funny GPS

eupa · 18 April 2005, 12:35

Ok , so here goes. In my car I have "road angel" and a GPS communicator ( brought dirt cheap in the states) - Raming -USB GPS receiver - which I used as a nav system linked to a laptop PC both in the car and on the Rib
The "road angel is GPS linked and is basically a'stored' address system for all known speed and radar traps in the Uk ( works very well!!!!!!!!!) it can also detect laser cameras... OK what happend?? - Sunday morning at 0400 hrs GMT +2 out in the car -"road angel" powers up and detects saterlites and all Ok. But the Rayming - did'nt pick up ONE saterlite and did'nt do so the whole
day.Used another portable in the house 6 hours later- no detection. This morning at 1100 hrs GMT the Rayming picks up 11 saterlites and is now Ok.
Somewone tell me what happened please, because if I had to rely on this one , I would probably end up in the mddle of the Atlantic.Are our friends across the pind turning off systems???

Jonatan

codprawn · 18 April 2005, 13:28

GPS can be a lot easier to "jam" than people realise - the military sometimes experiment with gps jamming but issue notice to aircraft and shipping.

http://www.computerworld.com/securit...,77702,00.html

This article mentions concerns over homemade gps jammers - not as hard to make as you would think!!!

Because GPS receivers are so sensitive to pick up signals from space a jammer of only 1 watt power can knock out a 100km radius if done from the air.

http://www.computerworld.com/securit...,77702,00.html

Also many things can block gps signals by accident - powered tv aerials are just one example.

This just goes to show why we shouldn't become TOO reliant on GPS alone!!!

tcwozere · 18 April 2005, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

The "road angel is GPS linked and is basically a'stored' address system for all known speed and radar traps in the Uk ( works very well!!!!!!!!!) it can also detect laser cameras...

Not all UK laser camera's.. As the 3 points on my licence will testify.. (Photographed from behind, on the other side of a dual carriageway as I sensibly accelerated upto the speed limit which changed from 40 to 70 half a mile ahead..)

It also is too reliant, (again in the UK,), on the manufacturer's updating the static camera locations.. The roadworks on the M25 being a good example.. These camera's were being moved on an almost daily basis, but the info was only being updated once a week.. Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove around the 25 and took note of the camera's location..

eupa · 18 April 2005, 17:39

thanks codprawn - as usual good info, nice to see you on the board again...but the 'road angel was sitting just besides the laptop- and both are nema 0183 compliant- but one works and one dont. - i dnt know what the power output of the raiad angel is- but would be it be greater than a usb linked transmmitter??

eupa · 18 April 2005, 17:47

"These camera's were being moved on an almost daily basis, but the info was only being updated once a week.. Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove around the 25 and took note of the camera's location.."

Road angel picks up a rear camera. Mine does ( new road angel) - you are not telling me that thet did you with a camera on the other side of the road?? that.s disgusting and surely not legal??- Ok the beam is very narrow but how can they be sure it was you?? - cant you tell them to stick it somewhere ? or have I been out of the UK too long?

Jonathan

SDGANDER · 18 April 2005, 18:24

I was once told that the power of the GPS signal is comparable with a 1 watt torch bulb viewed from the moon!

This was during an aviation safety presentation on the use of GPS and we the Uk authorities (CAA) won't allow it as a primary navigation tool.

SDG

tcwozere · 18 April 2005, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

"These camera's were being moved on an almost daily basis, but the info was only being updated once a week.. Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove around the 25 and took note of the camera's location.."

Road angel picks up a rear camera. Mine does ( new road angel) - you are not telling me that thet did you with a camera on the other side of the road?? that.s disgusting and surely not legal??- Ok the beam is very narrow but how can they be sure it was you?? - cant you tell them to stick it somewhere ? or have I been out of the UK too long?

Jonathan

The thought of telling them to prove it did cross my mind, until I spoke to a couple of traffic guys.. According to them it is legal to photograph you as you drive away.. The new roadside camera's in the UK are getting more and more sophisticated.. They are using mobile one's on the M4, they can pick you out half a mile away.. Their being used to enforce the 70mph limit, with no lee-way..

