Rocky Mountain Tracking » GPS Tracking Systems

More Warnings About LightSquared GPS Receiver Interference

Mark Rummel — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:51 +0000

The company LightSquared has gained a huge amount of publicity in recent weeks, but perhaps not for the reasons it would prefer. The wireless network company ignited a controversy when it decided to stand up to GPS users, going ahead with a plan to broadcast signal on a bandwidth immediately adjacent to GPS receiver bands. Because GPS devices sometimes cross over into this adjacent band, broadcast of signal on that band occasionally shows up as interference with GPS. LightSquared stands its ground, claiming that it is illegal for GPS companies to claim protection from interference on bandwidths it does not own, and has in fact obtained preliminary approval from the FCC to go ahead with its plans. An independent association, however, is publicly joining the voices that say the potential danger to public safety is simply not worth the risk that the LightSquared network would create at this time.

The Association of Old Crows (AOC), a group made up of experts in the military technology field, wants the government to work harder to find a safe solution to the conflict before allowing LightSquared to send out a network signal that could disrupt GPS receivers. It’s not the everyday convenience of smartphone users that the group is concerned about, but the growing reliance on GPS devices by military, airline safety, and emergency response personnel. Airlines, for example, use the GPS to give pilots an accurate reading on nearby mountains. Even one glitch in a system used in any of these areas could easily cost lives, and that risk makes it essential to block the proposed LightSquared network until a safer alternative can be found. The warning is preceded by a letter sent by members of Congress to the FCC during the summer, voicing concern about the unanswered questions related to the LightSquared network.

One idea put forth by the AOC is for the government to meet LightSquared halfway, providing funding to research an alternative plan that would not affect GPS receiver signal. This would allow the company to begin broadcasting while giving authorities a little more time to find a solution to the GPS interference problem. With the speed at which essential services are incorporating GPS receivers into their everyday operations, however, they would do well to work fast.

GPS Technology: 40 Years of Innovation

Marisa O'Connor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:53 +0000

There is no doubting the impact GPS technology has had on our modern society. To many citizens, GPS may seem relatively new, showing up in high-tech vehicles a few years ago. However, the technology has been making huge waves in the scientific and military industries for years. The technology was originally developed by the U.S. military services and Defense Mapping Agency for the purposes of creating a space-based navigational system with unmatched accuracy. The program was called a Global Positioning System (GPS), and in 1973, when it first began, there was no way to foresee all the various uses available today.

Years before most lay people even heard of GPS technology, it received significant attention from the scientific community. In 1998, GPS was one of two technologies inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame, as displayed on the Space Foundation’s website: spacetechhalloffame.org. Although the technology is used worldwide, the entire 24-satellite constellation is managed by the NAVSTAR GPS Joint Program Office at the Space and Missile Systems Center near Los Angeles.

One of the aspects of GPS technology that makes it so unique, is the incredibly diverse functions. The program was originally designed for military use, but as it developed over almost 40 years, many new possibilities were discovered. Now, the Global Positioning System is considered a dual use technology for military and civil consumption. While the U.S. Air Force Space Command, the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation ultimately control and maintain the satellite system, more and more commercial uses for the technology are being developed for everyday use.

GPS technology was first introduced to the public on a massive scale with navigational systems, attached to or built-in to their vehicles. Now, just about any smartphone comes equipped with GPS, which caused a boom of mobile applications designed with the GPS capabilities in mind. WIth such versatile technology, there is no end in sight for new innovations.

Tracking Devices Locate Missing Shipments

Admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:00:17 +0000

The Federal Board of Revenue, or FBR, frequently has shipping containers that are lost or stolen while in transit in Middle Eastern countries. This issue first came to light in 2010 when the board made discoveries about this happening, and vowed that it would not continue to happen. The FBR started to use GPS technology at this point, and began tracking the containers as they were shipped. This equipment was provided by PCE, a local consulting firm that has provided the FBR with GPS technology that allows workers to track the containers with the cell phone networks on the shipping route.

With the equipment provided by PCE, the FBR was able to determine if the containers were moving to an area where they should not be, and they could also determine if the containers had been opened or tampered with. This device was made in the Middle East, and it had the capability of housing a microphone or speaker for recording conversations or sounding alarms. This enables those controlling and tracking the GPS to listen in on those near the equipment, or talk to them if needed. The FBR has also hired people for the project and has begun tracking these containers, but has yet to disclose information as to the success or failure of these tracked containers.

