GPS 'Selective Availability' Ends -- Where Are We Now?
from the map?--we-don't-need-no-stinking-maps dept
The US GPS system set its 'Selective Availability' levels to zero back in May 2000, and now the DoD is permanently removing the feature that allows the US to degrade GPS signal accuracy at will. While this probably saves US taxpayers a few pennies by not having to include some unnecessary signal processing parts in new GPS satellites, the decision also seems to mark a turning point in the availability of wireless location data. With more and more location based services cropping up that don't actually rely on GPS signals, such as the location-aware mobile search from Sprint and Microsoft which triangulates a caller's position between cell towers, the access to accurate location data is becoming commonplace. In fact, as more terrestrial wireless signals broadcast potentially-useful location data everywhere, the idea of using far away satellites to tell us where we are seems like an archaic concept -- and projects like Galileo begin to sound even more redundant. The adoption of GPS (or location-aware) devices reduces the uncertainty in several aspects of our lives -- giving users the sense that they *can't* get lost. So interestingly, the DoD's decision to switch from possibly hiding location information in order to keep Americans safer -- now to accepting that accurate position data is a critical component of our economy's future efficiency -- indicates a tacit admission that the open accessibility of information really does make us more secure.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: gps, lbs, location, microsoft, sprint
Companies: microsoft, sprint
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Re: archaic
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Propaganda
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Lots of towers
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Re: Lots of towers
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Re: Lots of towers
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Not having the ability to shut down access when needed would be stupid unless it was determined that other means could be used, so what's the point?
Authorities can shut down cell communications, phone communications and pretty much any other type of communication, why wouldn't we want them to have the ability to control what is known when needed?
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More Propaganda.
Further, it may be the party line that such information is critical... right up until the point where someone flies a GPS-guided model plane packed with C4 into some high-profile target.
Now, if American BUSINESSES say that such information is critical in providing pin-point advertising to consumers, then all bets are off...
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The beauty of misinformation.
Defense GPS recievers operate in a similair fashion to civilian units but have no limitations that are introduced to civilian units. Simply put they are much more accurate.
First and foremost GPS is and always has been a military project. Outside options like gallileo degrade the effectiveness of GPS as a defense tool. Thats why its being fought. The russian system itself has the same effect. However they are both rendered moot basically because of the lack of ability or funding to launch their own constellation of sattelites. Setting up a GPS constellation is no trifling matter (multiple planes of rotation times multiple satellites per plane and by the time you factor in spares in case of malfunction its no not a trvial thing to consider costs).
Military GPS is a powerful tool tactically. Location based services like navigation by triangulation of cell towers is fine for the civilian world, but as a tool it tactically has its limitations.
By removing SA all it says is they are no longer going to limit reciever accurateness but don't for a minute think they are going to give up their edge. COntrol of the GPS system will continue to be in the hands of our military. As well as the ability to manipulate its data while in theatre.
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You don't get out of the city much do you?
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If you have cellphone coverage you are not in the
GPS is not archaic. Could you imagine a jet having to rely on AT&T, Sprint or Nextel reliability to fix their position? How about a large vessel crossing the Pacific? Silly article! Where I live cellphone coverage is pretty good, but there is no way I would bet my life on it. Just too much real back country with no cellphone coverage up here.
P.S. That would be Alaska
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Differential GPS
In other words, the market worked around it. With advances in electronics by the time of the death of Selective Availability in 2000, implementing Differential GPS had become trivial and inexpensive. This means that Selective Availability is TOAB. Tits on a bull.
And to quote Wikipedia "by this point DGPS had evolved into a system for providing more accuracy than even a non-SA GPS signal could provide on its own. "
It's not the DoD lying to cover up "sekrit new tech". It's that the DoD sometimes knows when it can't nail jello to a tree.
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BMO
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GPS & cell towers
Actually, you're dead wrong. Cell towers can only triangulate client devices with very precise timing. Where does that timing come from? GPS satellites.
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They announced a change in operational policy at the same time that simply said that when the US military was operating in an area, they would jam the commercial GPS signal into oblivion, while their military GPS receivers were equipped to ignore the jamming signal and still operate.
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GPS & Cell Towers
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GPS accuracy
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Just a system upgrade
See the statement from 2003 on this website of the USCG, who are the focal point for civilian GPS usage.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/default.htm
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GPS and DoD Trade facilitation?
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I thimk when will not get cell phone for miles
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