+The Marauders Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 I saw a piece with Diane Sawyer on a morning talkshow (Today or Good Morning America, they both look the same to me) yesterday (2/7/03) that was showing off some of the militray hardware the troops are using, including mobile command centers, gasmasks, etc. One thing was mentioned is that every soldier is carrying a gps, and the model they showed them using was a Magellan Sportrak Map. I got that same model for Christmas, and find it to be the best thing ever. I bet the military has all the streets in Iraq plugged into the memory of those things. The Marauders Quote Link to comment
+Wadcutter Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 You don't think the government put all the sats up there just for us to play a game. Quote Link to comment
Loafer409 Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 I'll bet's more then an off the shelf Sport Trac..09 Quote Link to comment
+Searching_ut Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 My guess would be that the units they’re issuing to the masses are basic off the shelf units, provided for general reference, undoubtedly purchased via contract to the lowest bidder. The units used for targeting etc. will of course be military units with decrypting ability for the appropriate military freqs. Several years back, when I deployed to that region, Garmin 12’s were the units we were issued for general purposes. Most people though had to purchase and bring their own receivers. Takes awhile, but it looks as if things are improving. For what it’s worth Jeff Quote Link to comment
gpsbuddy Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 I think the AF puts a Garmin unit in the aircrew survival kits. Thank God, I have never had to use one. I keep my Gamin eTrex in my personal kit. Quote Link to comment
+Wadcutter Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 Our unit flew F-16s and we issued our pilots Garmin 12 which were on mil contract. Our sister unit also flew F-16s and then transitioned to C-130s. They issued their pilots Garmin III+. We figured the C-130 pilots needed the III+ to find their way back to base from the bars. Quote Link to comment
+Erawan Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 We have had the Etrex Vistas issued. These are in addition to the regular Military GPS. Big differance for us is they are SOOOOOOO much cheaper, lighter, and easier to use. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 I assume the targeting versions are more accurate or have decoders that make them more accurate. Anyone know for sure? Alan Quote Link to comment
+Wadcutter Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 I'm retired USAF Security Forces commander. Our mission was to deploy a distance away from a base to set up ambush, gather intel, and repel Level 1 and some degree of Level 2 attacks. It was a light infantry of the USAF role. We played with the GPS quite a bit and with some interesting people. The military GPS is referred to as a PLUGGER. In the uncoded setting it was a bit more accurate than some of the better handheld civilian models today. In the coded setting it was amazing. How amazing? During desert training in the NV desert we'd play a game where there would be .30 cal ammo can hidden in the desert several kilometers apart. We would be given the coord and have to move tactically at night to find the can. In the dark of night, with absolutely no light, when it was coded you would actually step right on the can. It was that accurate. There were things that attached to the PLUGGER for calling in fire that, several years ago when I was in, would have been considered Buck Rogers stuff back then had they been made public. Pretty kewl stuff. We were doing geocaching before we knew what it was. Quote Link to comment
mikeacrossamerica.com Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 all these military types always have long stories as if they are more entertaining than "civilian" stories. Whah. Mf I like nachos. Quote Link to comment
+Wadcutter Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by 20belowZero:all these military types always have long stories as if they are more entertaining than "civilian" stories. Whah. Mf I like nachos. We're all waiting with baited breath for your interesting story. Quote Link to comment
Cap'n Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 God Love The U.S Armed Forces...............Amen Quote Link to comment
+The Marauders Posted February 10, 2003 Author Share Posted February 10, 2003 Back in 1992, we used these trimble units that looked like they could be mounted into a vehicle of some sort. We had a civilian model (brown) for finding our archaeological sites, but we were given loan of a SLUGGER, which was green. That baby was accurate as they came then, but they had a PAD? system to help rectify locations. Those units were heavy too, because of the big batteries. My Sportrack is much lighter in the pack... The Marauders Quote Link to comment
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