Afghanistan is a dangerous region, and deliveries need to be made on time so that necessary supplies can be received on time. With the containers being stolen, supplies like food, shelter, and other essentials can often go missing for long periods of time. These GPS tracking devices should enable the authorities to successfully track and monitor the delivery of shipping containers to ensure that they arrive safely and in a timely manner. By monitoring whether or not the containers have been opened, the FBR can prevent tampered goods from being used, and the speakers and microphones could provide clues that can help those in charge figure out who is behind the disappearing containers. Meanwhile, shipping companies in Afghanistan continue to wait to hear from developments to find out what progress has been made and how the containers will be protected.

Space Wars: Europe Launches Satellites to Compete With U.S

Admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:15:24 +0000

Remember all of those Star Wars movies? We’re still a far cry away from battling it out in space with sophisticated spaceships, but the dawn of space wars has come to earth in a different sort of manner. Europe now wants a slice of the space pie — largely owned by the United States at the moment.

The U.S. currently has twenty-four GPS satellites in space. If one satellite fails, another satellite can take its place. This is the structure that allows U.S. GPS satellites to function so well. Europe has been trying to launch satellites into space for awhile, though the space program was often ill-funded.

For some time now, the United States has ruled space with its impressive GPS-satellite system. In an attempt to compete with this system, Europe has launched two satellites into space. Operation Galileo (as the launch was named) was successful. The two satellites separated from the rocket that was sent into space without any major problems. By the year 2020, Europe intends to have thirty different satellites in space.

Presently, plans are underway to create and launch fourteen more satellites, which will soon bring the European satellite count to sixteen (more than half-way to the thirty-satellite goal).

Right now, the world watches and waits to see just how big Europe’s own satellite system will become.

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

GPS Introduced in 2011 Hoka Hey Challenge

Admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:29:04 +0000

Out of roughly seventy-five motorcycle riders competing in the 2011 Hoka Hey Challenge held on August 5^th, only eleven qualified for potential prizes. The Hoka Hey, in its second year, is a challenging 14,000 mile motorcycle race starting in Phoenix, AZ and ending in Nova Scotia, Canada. The course traverses 48 states and 2 Canadian provinces. The event features strict rules and guidelines, with racers asked to follow a specific course. Deviation from this course results in losing a chance at winning cash or prizes, although the rider will still receive recognition as a racer.

This year’s race featured the use of GPS tracking devices to assure that each motorcycle followed the course to the letter. Not only could event organizers track the whereabouts of the participants, friends and family cheering them on from home could check on their progress at any given time using the official Hoka Hey website as well.

Despite the addition of the devices, racers were subject to a polygraph exam in Mesa, AZ, upon completion of the event. This is due to the fact that although the device let officials know how fast the racers were traveling at any point, they had no way of knowing what the speed limit is in any given location. The rules explicitly state that competitors must obey all laws throughout the event. The polygraph assures that rules and laws were obeyed, and officials checked along the course route to see if any speeding tickets or other forms of moving vehicle violations had been issued.

There are many ways to be disqualified from a shot at winning prizes, including using a sidecar, carrying a passenger without a doctor’s note stating a driver is disabled in some way, having friends or family meet you anywhere along the way that is not an authorized checkpoint, and even sleeping in a hotel room. Participants are asked to only sleep outside, in a tent, unless a doctor’s note is provided.

2011 Hoka Hey riders met on October 8^th in Mesa, AZ, to celebrate their amazing accomplishment together. It is interesting to note that even though 11 riders qualified to win prizes, not a single rider actually took a prize home. The only thing they received was compensation for their expenses when traveling to take the polygraph.

Organizers of the challenge plan to modify the course for 2012, shortening it by half the distance, to allow more riders the chance to compete. Applications will be available on the official Hoka Hey website at some point in November.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

India to Study Tropical Climate with New GPS Satellite

Admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:05:11 +0000

On October 12, India will launch a satellite in order to study the tropical regions. They will use the satellite to study changes in both the climate and the atmosphere. This satellite will be in collaboration with the French space agency.

