Mobile broadband disrupts GPS

[Johnny_L.A]

More Tests Show GPS Interference From LightSquared’s Network

A new set of government tests showed that LightSquared’s proposed mobile broadband network disrupted the signal strength to all GPS devices in the test area, dealing another setback to the company’s startup plans.

While all global-positioning system devices tested were affected, the severity of the loss of service varied, said Deane Bunce, co-chair of the National PNT Engineering Forum, a federal advisory group of engineers that oversaw the government tests. Mr. Bunce, speaking at a federal government advisory group hearing Thursday, said some devices lost signal strength while others were knocked out completely.

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The government tests suggest that LightSquared’s GPS issues are more wide-spread than previously known. Last week, construction giant Deere & Co. reported that during recent testing in New Mexico, LightSquared’s network hobbled it’s GPS systems more than 20 miles away. Local law enforcement also reported police cars and ambulances lost GPS signals.

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The [FAA and Defense Department] are worried the network will knock out GPS systems in aircraft, next-generation air traffic control systems and military equipment.

I’m reminded of the Wiki article on the Eagle Helicycle, which has uncited claims that a couple of crashes were caused by RF interference with the helicopter’s electronic governor. That issue was solved with better shielding on the consumer end. Considering the number of GPS units out there – and I mean higher-end ones, as mentioned in the linked article – it doesn’t sound feasible to retrofit all of them to protect them from LightSquared’s network.

[UncleRojelio]

I don’t understand why LightSquared is still trying to get this approved. Sure, technically they should be able to use that spectrum but realistically it has been shown to be very disruptive. I wish those guys would pack it in, take their losses and go home.

[Johnny_L.A]

I think their doggie bag would contain $3 billion in losses.

[UncleRojelio]

@Johnny_L.A

I think their doggie bag would contain $3 billion in losses.

If they were dumb enough to sink 3bln into a scheme they knew was going to cause problems with existing infrastructure (and arguably an much more valuable asset than yet another wireless provider), then they deserve to lose it.

[Johnny_L.A]

@UncleRojelio

If they were dumb enough to sink 3bln into a scheme they knew was going to cause problems with existing infrastructure (and arguably an much more valuable asset than yet another wireless provider), then they deserve to lose it.

I really don’t want to get political here, but it seems that it depends upon whose ox is being gored.

[UncleRojelio]

@Johnny_L.A

I really don’t want to get political here, but it seems that it depends upon whose ox is being gored.

I do think mobile broadband of the type LightSquared is proposing would be a cool thing to have. But but trying to to shoehorn that service into that spectrum is just silly. The FCC should have nipped this in the bud anyway, and would have except for one non-technical bureaucratic who allowed the study to proceed.

[DorkVader]

I predict it will struggle on until the company starts interfering with military gps (20 miles away? really? wow!!)

[UncleRojelio]

@guestchaz

I predict it will struggle on until the company starts interfering with military gps (20 miles away? really? wow!!)

So the police, fire, and ambulance services plus civilian and commercial aviation should just suck it up and go back to paper maps then?