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GPS Interference to Public Safety

By Raymond Carlson posted 03-01-2011 18:29

  

First heard about this last week from a users group.  I thought it sounded fishy when I read how the FCC had by-passed their own policies and requirements for applications.

 

This will effect anything GPS;  Logging recorders, radio systems, CADS locations systems, aircraft navigation on approaches, ankle bracelet monitoring of offenders, covert tracking and vehicle bugs.  EVERYTHING.  The GPS Industry indicates that depending on the product, that between ½ to 3 miles from one of these base stations, a GPS receiver will be affected.

LightSquare is using a loop hole to place ground transmitters (high power) in the channel directly below the GPS channels because they purchased the satellite systems which allow them to use ATC (ancillary terrestrial compotents) on the ground.

 

I know the attached link is long but it explains the political side of the decisions.   All the vendors, NTIA (who represents the military and Feds radios stuff) and the GPS manufactures,   have all filed protests against this.

 

I believe that several groups are going to be publishing trade articles soon exposing this.  Food for thought.  This is worst that the NEXTEL rebanding stuff, because this is intentional from greed.

See the link below.


Ray Carlson

http://www.nlpc.org/stories/2011/03/01/will-fccs-political-favor-harbinger-hedge-fund-result-gps-interference




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Comments

Jon Hill
04-07-2011 18:13

Ray - From what I know having followed this issue for over ten years (The ATC license was issued in 2004), much of the dialogue at (or referenced) the link you provided is political in nature being put forth by a well-known political activist.
In fact, the FCC order that was recently issued was conditional on cooperative study and reporting by the NTIA, The GPS Council, and LightSquared. No service will take place until all including the FCC are satisfied.
This is not - as the wirters at the link you provided - a recent issue with the FCC order in January of this year.(See link below) Interference issues have been a concern going back to patents preceeding the filing of the request in 2001. In my opinion - a visit to the White House kicked off a political windstorm - while the real interference work is being done by those who should be doing it. That and an FCC process that is supposed to make darn sure it does. But that's another matter.
Jon Hill
Actual Order by FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0126/DA-11-133A1.pdf