[SixClub] LightSquared's potential interference to GPS

[K8RI on six]

On 2/12/2011 1:53 PM, KA2AEV at aol.com wrote:
> What will be the conquences to the Military and the people like open water
> shipping
Open water ships would be well out of the range for the interfering 
signals which are in the  1525 to 1559 MHz band .
Military?   I'll skip my thoughts on that, except I doubt it'd be a 
problem (for now) in any other country.
However, if it does bother the military I think the implementation will 
get scrubbed or at least scrubbed in some specific areas.
> who
> rely on GPS for proper fixes to this let alone the ordinary user like you
> and me
> whenthey start their testing on Febr. 25???
> Anyone know?
> Seems like it really would not effect us to badly but a  Military system or
Big ships, probably no problem. Us? Aviation in general be it commercial 
of general aviation? Quite likely big time.
Many planes now use only GPS for precision landing. Depending on the 
terrain minimum descent altitude on an instrument approach may be only 
200 feet above the surface and those with auto land takes them right to 
the runway.

At 200 feet I would normally be descending at roughly 800 fpm.  As an 
over simplification, that's only 15 seconds from the wheels hitting the 
runway IF I'm where I should be.  I could be over the theater complex 
just to the side of final approach.

The point is, for the consumer this is something nice to have, or want, 
but it is not a necessity nor is broadband for everyone. Yes I have 
broadband and I'd hate to be without it, BUT I would survive. I'd also 
spend a lot more time on things other than the Internet.<:-))

In the end, I think public safety may trump the broadband as every cell 
phone has GPS in it to aid location needs.  The same is true for 
internet based phones which must use GPS signals for emergency 
location.  That was the big failing of early Internet based phones as 
there was no way for them to access local 911 automatically.

> a
> BIG ship out at sea that needs GPS would really get screwed
> Mike
>
>
> In a message dated 2/12/2011 12:44:10 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> doc at kd4e.com writes:
>
> It  appears that someone associated with LightSquared must be a big
> donor to  the Democrat Party and/or more-specifically Mr. Obama.
I don't think it's LightSquared per se , but rather the "broadband for 
everyone" promise/goal. It sounds good, is nice to have, is not a 
necessity for most, is political, and the money could be better spent 
elsewhere.  After all some countries have a better broadband penetration 
than the US so we have to one-up them.

73

Roger (K8RI)