Could you live without Sat Nav?
Discussion
1. Think it's saved my marriage....
My wife's map reading is poor & I feel better when she' not driving when I'm in a fit state to drive.
2. It's a massive aid in my job....
In a previous airline when flying aircraft with non-GPS updated nav systems, it was not uncommon to get 4 miles of map shift at the end of a long crossing of the pond (this is within recognised navigation performance tho). Now things are much more accurate!!!
My wife's map reading is poor & I feel better when she' not driving when I'm in a fit state to drive.
2. It's a massive aid in my job....
In a previous airline when flying aircraft with non-GPS updated nav systems, it was not uncommon to get 4 miles of map shift at the end of a long crossing of the pond (this is within recognised navigation performance tho). Now things are much more accurate!!!
Don said:
MoggyMuncha said:
jbudgie said:
ewenm said:
V8mate said:
I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.
GallileoMy bet is that in the current economic situation it will be quietly shelved. The Americans have GPS. The Russians have a system, I believe. Europe wanting it's own was largely political.
Or:
Until fairly recently it was deliberately inaccurate, to stop other people using it properly, but they have changed that now. We had to do 'corrections' in our job, by comparing the indicated GPS position to a known land based position, (base station) then broadcasting the differences to our ships regularly.
They can easily go back to that system, just to pee people off.
Rob. said:
King Herald said:
Until fairly recently it was deliberately inaccurate, to stop other people using it properly, but they have changed that now.
Possibly a stupid question but what determined the fact it was deliberately inaccurate?Edited by otolith on Friday 22 May 09:32
Rob. said:
King Herald said:
Until fairly recently it was deliberately inaccurate, to stop other people using it properly, but they have changed that now.
Possibly a stupid question but what determined the fact it was deliberately inaccurate?My first car was blessed with all of 36 bhp from its 1172cc engine. 0-60 if you were patient and brave enough, took 29.4 sec. Allegedly. Flat out it would do about 71 mph until something broke. It had cross-ply tyres, drum brakes, a 3-speed gearbox with no synchromesh on 1st, no seat belts or air bags, manual steering, pneumatic wipers, the seats didn't even lock to the floor, dozing glow worms lived in the so-called headlamps and would just about illuminate a few feet of road if the dynamo was charging properly. Starting the thing took skill balancing choke, throttle and yanking on the cable-operated starter. It came with but 2 'optional extras' - a heater and a windscreen washer (manually pumped). It didn't even have a radio - and, when it was made, if you wanted to go on a long journey, the AA would bind together a route description leaflet with turn-by-tun directions such as "At the white house, turn left onto the B4567". They would send these to you even for motoring 'on the continent'.
Could I live with that today. Errm, not bloody likely.
My current car is blessed with 354 bhp from its supercharged 3200 cc engine. 0-60 takes 4.8 sec and flat out it is restricted electronically to 155 mph. Without the limiter, it would do about 180 mph. It has excellent Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 radial tyres, brutally efficient cross-drilled disc brakes, a 5-speed automatic gear box, seat belts, lots of air bags, power steering, heated screen wash and headlamp wash, electric seats with heaters, highly effective xenon headlights, air conditioning and heating. Starting is automatic - just turn the key for a moment and the start sequence is then controlled by the engine management unit. It has a radio with RDS and a hands-free cellphone.
And guess what, instead of someone having to read the AA route description, my Garmin nüvi 660 knows where it is, so can read the turn-by-turn directions out loud!
That, I think is progress.
Although when I had that Ford 100E, there were a lot more roads where I could try to get it up to 70 mph than there are roads today where I can legally drive my infinitely safer SLK32 AMG at 70 mph.
That, I regret, is NOT progress!
So I guess I could live without my GPS - but why should I? It is just as much part of modern, safe comfortable motoring as anything else invented in the last 40 years!
Could I live with that today. Errm, not bloody likely.
My current car is blessed with 354 bhp from its supercharged 3200 cc engine. 0-60 takes 4.8 sec and flat out it is restricted electronically to 155 mph. Without the limiter, it would do about 180 mph. It has excellent Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 radial tyres, brutally efficient cross-drilled disc brakes, a 5-speed automatic gear box, seat belts, lots of air bags, power steering, heated screen wash and headlamp wash, electric seats with heaters, highly effective xenon headlights, air conditioning and heating. Starting is automatic - just turn the key for a moment and the start sequence is then controlled by the engine management unit. It has a radio with RDS and a hands-free cellphone.
And guess what, instead of someone having to read the AA route description, my Garmin nüvi 660 knows where it is, so can read the turn-by-turn directions out loud!
That, I think is progress.
Although when I had that Ford 100E, there were a lot more roads where I could try to get it up to 70 mph than there are roads today where I can legally drive my infinitely safer SLK32 AMG at 70 mph.
That, I regret, is NOT progress!
So I guess I could live without my GPS - but why should I? It is just as much part of modern, safe comfortable motoring as anything else invented in the last 40 years!
Edited by nickwilcock on Monday 15th June 20:01
Just brought my first sat nav yesterday afternoon, it's a Tomtom Live XL.
Previously I could live without it, I just used a road atlas of Britain to work out my route, then on my way I could read the signs to guide me to my destination or any diversion signs if any closures or in case I do get lost just ask friendly passer-by to get you back on your feet.
Will be interesting to see how I get on during a longer journey.
Previously I could live without it, I just used a road atlas of Britain to work out my route, then on my way I could read the signs to guide me to my destination or any diversion signs if any closures or in case I do get lost just ask friendly passer-by to get you back on your feet.
Will be interesting to see how I get on during a longer journey.
Tazfan said:
The world's Global Positioning System (GPS), a global navigation satellite system, could collapse next year, warns US officials.
GPS uses a network of satellites that orbit the earth and beam signals back to pinpoint exact locations. These satellites are overseen by the US government.
However, a recent study revealed that the lack of investment in the satellites coupled with mis-management could see the system collapse, causing failures or the wrong information and directions being issued.
"It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption," the report said, despite the fact that $2bn is being spent on the system. "If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.
"In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals. It encountered significant technical problems ... [and] struggled with a different contractor," the report added.
The first replacement satellite was expected at the start of 2007. However delays and technical problems mean its launch has been pushed back to November this year, which is nearly three years later than first planned.
Impossible that it will fail as it is an integral part of the US militaryGPS uses a network of satellites that orbit the earth and beam signals back to pinpoint exact locations. These satellites are overseen by the US government.
However, a recent study revealed that the lack of investment in the satellites coupled with mis-management could see the system collapse, causing failures or the wrong information and directions being issued.
"It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption," the report said, despite the fact that $2bn is being spent on the system. "If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.
"In recent years, the Air Force has struggled to successfully build GPS satellites within cost and schedule goals. It encountered significant technical problems ... [and] struggled with a different contractor," the report added.
The first replacement satellite was expected at the start of 2007. However delays and technical problems mean its launch has been pushed back to November this year, which is nearly three years later than first planned.
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