Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

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Richary
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Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Richary » 10 February 10 5:50 pm

Researchers say the Sun is awakening after a period of low activity, which does not bode well for a world ever more dependent on satellite navigation

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8494225.stm

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blossom*
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by blossom* » 10 February 10 5:59 pm

richary wrote:Researchers say the Sun is awakening after a period of low activity, which does not bode well for a world ever more dependent on satellite navigation

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8494225.stm
That's ok. It's a few years away yet and I have HEAPS of caches I've yet to find before then :D

Powerplay
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Powerplay » 10 February 10 6:04 pm

Well that does explain why nuvi had a recalculating fit the other day just turned the poor
dear off,it had no sense of direction.. ](*,)

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Postman Pat
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Postman Pat » 10 February 10 7:12 pm

On the up side Amateur Radio is going to be more interesting. :mrgreen: \:D/

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Richary
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Richary » 10 February 10 10:56 pm

And shortwave for me if I get around to putting up a decent antenna - and moving away from the local AM transmitters!

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Papa Bear_Left
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Papa Bear_Left » 11 February 10 8:54 am

And we can all blame any DNFs on something other than our own cloth-eyes!

("I would've found it, too, if it wasn't for those damned sunspots!")

Dooghan
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Dooghan » 11 February 10 3:54 pm

The last solar max was in 2001. This was when I started caching. I still have the same problems finding caches now days as I had back then. I also placed my first cache back then. The coordinates are still fine today. I can't see it being a problem.

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Map Monkey
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Map Monkey » 11 February 10 4:40 pm

Might have to take up night caching. :-k :-"

mm

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GeoScrubers
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by GeoScrubers » 11 February 10 9:51 pm

it's the beginning of the end :shock: 8-[ ... I've seen the movie 2012 8)
:D

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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by LazyLeopard » 12 February 10 9:58 am

Folks in my local astronomical society's forum saw this story and decided there was at least one journalist in need of an education... ;)

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If
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by If » 12 February 10 10:36 pm

HOORAY !! \:D/
Finding geocaches the new fangled way has become a bit monotonous :roll:
Break out the sextants people, you're going to need them, if the twits (media journalists looking for a story, any story) believe that Uncle Sam didn't take the appropriate precautions when designing their satellites
=D> =D> =D>

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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by LazyLeopard » 16 February 10 10:44 pm

Steampunk Geocaching, anybody? ;)

Tuena
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by Tuena » 21 February 10 10:42 am

I recently used a Topographical map to locate the approximate GZ for a multi (Us & Them). Couldn't locate the initial way point so bypassed that & walked to a point that had the features mentioned in the description. Took a reading & after receiving an email from the owner, went & found WP1. My topo position was only 10 metres out! A bit dangerous to look for the actual cache by myself but there are others out there who have found WP1 only so may team up. There are probably other caches hidden in the bush which could be located in the same manner. A great deal of satisfaction in doing it this way as a opposed to following an arrow.

on4bam
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by on4bam » 22 February 10 12:04 am

Postman Pat wrote:On the up side Amateur Radio is going to be more interesting. :mrgreen: \:D/
Finally...But then again.... when solar flares/storms interfere with geocaching they interfere with ham radio too. hey may black out HF (July 2004 comes to mind as I couldn't hear anything on HF while at the North Cape in Northern Norway) for a few days.

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BigON
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Re: Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises

Post by BigON » 02 March 10 7:08 pm

OK, just out of curiosity I didi a search for a steampunk GPS, here's a couple that look interesting!

http://urbandon.blogspot.com/2009/10/st ... nched.html
http://oseland.com/?p=43
http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/0 ... st-satnav/

How about Gyroscopic footwear!
http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/cmd_202 ... _1_4_G.htm

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