6th GPS Reset

[na5n at zianet.com]

Fred Jensen writes:

> Eventually, the 10-bit register holding the week number will overflow  
> and reset to zero. That's all that's happening, it happens every 1,024  
> weeks, the first was in Aug 1999.

The GPS reset has been the source of hysteria in various circles, including  
exhaustive discussions on the various private pilot and drone forums, since  
most aircraft and drones use GPS for real time positioning and navigation  
while in flight.

In short, when this happened in 1999, changes were made to lengthen the  
roll over period to beyond our lifetime.  The April 6 rollover only effects  
older GPS devices with the 10-bit registers.  Basically, every GPS embedded  
device made in the last 10-15 years or so will not be affected - only the  
first generation devices.

There are absolutely no warnings or cautions on the websites for Garmin,  
Magellan, or Trimble showing it is a non-issue for their GPS devices - not  
even mentioned.  The FAA has a list of the very few GPS devices used in  
older private aircraft that could be effected, only if in flight when the  
rollover occurs.  With 10,000+ people in the air at any moment, there would  
be a huge air of caution by the FAA and airlines if the rollover had any  
chance of effecting the GPS devices now in use.  In this case, "Silence is  
golden."

73, Paul NA5N