Re: Galileo - what for?

Mark McIntyre wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:02:44 GMT, in sci.geo.satellite-nav ,
> nospamronlee@xxxxxxxxxx (Ron Lee) wrote:
>
> >Obviously the EU propaganda is working. Was GPS shut off during the
> >events in IraQ? NO.
>
> Incorrect. GPS accuracy was deliberately bollixed during the conflict,
> to hamper enemy activity. The coalition had kit to descramble the
> signal.

It's well known that the US military has the means to degrade or
completely jam the civilian signal in localized areas if that's deemed
necessary, but I haven't seen any clear indications that such actions
were actually taken in Iraq. During the first Gulf war the military
even turned off the old SA degradation so that US and other coalition
forces could use civilian GPS units to supplement the supplies of
military-spec units. As for the current conflict, there have been
quite a few people who were deployed there who have participated in
GPS-related discussion groups. Many used their own civilian GPS
receivers and I have yet to see any reports indicating that reception
was deliberately degraded (note that having unintentional interference
from strong nearby radio transmitters is a separate issue). There are
even some geocaches now located in Iraq that soldiers search for while
off duty.
>
> >Was GPS shut off when Islamo-terrorists attacked the US? NO.
>
> How do you know? Were you outside with your GPS on 09/10 checking it?

What would you have expected to see on the day before the attacks?

But certainly there are plenty of people in NY and DC who regularly use
civilian GPS units and it would be known immediately if their operation
were affected. There was an official announcement shortly after 9/11
that GPS had not been deliberately degraded or jammed and that there
were no plans to do so.

.

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