Richard B · 18 April 2005, 23:02

You could just drive a bit slower!

BTW Hampshire Constabulary (police service?) now use a black Skoda Octavia.

Jonny Fuller · 18 April 2005, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

BTW Hampshire Constabulary (police service?) now use a black Skoda Octavia.

What for, target practice?

Richard B · 19 April 2005, 05:20

Hee hee

No, they had nabbed someone with is yesterday evening on the M3. They'll probably stop you in your Japanese tractor just for making fun of them.

Jonny Fuller · 19 April 2005, 07:25

I'm sure they wouldn't need a reason, well not a real one anyway.

Cookee · 19 April 2005, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwozere

Not all UK laser camera's.. As the 3 points on my licence will testify.. (Photographed from behind, on the other side of a dual carriageway as I sensibly accelerated upto the speed limit which changed from 40 to 70 half a mile ahead..)

It also is too reliant, (again in the UK,), on the manufacturer's updating the static camera locations.. The roadworks on the M25 being a good example.. These camera's were being moved on an almost daily basis, but the info was only being updated once a week.. Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove around the 25 and took note of the camera's location..

Actually it has nothing to do with the "Tech Guys" - The owners of Roadangels update them - if one has gone you press delete, and if you see one you tell it what sort it is, then when you download the latest info it uploads your new data onto the system - the more people using it - the more accurate and up to date it is!

Jonny Fuller · 19 April 2005, 11:43

John, whilst the 'owner' updates the unit via the internet, someone (tech guy) has to update the database that the 'owner' downloads from each time!

tcwozere · 19 April 2005, 12:03

Yes the RoadAngel owners can update them. But, 6 months ago every time you downloaded the latest camera positions, it reset your own list of camera locations.. Plus the main object of a RoadAngel is to go slightly faster than your allowed, (no matter what people say..

), so to go everywhere at the national speed limit until you have made sure you have every location stored seems kinda pointless..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

You could just drive a bit slower!

A last resort..

Cookee · 19 April 2005, 13:37

Jon - the implication was that the tech guy drove around ..............

"Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove "

Not that it matters ............

codprawn · 19 April 2005, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwozere

The thought of telling them to prove it did cross my mind, until I spoke to a couple of traffic guys.. According to them it is legal to photograph you as you drive away.. The new roadside camera's in the UK are getting more and more sophisticated.. They are using mobile one's on the M4, they can pick you out half a mile away.. Their being used to enforce the 70mph limit, with no lee-way..

The worrying thing is that opn a nice sunny day with light traffic you are almost guaranteed to get zapped - when it is dark or misty you can go as fast as you like because the cameras aren't out - very SAFE I am sure!!!!!

tcwozere · 19 April 2005, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

Jon - the implication was that the tech guy drove around ..............

"Or whenever one of Roadangel's tech guys drove "

Not that it matters ............

The implication was there, because thats what I was told after speaking to the guys at RoadAngel.. Their words, "once a week, someone drives around the M25, and updates the gps locations"..

eupa · 19 April 2005, 19:43

could'nt SOMEBODY answer my question in the firsr place??????????
WHY ROAD ANGEL PICKED UP SATERLITES and my super duper waas enabled
USB GPS SPECIAL RAMING didnt find a tinker's arse for 24 hours????

jonathan

John Kennett · 19 April 2005, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

WHY ROAD ANGEL PICKED UP SATERLITES and my super duper waas enabled
USB GPS SPECIAL RAMING didnt find a tinker's arse for 24 hours????

Perhaps it's not as super duper as you think?

Software problem?
Connectivity problem?
Antenna problem?
User error?

The fact that one of your GPS units was working would indicate that there wasn't a general GPS problem.

John

eupa · 19 April 2005, 20:18

Software problem? NO - same soft on another laptop
Connectivity problem? NO - no as it worked later without any adjustmen
Antenna problem? NO - transmitter is in the antenna itself
User error? NO - I am not a bloody moron

Thanks for your kind attention but it has ruined my faith in technology.
If the yanks can hit a window of 30x40" from 2000 kms using basically the same technology-and I cannot even find a saterlite - I just give up

Jonathan