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From: nagle@well.sf.ca.us (John Nagle)
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio,sci.electronics,sci.physics
Subject: Re: GPS accuracy in wake of Desert Storm?
Message-ID: <22983@well.sf.ca.us>
Date: 3 Feb 91 07:32:41 GMT
References: <1167.27A6BD41@w8grt.fidonet.org>
Lines: 15


     The Trimble Navigation portable GPS receiver, a handheld device
intended for small boat navigation and available in boat shops, is being
used by U.S. troops.  Trimble is manufacturing them as fast as possible,
but can't keep up with the sudden demand.  They're made in here in Silicon
Valley.  The militarized portable GPS receivers aren't available in
quantity yet, so this commercial unit is being pressed into service.

     It's a cute little device.  It takes about 30 seconds for it to get
a fix, it runs on batteries, and it's watertight.  (It even floats.)
Trimble doesn't promise accuracy better than a few hundred meters,
though, so signal degradation for security reasons probably isn't
an issue.  

					John Nagle