Civilian GPS required to Shut Down above certains speeds and altitudes

[+AneMae]

Whether it’s your windshield mounted Garmin or your pocket slung smartphone, your GPS device is programmed to disable itself under certain conditions.

If it’s travelling faster than 1200 MPH or above 65,000 feet in altitude, the GPS function will shutdown.

These restrictions were put in place to help ensure the technology could not be used for malicious intentions by foreign governments or terrorists.

Modern commercial airplanes do not typically approach this speed or altitude, so you can’t test this unless you build your own missile or weather balloon.

[zulutime]

Fact?

[+kwcahart]

OR, Fiction?

[+Indotguy]

My link Edited July 27, 2012 by Indotguy

[+Team CowboyPapa]

Pertinent to the geocaching activity?

[jholly]

Pertinent to the geocaching activity?

It places an upper limit on how fast you can drive between caches.

[+Team CowboyPapa]

Pertinent to the geocaching activity?

It places an upper limit on how fast you can drive between caches.

Doesn't apply to me. My Jeep max's out at Mach 1.5.

[+Lineman101]

Whether it’s your windshield mounted Garmin or your pocket slung smartphone, your GPS device is programmed to disable itself under certain conditions.

If it’s travelling faster than 1200 MPH or above 65,000 feet in altitude, the GPS function will shutdown.

These restrictions were put in place to help ensure the technology could not be used for malicious intentions by foreign governments or terrorists.

Modern commercial airplanes do not typically approach this speed or altitude, so you can’t test this unless you build your own missile or weather balloon.

 

Hmmm, better slow the Harley down between caches.

[team tisri]

Whether it’s your windshield mounted Garmin or your pocket slung smartphone, your GPS device is programmed to disable itself under certain conditions.

If it’s travelling faster than 1200 MPH or above 65,000 feet in altitude, the GPS function will shutdown.

These restrictions were put in place to help ensure the technology could not be used for malicious intentions by foreign governments or terrorists.

Modern commercial airplanes do not typically approach this speed or altitude, so you can’t test this unless you build your own missile or weather balloon.

 

Could be a bit of a blow if anyone is trying to find this cache

[snowfleurys]

What coordinates would be entered into the GPSr?

[+user13371]

Pertinent to the geocaching activity?

Doesn't have to be.

 

This forum is "GPS and Technology." You might want to complain in the "Geocaching Topics" forum. Or in The Argument Clinic. - room 12a, just along the corridor.

Edited July 28, 2012 by user13371

[+Styk]

i find my fuel mileage sucks at that speed.....LOL

[+Huntleigh]

My link

 

My reading of the above is that the USA has a law that states that if GPS equipment does not have the OP's listed limitation then it is considered to be a munition and you are in peril if you try to export from the USA.

 

Takes me back a decade or so when the USA gubbermint decided the PGP encryption was a munition and that anyone who "exported" the PGP algorithm was guilty of a crime.

 

Of course, people outside of the USA can build GPS receivers however they like, although I can't think of a good reason why they would want to have such a spec.

[7rxc]

Not long ago, civilians didn't venture to high altitudes and velocities. Now it is getting more commonplace with civilian space projects and even space craft (rockets) for supplying the ISS and heavy lifting. True they could use Military technology, but that would be more a compatability level than purely technical. I know that one of the effects of the altitude limitation was the development of sensitive electronic altimeters many years back for the amateur balloon enthusiasts (HAM and others), along with other miniature devices to provide the data required.

 

Now that there are several other positioning systems online, it seems to be a pointless effort to hamper the US developers.

Not withstanding that some of those other government systems are already more inclined to supply less than desirable groups with what they would like. On the other hand those system operators are not going to be stupid about it any more than the US operator (AF).

 

Doug 7rxc

[team tisri]

i find my fuel mileage sucks at that speed.....LOL

 

I tried to test the OP's theory on my bike, but unfortunately the chain snapped at just over 1100mph.

[+Team CowboyPapa]

I found this cache in the High Sierras two weeks ago. At an elevation of 7535 feet AMSL, the 65,000 feet limitation on civilian use was not a detriment.