GPS gets a noisy new neighbor
February 7, 2011 11:40 AM Subscribe
LightSquared is a small telecommunications company that wants to get on the 4G LTE wireless bandwagon. All the desirable frequency bands were taken, so they bought up a satellite company, and are going to use a satellite band instead. So far, so clever. The problem is that the band is immediately adjacent to the GPS "L1" band, and GPS signals will be blocked in the vicinity of Lightsquared's much more powerful base stations.
The FCC fast-tracked Lightsquared's approval and suspended some of its standard procedures, raising additional eyebrows. Garmin has already demonstrated that Lightsquared's base stations will interfere with its receivers. Lightsquared's apparent solution is for everyone to get new GPS receivers.
The FCC fast-tracked Lightsquared's approval and suspended some of its standard procedures, raising additional eyebrows. Garmin has already demonstrated that Lightsquared's base stations will interfere with its receivers. Lightsquared's apparent solution is for everyone to get new GPS receivers.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Whoops, two locations at once! -- mathowie
http://www.metafilter.com/100312/Too-many-signals-not-enough-spectrum
posted by theclaw at 11:49 AM on February 7, 2011
posted by theclaw at 11:49 AM on February 7, 2011
« Older RIP Brian Jacques | Some people learn lessons the hard way. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:49 AM on February 7, 2011