Has anyone been watching the news?

nightdrv · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 12:36 am

There was a news flash/story about GPS sats going down. As in, right now. I went out and checked my Nuvi 200 (yea yea, I know). and it's fine. Called a friend in CA and she reported zero signal now. She called another friend in WA, and same thing. No signal.

Is this coincedence, or is it all really going down?

Closest thing I could find to the story of the hour:

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/ ... llites.htm

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 1:13 am

yeah, pretty much the same thing is going to happen with sat radio over the next year or so

i haven't had a problem with my gps on the east coast yet

one of the reasons why theres been a slight push to use GPS and wifi triangulations, there's more than one way to do it

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 9:26 am

The areas hit hardest by this will most likely be Rescue and Military applications where accuracy saves lives. Here is some linkage:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1184550/GPS-satellite-close-breakdown-fail-2010--leading-motorists-straight-trouble.html

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 11:33 am

No problems with GPS in UT as of this AM.

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 12:34 pm

I don't think they're all failing at once... there are 24 satellites up there, they expect that some may start to fail next year, degrading service. I doubt you will all of the sudden see no service, but it could be less accurate if they don't get replacements in action.

There's tons of news articles on it, check Google:

http://news.google.com/news/more?um=1&n ... LqBS8fKr0M

No trouble with my Nuvi here in Southern Ontario yet!

nightdrv · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 1:19 am

I think the CA and WA fails are coincedence, although who knows. Thanks for the links guys... was really not up on the news till that one came up! It's strange too. The US is fully aware of the satellites failing, but have no means of repairing them now? (no more space shuttles). My stepfather used to work for NASA, then AF for 20-something years.. he says they're going to go back to the old days and use the rockets to "boost them up there". Guess we all get to look forward to more space junk, and shooting stars... aka "satellites coming out of orbit".

Well, whatever works. I feel really bad for all the military and S&R guys/girls that will be relying on the system the most. I know we're in a financial crisis, but still. :roll:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 2:41 am

i saw what i figured was a satelight fallin this last sunday early morning about 1-2am or so, maybe i saw your GPS buddy crashing

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2009 11:26 am

As long as my SAT radio still works I'm OK

Has anyone been watching the news?

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