GPS issue - but political too

[mdbee]

Was going to post this under electronics but then part two of the story just broke.

LightSquared says it's near breakthrough in nationwide wireless network - Washington Times

LightSquared: Did White House Pressure General Shelton to Help Donor? - The Daily Beast

[MikeinLA]

Yes, it seems like this is becoming another Solyndra. I know there has been discussion here about how it's signal can jam our GPS signals, I wonder if this controversy might slow down the implementation of their service. I admit that I haven't been following the issue too closely as I am more of a local sailor.

Mike

[emoney]

Stories like these always leave me wondering what the 'whole" story is. I'm sure that there's "influence" involved, but I also wonder if there's not lobbyists on the cell phone company side trying to get this thing shot down. Surely there wouldn't be a company allowed to stay online who's signal jammed GPS since the Military is quite dependent on the service now. It'll be curious to see how this plays out.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by emoney

Stories like these always leave me wondering what the 'whole" story is. I'm sure that there's "influence" involved, but I also wonder if there's not lobbyists on the cell phone company side trying to get this thing shot down. Surely there wouldn't be a company allowed to stay online who's signal jammed GPS since the Military is quite dependent on the service now. It'll be curious to see how this plays out.

Absolutely right, not just the military but the aviation industry, taxis, trucking, maritime industry, police, etc. etc.

Even the most rabid right wing "freedom" fanatics wouldn't let that happen.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

Absolutely right, not just the military but the aviation industry, taxis, trucking, maritime industry, police, etc. etc.

Even the most rabid right wing "freedom" fanatics wouldn't let that happen.

Here in Calgary GPS is used extensively in the oil industry and construction. The University of Calgary has a leading geomatics department; a few of my friends are geomatic engineers.

They can position rigs, girders, etc.. within millimeters.

[BentSailor]

My software work is primarily concerned with GIS/GPS related applications and, when combined with ground-based error correction, GPS is an incredible tool that will not be screwed with if government or big business has something to say about it.

I've not worked with systems that can put your position to the millimetre, but I have worked a project where the use of DGPS was deployed and it was able to place you within a couple of decimetres (i.e. under a foot). I didn't think it could get better than that, but I haven't done GIS/GPS work for the mining companies and, if anyone can put the money in for that kind of accuracy, it's them.

[mdbee]

Looks like multiple troubles for the company and technology.

Philip Falcone - News, Articles, Biography, Photos - WSJ.com

Falcone’s LightSquared Said to Disrupt 75% of GPS in Tests - Businessweek

Government says LightSquared's 4G causes GPS interference | Electronista

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by mdbee

Looks like multiple troubles for the company and technology.

Philip Falcone - News, Articles, Biography, Photos - WSJ.com

Falcone’s LightSquared Said to Disrupt 75% of GPS in Tests - Businessweek

Government says LightSquared's 4G causes GPS interference | Electronista

That company sounds just like the people who buy houses near an airport and then complain about the noise of the airplanes and demand the airlines change to accommodate them.

Falcone sounds a lot like the people who brought the financial system down in 08 as well - leveraging and "high yield" trading - codewords for selling Consolidated Moose Pasture on a large scale.

Somehow I think we don't need to worry about GPS any time soon.

[kd3pc]

Obama team strikes again.....

LightSquared CEO resigns amid revelations of company

[SloopJonB]

I can't believe that anyone continues to give any credibility to this non-story about the potential loss of, or interference with, GPS. Does ANYONE truly think the military would let their principal targeting and navigation system be affected by anyone or anything? Does anyone think that a political contributor, no matter HOW MUCH they gave Obama or anyone else, would be permitted to screw up GPS?

Even if these latest stories about the insiders / contributions / bribes are true, it would seem to me that Obamas people merely suckered that guy into writing cheques in return for supposed favours that would simply never happen.

There is NO WAY, NO HOW, NOT EVER that GPS functionality is going to be compromised by a cell phone company or anything else remotely along those lines.

This whole thing is a complete non-story and has been from the beginning.