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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
from
CNN
on
February 8, 2010
Website:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/08/loran.navigation.shutdown/index.html?hpt=T2
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by WA7KGX on February 9, 2010
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Loran-C is a descendant of Loran-A, which operated in the 160 meter region. Loran-A was used from WWII until it was gradually phased out in favor of Loran-C.
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by NC4TB on February 9, 2010
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Once again our beloved Messiah is leading us down the path to destruction. To disassemble a location system that has been used for years and is NOT VUNERABLE to cyberhacking is foolish. The amount of money saved is piddling compaired to the wasteage in the last government attempt to revive our economy. How many jobs will be lost in this misguided attempt to save money?
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by W6DLF on February 9, 2010
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I believe G. W. Bush caused the Coast Guard to close all the remaining lighthouses. They were offered to parks and even private parties. Maybe we can convert old Loran stations/sites for ham radio!
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by QRZDXR2 on February 9, 2010
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Wait until they find out that the GPS system is not all its cracked up to be. I understand that the sun may show us how bad it is when it starts a new cycle.
Like the old PERR in LA they took it out and now what years later.. putting it back in at a whopping cost.
This is not all the navigation elements that they want to shut down. The old VOR aircraft nav system in the US is also on the hit list.
Some things should remain as backups one would think. After all we already paid for it...its in place.. and best of all its time proven that it works.
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by W7ASA on February 9, 2010
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It is never wise to depend upon ONE system for navigation - particularly at sea. I practice occasionally with sextant, almanac and reduction tables, though that's mostly for enjoyment (like Morse code...). However, it could prove to be vital when I am out of sight of land. Celestial navigation -especially from a small boat- does NOT give the sort of accuracy that Loran did, nor does it work when I cannot see the sky or when I need a fix >immediately<.
While the article mentions 'other radio methods' they did not specify which methods. VOR for aircraft is quite short range when you're at sea level... They bias the article from the title onward, describing Loran C as a WW II navigation method. This is as accurate as calling the aeroplane a WW I method of flight... it's correct, but not an honest discription, due to the many advances in powered flight since 1918.
GPS is amazingly easy to jam with little in the way of technology. It happened accidentally on the Monterey Bay a few years back. The source of the jamming was found to be a cheap TV antenna amplifier that had gone into oscillation on a guy's weekend boat. Though only a few milliwatts, it was in direct line-of-sight of the channel and strong enough to interfere with the signals received from hundreds of miles in space. Imagine if an enemy wanted to disrupt 'critical national infrastructure' - especially someone with some technological backing? This would have looked like child's play.
The Department of Homeland Security was a proponent of eLoran - an updated version of Loran C for the very reason of having a back-up system which was on land, easy to control and as as ships come closer to land, the signal are stronger due to reduced distance. This is when seaborne navigation is most critical - when near land. (stay away from the 'crunchy parts' of the ocean and you'll likely be fine!). It looks like eLoran is on the ash heap as well.
>Ray
W7ASA/mm
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by K1JHS on February 9, 2010
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Most likely they will bring it back after a super tanker hits something again and it stays on the news for weeks. This is a really stupid idea. Why not just upgrade it to be even more accurate.
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by KG6YV on February 9, 2010
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IF you remember the movie "Independence Day" when the aliens attacked the only reliable method of international communication the governments of earth had was good-old "CW". I thought that was a fine statement to be sure.....
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by AE6RO on February 9, 2010
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I know from ham radio history that actual WW II Loran made 160 meters almost unusable. I'm not a mariner, just a simple ham.
My main interest in this is how the shutdown affects radio. No frequencys were given.
But everyone is right. It's better to have a backup for the hi-tech satellites and such.
But the Sun is so quiet now ... there's nothing to worry about vis-a-vis satellites. Right? 73, John
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by AE6RO on February 9, 2010
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90 to 110 KHz. Not really a ham band so back to grazing now. Baaaaaaaaa! John
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World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by KD8FTR on February 11, 2010
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Ok so whats next, eliminate maps? How many times does a disaster have to proove that technology without a large infrastructure always seems to fail much less often? I can block the signal to a gps reciever with my hand near the antenna. Try that with LORAN.
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by AA4PB on February 11, 2010
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I question the idea of using Loran-C as a "back up" for GPS.
1) Loran-C with the existing stations isn't capable of providing the coverage that we've become dependent upon with GPS.
2) Loran-C isn't capable of providing the accuracy that we've become dependent upon with GPS.
3) Most navigation users no longer have any Loran-C equipment available.
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by AE6RO on February 11, 2010
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I wonder if there will be any surplus equipment for Loran-C available? Might make good recievers. John
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RE: World War II-Era Navigation System Shut Down:
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by KE4GDC on February 13, 2010
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I don't know that I'd say "most users" don't have equipment available. I can't speak for the marine users, but a quick perusal of the general aviation aircraft market shows quite a few planes with LORAN gear still installed.
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