GPS "Testing" May Disrupt Signal in SE US

[geoffschultz]

Here's a link to an interesting article that I just ran across. I wonder what's going on?

http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/blog-post/navigation/gps-testingor-do-they-mean-jamming

I don't know if it effects ground level navigation, but I don't think that I would want to be flying through the area!

-- Geoff

 

[Bill Roosa]

Yea, the Air Force is testing military GPS receivers against spoofing and interference. Seems the commercial GPS receiver is subject to jamming from radio shack type equipment. the newer receivers have a lot of anti spoofing features that they have to test before they begin production to the force.
The test is a tower off the coast transmitting fake GPS and confusing signals. It is VHF so the only ground level interference will be close to (line of sight) tower. It is not a test of the satellites so all us 0 altitude folks will not be effected.
Course you should never rely on only one source of navigational information.