+milvus-milvus Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I found this on Slashdot: "The Galaxy 15 commercial satellite has not responded to commands since solar flares fried its CPU in April, and it won't turn off. Intelsat controllers moved all commercial payloads to other birds except for WAAS, a system that adds accuracy to GPS for landing aircraft and finding wayward geocaches. Since the satellite runs in 'bent pipe' mode, amplifying wide bands of RF that are beamed up to it, it is likely to interfere with other satellites as it crosses their orbital slots on its way to an earth-sun Lagrange point, the natural final destination of a geostationary satellite without maneuvering power." Could be a good excuse for that DNF... Quote Link to comment
+The Other Stu Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I found this on Slashdot: "The Galaxy 15 commercial satellite has not responded to commands since solar flares fried its CPU in April, and it won't turn off. Intelsat controllers moved all commercial payloads to other birds except for WAAS, a system that adds accuracy to GPS for landing aircraft and finding wayward geocaches. Since the satellite runs in 'bent pipe' mode, amplifying wide bands of RF that are beamed up to it, it is likely to interfere with other satellites as it crosses their orbital slots on its way to an earth-sun Lagrange point, the natural final destination of a geostationary satellite without maneuvering power." Could be a good excuse for that DNF... Funny you should mention that. My Tomtom went absolutely nuts last week - I had been driving for a couple of hours absolutely fine and it suddenly decided I was about 1/2 a mile from where it thought I was, then it said I'd turned around and then it decided that the road I was on was actually parallel to the actual by about 300 yards. i just left it and about 20 minutes later, it decided that I was on the M4 and knew where I was going. Odd really. Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I found this on Slashdot: "The Galaxy 15 commercial satellite has not responded to commands since solar flares fried its CPU in April, and it won't turn off. Intelsat controllers moved all commercial payloads to other birds except for WAAS, a system that adds accuracy to GPS for landing aircraft and finding wayward geocaches. Since the satellite runs in 'bent pipe' mode, amplifying wide bands of RF that are beamed up to it, it is likely to interfere with other satellites as it crosses their orbital slots on its way to an earth-sun Lagrange point, the natural final destination of a geostationary satellite without maneuvering power." Could be a good excuse for that DNF... What?!! This and volcanic ash... Is there any point in going caching? Quote Link to comment
+Graculus Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 The good news is.... this satellite is 133 degrees west so serves the continental US. We can't pick up the WAAS signal in Europe from it so shouldn't be a problem. But it's a still a great excuse for those DNF's Chris Graculus - volunteer UK reviewer UK Resource website www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk Geocaching Knowledge Books Quote Link to comment
+Cornell Finch Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 My Tomtom went absolutely nuts last week - I had been driving for a couple of hours absolutely fine and it suddenly decided I was about 1/2 a mile from where it thought I was, then it said I'd turned around and then it decided that the road I was on was actually parallel to the actual by about 300 yards. i just left it and about 20 minutes later, it decided that I was on the M4 and knew where I was going. Odd really. Nope, that's just the M4. Mine does it every time I get past the Severn Bridge. Only way to fix it is to turn round... Quote Link to comment
+TheMightyFinn Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 The good news is.... this satellite is 133 degrees west so serves the continental US. We can't pick up the WAAS signal in Europe from it so shouldn't be a problem. But it's a still a great excuse for those DNF's Chris Graculus - volunteer UK reviewer UK Resource website www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk Geocaching Knowledge Books Pain in the *** for those of us currently caching in Canada though! We had noticed a serious drop in accuracy but thought it was just us! Does funny things at the moment like changing its mind on distance and direction while stationary. We're used to the normal variations but this has been up to 40m each way! Still accurate enough most of the time but frustrating the rest! Quote Link to comment
+Birdman-of-liskatraz Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 My Tomtom went absolutely nuts last week - I had been driving for a couple of hours absolutely fine and it suddenly decided I was about 1/2 a mile from where it thought I was, then it said I'd turned around and then it decided that the road I was on was actually parallel to the actual by about 300 yards. i just left it and about 20 minutes later, it decided that I was on the M4 and knew where I was going. Odd really. Nope, that's just the M4. Mine does it every time I get past the Severn Bridge. Only way to fix it is to turn round... Are you sure you don't have Avoid Wales turned on in prefs? it's right under Avoid Whales Quote Link to comment
+The Duckers Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Are you sure you don't have Avoid Wales turned on in prefs? it's right under Avoid Whales It's actually right above Avoid Whales....... It's alphabetical Quote Link to comment
+careygang Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Hi All Not been in the forum for many months, but couldn't help but notice this topic. Was in Miami today and had no problems, but then Satellite 15 doesn't appear to be serving this part of the world. I had 07, 08, 11, 17, 19, 28, 48... Back to Nevada tomorrow, perhaps I'll notice it then Quote Link to comment
+dfx Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 (edited) Hi All Not been in the forum for many months, but couldn't help but notice this topic. Was in Miami today and had no problems, but then Satellite 15 doesn't appear to be serving this part of the world. I had 07, 08, 11, 17, 19, 28, 48... Back to Nevada tomorrow, perhaps I'll notice it then every satellite is servicing every part of the world, just not all at the same time. (minus the DGPS sats of course.) Edited May 14, 2010 by dfx Quote Link to comment
+Just Roger Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 (edited) Hi AllNot been in the forum for many months, but couldn't help but notice this topic. Was in Miami today and had no problems, but then Satellite 15 doesn't appear to be serving this part of the world. I had 07, 08, 11, 17, 19, 28, 48... Back to Nevada tomorrow, perhaps I'll notice it then Galaxy 15 is the satellite name which is not the reference number you see on your satellite screen. As it is a WAAS satellite the number you see on the screen will be above 32 as this is where all the EGNOS/WAAS satellites are numbered Edited May 14, 2010 by Just Roger Quote Link to comment
+Just Roger Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Just looked up the ID numbers and Galaxy 15 is number 48. Congrats to the Carey gang - you got a bulls eye! Quote Link to comment
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