The Satellite
The 1,000 kg satellite will orbit 870 km at an inclination of 20 degrees in order to study the tropical regions. The satellite will include an imaging radiometer microwave analysis and detection of rain and atmospheric structures (MADRAS), a four channel scanner for radiation budget measurement (SCARAB), a six channel humidity sounder (SAPHIR), and GPS Radio Occultation System (GPS-ROS).
The satellite has a lifespan of five years and will cover tropical regions, such as Africa, Brazil, and the Indian Ocean. The Indian and French space agencies hope that the satellite will help them better understand the weather and climate in tropical regions. They are hoping to receive valuable information about cloud systems, water vapor, radiation budget, temperature, and humidity from the satellite.
The Launch
Space agency officials say the preparations are going well for the launch, which will take place at the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite is scheduled to be launched October 12. It will take a 230 tonne core rocket to launch the satellite.
Half an hour after the satellite launches, ISTRAC, the agency’s tracking and command network, will take control of the satellite. The instruments on the satellite will become operational in the weeks after lift-off.

The Mission
India is the second nation to launch a mission like this after the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). TRMM was a joint mission between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the US National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) and was launched November 27, 1997.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is covering the cost of the launch (90 crore) as well as part of the cost of the satellite and its instruments (80 crore). The French space agency Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) is paying the rest of the satellite costs of 300 crore, which is 47 million euros.

NextBus Helps Toronto Travelers Find Accurate Bus Arrival Times

Admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:26:30 +0000

One of the worst things about using public transportation is unreliable bus arrival times. The reliability of public buses largely varies from city to city, depending on a lot of factors like city planning and traffic conditions. Public transportation can be a great resource for people who can’t afford a personal car, or for people who are environmentally conscious, and don’t want to waste precious fossil fuels and contribute to pollution.

Whether the reasoning is economical or environmental, choosing public transportation will at least occasionally make its passenger’s late for appointments and meetings.

This may all change for Toronto bus travelers, as of Monday, July 11, 2011, when the Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) unveiled a new route tracking system, using GPS satellite technology, accessible to TTC customers.

The TTC has teamed up with NextBus, a California based development company, to bring customers access to real bus arrival times and routes, instead of an estimate of when a bus should arrive.

Users can access the NextBus website from their smart phone or home computer, select their bus route and bus stop, to find the exact times the next three buses will arrive.

The website uses GPS satellite technology to include a real-time map of the city, where they can view images of the buses current location, while traveling along their routes. Bus stop arrival times and route information is also available on LCD screens and LED displays at several bus shelters and subway stations throughout Toronto.

Travelers can also access bus information from a few different third party application developers. Next TTC and Rocket Radar are two apps currently on the market for a one-time fee, which use GPS satellite technology for quick access to Toronto real-time bus route information. Rocket Man is another similar, free app for the city, which uses Google Maps to display real-time locations of buses and streetcars.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

Get Fit With GPS Apps

Admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:00:57 +0000

Have you ever thought about using GPS technology to help you get fit? Well, you can! New iPhone apps and GPS tracking devices can be used to encourage physical activity through games, challenges, and accountability. Whether you are running, skiing, cycling, skating, or walking, GPS technology can help you create a training diary that will encourage you to get fit and stay fit.

GPS-enabled devices, such as iPhones, can be used to download games that encourage more physical activity; one such game is called geocaching. The traditional outdoor treasure hunt has not been forgotten, only modernized. Using GPS tracking, be the first to find geocaches, or hidden containers; race against yourself or get a group together. Geocaching is a great way to use technology to get the kids off the couch and out the door for some exciting activity that uses their minds as well as their bodies.

Some people need a good challenge to keep them physically fit. Using your iPhone and GPS tracking, you can download a fitness app that allows you to track your activity levels through the day; then you can use the information to create a challenge for yourself by beating past activity levels or establishing new goals.

You can also use the app to create challenges with a friend or generate a virtual competition. The app becomes a source of accountability as well, pushing you to keep up with your fitness goals and showing you the great progress you have made.

Sociologists and physicians alike are turning to GPS tracking technology to help people understand their activity levels in relation to their environment. Does one kind of environment encourage more activity than another?

