CG looking for public comment on....

[Alan]

...deactivation of LORAN.The Coast Guard is requesting public comments on the issue until Feb. 7. The agency will then evaluate the future use of the system.The Department of Homeland Security had zeroed out funding for the continuation of the LORAN in its 2007 fiscal year budget, but Congress voted to put the money back in for one year. Boat Owners Association of the United States advocates maintaining the system as a backup to GPS.

 

[Ross]

Alan, A link please! I have gone to the CG web

page and found no reference.

 

[Bill]

seems to me...

We've all been joking that all that money used to keep Loran running in NJ finally makes sense- what with people shooting down satelites and all...Given the trillions of $ that wars, natural disasters, election campaigns, congressional ethics studies, etc... are costing the gov't, it seems to me this is a drop in the bucket and should stay.Stepping down from soapbox now B

 

[Alan]

Here's the website

nm

 

[Ross]

NO ALAN,that is the news report. Where

do you make your comments known to the Coast Guard?

 

[Alan]

Good point!

It appears that the CG is not going to make it easy for public comment and keep the info out there to a minimum.The public is invited to submit their thoughts and comments, which must be received on or by Feb. 7. To learn how to submit those comments, visit http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/eLORAN/E6-22421.pdf, or call the U.S. Coast Guard Info line at (800) 368-5647. Source: CentralOhio.com

 

[Rick I]

eLoran is coming

From what I've read eLoran is going to be approved and the main reason is NOT navigation. The main concern is for precise timing for telecommunications, banking and electric power systems. eLoran will be the hedge against a failure of space-based position, navigation and timing. It's the timing system that'll be screwed up without the GPS system.Rick I http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/393 group

 

[Ross]

I get the impression that the Coast Guard doesn't

have any interest in whether or not we like it. It seems to be more a matter of does your livelihood depend upon Loran-C. Further is GPS adequate for your business needs.

 

[william24424]

Now what?

If Loran is being phased out, any recommendations for us still using it as back-up should do? Buy a bigger GPS? Send the unit to a museum? Hang it up next to my brass sextant?

 

[Alex]

Loran

I took the Loran off the nav station and stored it in the bottom of the locker as I have never used it. I have two Garmin GPS on board which I didn't have to read the instruction to learn how to use. These guys seems to get the user interface intuitive and consistant between different models.The handbook on the loran was 1/2 inch thick so I didn't border. Mostly writen in strange language. Instead I went to Power Squardron to learn how to use the sextant for interest. Pretty good backup and don't need battery ;-)IMHO - if they can shoot down satellite, they can jam radio wave. I don't think any rouge country can get to the star yet.I vote for shutting it down.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

William form Cape Cod...

Were you the guy that wrote that you circumnavigated 4 times and got paid for it? I was wondering , what model boats and how were they rigged, i.e. sloop, cutter, ketch? And what size boats and crews.?Thanks

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Isnt this way overdue?

I remember hearing that Loran was being phased out by the year 2000. Well that came and went. They keep extending the date so as to allow old timers to replace their units with GPS. No sense in keeping it alive any longer. Anyone know for sure when the last LORAN units were actually manufactured?Is anyone still making them?Does anyone know if radio direction finders are still in use anywhere? Tony B

 

[william]

Here's one ship, Tony

I've taken from dry dock in Genova, through the North Sea, up the coast of Norway past Trondhiem and into Spitzenbergen to a smaller launch to see the glacier. At 28,500 tons she represents the collaboration and cooperation of thousands of people to create a beautiful vessel that, from the engineers to the designers to the humble crew the Costa Allegra built 1992 is still magnificent. This ship has a crew of over 400 men and women, she travels at approx. 20 knots. She is the perfect sized vessel for travelling the globe.