Re: GPS and Y2K
Keith Stein (kstein@erols.com)
Sun, 09 May 1999 22:40:04 -0400
Hello all,
NORAD/U.S. Space Command just issued two press releases (Apr. 21 & Apr. 13)
talking about the problems that commercial GPS users might have with the
Aug. rollover date and Y2K;
http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/news9-99.htm
http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/news8-99.htm
In addition, GPS 2-15 (also know as SVN 27 or PRN 27) is under testing
between Apr. 23 and mid-May for Aug. date rollover and some other dates
associated with Y2K.
At 06:34 PM 5/9/99 -0700, you wrote:
>I'm with the ACM Risk Group and we are already having problems with GPS.
>Most of it is due to human error or computer problems. You can look at the
>Risk Archives http://128.240.150.127/Risks or on Peter Neuron's web. It's
>not too much fun. Seems some of the makers of some of the software may not
>have understood the GPS that well or known about the problem. So this is
>like the Y2K problem but it's different. The GPS clock turns over at 1024 or
>in August. there are many more clock problems in computer software and
>hardware--especially on embedded system such as hand held GPS devices. We
>had the USS Yorktown dead in the water of the East cost for almost three
>house due to a math error. So much for the Navy's new automated ships. Now
>think about our weapons that depend on GPS and are all programmed with
>embedded system. You can't change them and do you really know which are not
>going to have the bugs. NO! Nasty messes... The biggest problem is that the
>military isn't training for problems. We've lost so many helicopters it's
>crazy. These two last week are nothing new to the military.
>
>J~ http://www.transport.com/~pegasus retired systems engineer
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Robert Bloch <kerbob@jax-inter.net>
>To: John locker <satcom@cybase.co.uk>; <SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com>
>Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 5:44 PM
>Subject: Re: GPS and Y2K
>
>
>>
>>
>>> All I can suggest is that if you are planning a hi tec trip through the
>>> Amazonian jungle this summer , do it before August 21st !
>>
>> If Y2K will have an adverse effect on the GPS system could that extend
>into
>>the area of marine navigation (LORAN) as well? (I'm not sure if it operates
>off
>>of GPS or not.) I can imagine the USCG will have their hands full.:->
>>
>>Robert Bloch
>>kerbob@jax-inter.net
>>30.311359 N -81.396865W
>
>
Keith Stein, Editor (kstein@kingpublishing.com)
Military Space (http://www.militaryspace.com)
King Publishing Group
627 National Press Building
Washington, DC 20045
(202) 662-9748 (phone)
(202) 662-9744 (fax)