Europe's GPS program in trouble.

In article ,
john smith wrote:

As dependence on the gpss grows, the reliability and accuracy of the
signals becomes more important than any country's national interests.

ohmygawd! get a grip.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

john smith schrieb:


This is the system that the EU put together to compete with the U.S.
GPS system, right? Did we ever find out why they don't want to use the
U.S. system?

It's a control issue. They don't like the fact that the US government
can alter the signals, for any reason, whenever they choose.

Problem is that our idiot bureaucrats already signed up to partner with
the US and granted full access to the satellites. What a bunch of idiots.

As dependence on the gpss grows, the reliability and accuracy of the
signals becomes more important than any country's national interests.


well, it seems that we already gave in ... :-(

#m
--
I am not a terrorist http://www.casualdisobedience.com/

Robert,

Did we ever find out why they don't want to use the
U.S. system?


Well, the common sense answer is: All eggs in one basket might not be a
good idea for what is probably the most critical piece of global
infrastructure around these days. Especially when the basket is held by
people like Dubya.

The counterargument for this runs like this: GPS has become way too
much of a factor in common life and in the global economy that any US
president could ever afford to switch it off or degrade it much. An
Iranian nuke hitting the White House due to navigation signals provided
by an 80 dollar Etrex GPS might change that view in a hurry, however.

The EU real life answer does include the above, but also: pride and
jealousy, complaints by EADS and other high-tech companies that mostly
US companies are cashing in on the sat nav market and similar reasons.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas and Martin:

What can you tell us about GPS usage in Europe.
How common is it in Europe to see gps displays in motor vehicles and
people walking around with handheld gps units?

John,

How common is it in Europe to see gps displays in motor vehicles and
people walking around with handheld gps units?


The portable navigator market for cars has practically been invented in
Europe. TomTom is a company from the Netherlands. The US is still
lagging behind in market penetration for these devices.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Recently, Thomas Borchert posted:

John,

How common is it in Europe to see gps displays in motor vehicles and
people walking around with handheld gps units?


The portable navigator market for cars has practically been invented
in Europe. TomTom is a company from the Netherlands. The US is still
lagging behind in market penetration for these devices.

If this notion of market penetration is based on percentages that wouldn't
imply much.

Neil

john smith schrieb:

Thomas and Martin:

What can you tell us about GPS usage in Europe.
How common is it in Europe to see gps displays in motor vehicles and


GPS displays are becoming more and more a standard equipment in (a
little bit higher priced) cars.

people walking around with handheld gps units?


Mostly (IMHO) one buys handhelds as an "upgrade" for car navigation (in
older cars). I have no insight in groups like mountain climbers and the
like.

Next thing coming is mobile phones with GPS chips and digital cameras
with GPS chips.

#m
--
I am not a terrorist http://www.casualdisobedience.com/

Martin Hotze wrote:

Next thing coming is mobile phones with GPS chips and digital cameras
with GPS chips.



You're so behind the times Martin.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,11...1/article.html and that
article is from 2004.

Haven't seen the cameras with GPS Chips yet. Though I haven't looked either.

"john smith" wrote in message
...
Thomas and Martin:

What can you tell us about GPS usage in Europe.
How common is it in Europe to see gps displays in motor vehicles and
people walking around with handheld gps units?

Most pilots I know have gps in the aircraft either a fixed installation or a
handheld.
gps has not been approved everywhere for navigation or approaches - Uk have
just decided to do it.

As far as cars go again either portable devices or fixed installations
depending on price are very common with Tom Tom and Garmin being main
suppliers.

Etrex types popular with walkers

So gps is prevalent.

They are talking about putting units in cars for road pricing purposed - pay
as you drive, with different tariffs for different roads and times of day.

Thomas Borchert writes:

The counterargument for this runs like this: GPS has become way too
much of a factor in common life and in the global economy that any US
president could ever afford to switch it off or degrade it much. An
Iranian nuke hitting the White House due to navigation signals provided
by an 80 dollar Etrex GPS might change that view in a hurry, however.

The view would quickly be forced back. Terrorists use telephones, but that
doesn't mean that any country can afford to shut off telephone service. GPS
is moving in the same direction.

The EU real life answer does include the above, but also: pride and
jealousy, complaints by EADS and other high-tech companies that mostly
US companies are cashing in on the sat nav market and similar reasons.

Pride and jealousy among the European tribes killed 100 million in the
previous century; sounds like they still haven't grown out of it. As long as
they cannot get a grip, the U.S., China, and India will continue to leave them
in an ever-longer trail of dust.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.