ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

[Admin5]

Taken from Boating Industry <br />Wednesday June 9, 2004<br /><br />ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Recreational boaters are warned to not rely on any Global Positioning System equipment near Cape Hatteras, N.C., or Jacksonville, Fla. from June 11 through June 20 as the Department of Defense will be conducting radio interference tests on the system, according to a release yesterday from BoatU.S. <br /><br />The department believes "severe disruptions to GPS service," could occur during the testing periods, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Center. <br /><br />A "Local Notice to Mariners" was recently posted and warnings are also expected to be broadcast by the Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16. However, BoatU.S. said it was concerned about the relatively short notice given to boaters and the timing of the tests. <br /><br />GPS navigation is widely used by recreational boaters and sometimes the only tool that gets them home safely. Boaters can help spread the news that on GPS – particularly the auto-pilot function should not be relied upon during these jamming tests.<br /><br />"GPS should not be relied on for navigation by boats transiting ... approximately 50-60 miles seaward" of Cape Hatteras and "out to 80 miles in the area of the Florida coast between Jacksonville and Melbourne," according to the USCG notice.

 

[neumanns]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Interesting...Hmm anybody for a conspiracy theory. Almost sounds fishy, Kinda like there not telling the whole story. Definatly a good heads up though for some who have never seen a compass.

 

[cuzner]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Might be a good to cancell any flights you have.Airplanes use gps too.<br /><br /> Jim

 

[ThomWV]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Now you would just know that my son and I are going fishing out of Oregon Inlet from the 18th through the weekend. Figgures ..... Its not like it really matters a whole lot, you go east when you want to catch fish, you go west when you want to go home.

 

[DJ]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

The government is testing some pretty powerful gear lately.<br /><br />I was up in La Vegas about six weeks ago and they were testing some jamming equipment. The gear knocked out some cell phones and went as far as disabling key fobs that unlock car doors via a transmitter.<br /><br />I thought my hair roots were tingling.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

One of these days their gonna fool around with that jamming stuff, or whatever it is that their messing with, and really screw something up bad... <br /><br />Mucho grasias for the heads up Admin5..

 

[mattttt25]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

conspiracy theory. shut up. what we do is for national defense, just remember that. oh wait, the govt is actually planning to jam your garmin system so you can't find your favorite fishing hole. yes, that's it.

 

[sloopy]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Mattttt25; shhhhhhhhh.....

 

[neumanns]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Matt, Poor choice of words on my part. I realize there are things we do not need to and should not know. And there are also capabilitys that should not be common knowledge. I was trying to refer more to the "testing" aspect, Surly there is "better areas" to test such equipment. Guess what I was trrying to say is "why there" do they suspect somthing malicious using GPS that they are trying to avert? Just seems like a dis-information or diversion for the "real reason"... May I add , Totaly acceptable and to be expected in our intrest of national security. There are some things the public is better off not knowing, still makes me curious though.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

they are probably testing some new system on a ship or sub or plane. maybe something to make them more stealthy. The GPS malfunction is probably just a side effect.

 

[PeteHarris]

Re: ATTN: FL and NC Boaters - GPS Service out June 11-20

Well ... Since you or I could buy a GPS unit that could live in an artillery shell and any third world idiot could take a Garmin, Laptop, and light civil A/C and make a smart weapon, it sure would be nice for a boat to be able to locally disable a GPS guided weapon wouldn't it.<br /><br />Nuff said