GPS Stops Working ? No Problem - We Have GLONASS . . .

[barnakiel]

GLONASS available from a small Garmin unit:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=161&pID=87768

Nice.

b.

[osirissail]

Love it, only Garmin would step up and continue to be at the front of the pack in GPS technology. I hope they expand the GLOSNASS to their other models that have more marine capabilities.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Love it, only Garmin would step up and continue to be at the front of the pack in GPS technology. I hope they expand the GLOSNASS to their other models that have more marine capabilities.

Do you get the position in cyrillic !

Dave

[barnakiel]

BTW unit price 100 USD or thereabout. Nice too.

b.

[ViribusUnitis]

Cool.

They should have the system back complete by now, correct?

I wounder how long till the Chinese and Eurppean look alike systems are operational as well?

[osirissail]

Cannot find anything current about either the Russian or the European GPS systems. But a Wikipedia entry about the European system states: "When in operation, it will use the two ground operations centres, one near Munich, Germany, and another in Fucino, Italy. Initial date of the system becoming operational was 2012, but later it was moved for a number of times and is unlikely to be ready before 2018.[2]"

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Do you get the position in cyrillic !
Dave

Actually, Yes. I looked up the model and it comes in 3 versions - one English; one Russian; and one Arabic. So if you have the Russian version - yes the text would be in Cyrillic. But they use the same numbers that we use, just use a comma instead of a "dot" for the decimal point.
- - I wonder what the Arabic version would look like since they write text right to left . . .

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by osirissail

- - I wonder what the Arabic version would look like since they write text right to left . . .

I wonder that the units purchased in Australia ...

;-)))
b.

[barnakiel]

GLONASS is up and operational and we can expect to see more units popping up soon.

Unless Ruskis get another bummer like the one back in 2010 when 3 brand new sats got dunk into the Pacific after a launching rocket's failure.

b.

[hellosailor]

"GLONASS is a system developed by the Russian Federation that will be fully operational in 2012. "
Woulda coulda shoulda?

Are you sure it is operational? I see web references to a home page--that isn't up. And that it was declared operational in the 90's, but with 3-4 year satellite lifes.

[osirissail]

I found a link from my Russian newsfeed that lists currently that the GLONASS system currently has 16 operational satellites. They need 18 satellites on line for complete coverage of Russia. They need 24 satellites on line for worldwide coverage.
- - Since there are currently only 19 satellites in orbit they barely can make the Russian territory coverage goal. Three satellites were lost earlier and currently after two unsuccessful Soyuz launches this week, future GLONASS launches are on hold until the rockets can be fixed.
- - Interestingly enough, two European Galileo GPS satellites are to be launched in October from French Guiana using a Russian Soyuz rocket.
- - This to be shaping up as a bad year for GPS systems and the ISS as the Russian Soyuz is currently the only way to get there.

Russian Link: GLONASS, Russia

[bangkaboat]

I've got an eTrex Legend that was the primary on my last Cal & will be our secondary/emerg unit for our upcoming trip, still works perfectly & more than 10 years old! For $100US, it seems well worth getting one of these GLONASS-capable units.

[Adamante]

- - This to be shaping up as a bad year for GPS systems

I am delaying my decision to go cruising until Glonass, Gallileo and the Chinese Compass navigation system are all fully operational. No sense taking chances and getting lost out there in the wide open ocean.

[Capn Morgan]

Originally Posted by Adamante

I am delaying my decision to go cruising until Glonass, Gallileo and the Chinese Compass navigation system are all fully operational. No sense taking chances and getting lost out there in the wide open ocean.

Finding your whereabouts by sextant is by far a more satisfying way. It is not worth delaying your cruise in wait of a Chinese or European pipe dream.

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by Adamante

I am delaying my decision to go cruising until Glonass, Gallileo and the Chinese Compass navigation system are all fully operational. No sense taking chances and getting lost out there in the wide open ocean.

Columbus did not have a gps, what do yo need a GPS for??? compass, sextant and charts, dividers, triangles are all you need
Tell you what,,,, let me go cruising for you in your boat, in 2 years I will come back and tell you how it was. Then you can go cruising