Do patient’s perceived activity levels match their actual activity levels? By recording distance, time, speed, pace, altitude, heart rate, and caloric intake, people have a more accurate measure of their activity and fitness levels.

The iPhone GPS app can also generate maps and graphs based on routes and activities that help you see where you have been and what you have been doing to stay fit. You can even download special apps that will give you verbal cues, exercise reminders, and encouragements along the way.

Who knew that modern technology could make being fit so much fun! What’s more, basic GPS tracking apps are free. So grab your iPhone, lace up those sneakers, turn on the GPS tracking system, and go for a run, or walk, or ski, or skate, or whatever.

Article Written by Nichole Daoust

GPS Causes False Distress Alarm

Admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:54:53 +0000

Holyhead Coastguard received a possible distress signal from a GPS tracking device, approximately four miles from Point Lynas, Amlwch, on Anglesey. The signal was originally received by the Glasgow Police. They passed the information on to North Wales Police, who then forwarded it to the coastguard. A rescue team acted quickly, to what fortunately turned out to be a false alarm.

“Because it could have been an individual using his phone to try and get help, we tasked the lifeboat to search whilst we made further inquiries,” explained Barry Priddis, Holyhead’s Coastguard watch manager. This was a first of its kind at the Holyhead’s Coastguard. Although GPS tracking devices have been around for a few years, this coastguard has never had to respond to a GPS signal.

“Nothing untoward was found in the area and we discovered that coincidentally a ferry had passed the area at about the same time the signal had been picked up. Circumstantial evidence pointed to the fact that it probably came from a device fitted to a vehicle which may have been activated by the ship’s movement,” added Priddis. He concluded that though the search was a false alarm, it was a great learning experience for the crew.

As it turned out, the signal came from a GPS tracking device equipped on one of the 71 vehicles aboard the P&O European Endeavor ferry. At the time the signal was picked up, the ferry was traveling from Dublin to Liverpool.

Moelfre lifeboat’s operations manager, Rod Pace agrees with Priddis’ conclusion that the search operation was not in vain. “Any calls like that have to be investigated.” “The lads were out until just before midnight and nothing was found in the area. It was a false alarm with good intent,” added Pace. It is good to know that even though no person was in distress, the lifeguard service was quick to respond to any potential problems.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

Peace in Kenya With GPS

Admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:23:58 +0000

The latest addition to a land surveyor’s methods is GPS tracking. Over the years, surveyors have progressed from using a compass and chain, which was not very precise, through more and more sophisticated equipment. Each measuring method has built on the principles of the one before, and as science and technology have advanced, measurements have become increasingly accurate. Today, the most accurate measurements can be made by using high-tech GPS units that can measure within inches.

These units communicate with satellites to determine the units’ latitudinal and longitudinal positions. A surveyor can place one unit at a known position and then determine direction and distance to another unit in order to draw amazingly precise lines. He can also do all this far faster than he could do when using the older methods. The great accuracy, obtained with relative ease, has proved immensely helpful in settling disputes.
Recently, a Kenyan surveyor was working on a project that turned out to be a very volatile situation. Eighteen landowners had bought a 128-acre farm together and were in strong disagreement over how it should be divided. The surveyor was not versed in using GPS technology, so he called in a younger surveyor who was. Noah Kertich works as a surveyor for the Kenyan government and the World Bank, drawing land boundaries.
When Kertich arrived at the farm, he found tensions had already heightened to the point that the landowners were threatening each other with crude weapons. He asked them to remain peaceful and let him work. He knew that he needed to get accurate measurements quickly to diffuse the situation, something that would not have been possible without the latest methods.
Using GPS technology, it took Kertich less than 3 hours to survey and divide the farm – 35 minutes for the boundary of the farm and 2 hours and 15 minutes to separate the plots. Then he took time to walk each landowner around the divisions, and before he was done, they had put their weapons aside to shake hands and laugh over how easy the job was.
The story might have ended very differently without GPS to settle everyone’s claims. Instead of a productive, peaceful group of farmers, there might have been a feud lasting many years and causing all kinds of damage and heartache. With the smart use of technology, 18 farmers are happy and 2 surveyors can breathe a sigh of relief.

Article Written by Kadence Vyra