Does Anyone Still Use GPS Loran?
October 28th, 2008 | by Joom |There are some great worldwide gps navigation systems available today by companies such as garmin and tomtom. Almost all gps systems are worldwide today due to the large network of global positioning system satellites.
There are certainly no doubts about the popularity of the GPS device in the present age. But like every other thing this device too has witnessed gradual development and has evolved over a period of time. A reminiscent of the earlier days of the GPS is the GPS Loran. LORAN or Long Range Navigation is a navigation system designed for the land. This navigation system makes use of low frequency radio transmitters. These radio transmitters in turn use multiple transmitters that determine the location and/or speed of the receiver.
With the advent of the GPS and a number of players in the market offering the device, there has been a steep decrease in the popularity of the LORAN navigator. Nevertheless, the device continues to be in use even today. These days, it is the LORAN-C that is being commonly used. This navigation unit operates in the low frequency portion of the EM spectrum that ranges from 90 to 110 kHz. The United States, Japan and several European countries are using the LORAN-C.
The LORAN-C transmitters operate at peak powers that range from 100 kilowatts to four megawatts. Now, this is quite comparable to the longwave broadcasting stations. These transmitters make use of mast radiators that are insulated from ground. The height of these radiators varies between 190 and 220 meters. The LORAN-C transmitter Carolina Beach makes use of a free-standing antenna tower.
CHAYKA is another navigation system that is on similar lines of LORAN and is being used by Russia. Despite its diminishing usage, there are quite attempts being made to enhance and re-popularize LORAN. This is primarily because the Loran GPS is known as a reliable and simple system.
The development of the Loran is quite interesting. The Loran came into being during the time of the World War II. It was an American development of the British GEE radio navigation system. But the range of the Loran far superseded that of GEE. The LORAN systems had a range of 1,200 miles as compared to 400 miles of the GEE. The US Navy and the Royal Navy made extensive use of this device.
Though a lot of scope is being seen in the loran , it suffers from various limitations that are yet to be overcome. Electronic effects of weather and the ionospheric effects of sunrise and sunset affect the Loran system to a great extent. Being a radio based system; the Loran is affected big time by magnetic storms. Thus there is a need to make the Loran more robust and more adaptable.
There is a need to work out on the GPS Loran and the few flaws that it has. Its reliability and easy usage can taken advantage of provide the required efforts are made.
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Tags: antenna tower, broadcasting stations, carolina beach, em spectrum, frequency radio, global positioning system, gps device, gps navigation systems, gps systems, kilowatts, loran c, low frequency, megawatts, navigation unit, peak powers, present age, radiators, radio transmitters, system satellites, world war ii
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Tags: antenna tower, broadcasting stations, carolina beach, em spectrum, frequency radio, global positioning system, gps device, gps navigation systems, gps systems, kilowatts, loran c, low frequency, megawatts, navigation unit, peak powers, present age, radiators, radio transmitters, system satellites, world war ii
