Decommissioning of Loran-C

[tonymi]

I read that the Coast Guard has decided to decommission Loran-C this year. Some folks in the aviation community don't like the idea. They say GPS is too vulnerable to disruption or attack, and they'd like to keep Loran-C around as a backup.

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2 ... loran.html

It sounds like a good argument to me. I'm just wondering what other people in the sailing community think about it. Comments?

[Hamin' X]

As with the advancement of technology in any area, their are those that would hold onto the old. Does every home still have a wood stove, in case the electricity fails?

~Rich

[Kelly Hanson East]

Ask the private pilots association to stump up the 36M a year for Loran and then see how essential it is....

[c130king]

I doubt very many Macs have Loran. If the GPS Chartplotter was to drop dead then most of us would be pulling out the compass and the charts. Its not like many Macs are out in the middle of the ocean.

But you never know...there are always a few.

Jim

[Scott]

If the GPS Chartplotter was to drop dead then most of us would be pulling out the compass and the charts.

Navigating a boat, even line of site is a good deal more difficult than most realize. I and a few others on the board have extensive training in analog navigation (non-digi)? and would prob struggle with it even against the shore.

I would just turn on my trusty reliable IBM DOS machine and get on the BB's for some lat longs.

Failing that I did upgrade to 3.1 albeit unwillingly.

[Hamin' X]

I still have some DOS 6 disks. 5 1/4" floppies.

~Rich

[waternwaves]

quick.... I need the dos 6 upgrade....

does your drive card handle my 8" shugart drives....... if not,,,,, I'll send over my removeable 14" SMD so you can copy onto that.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Cant talk now, reloading my PDP-11 boot os on punch tape...

[Currie]

Cant talk now, reloading my PDP-11 boot os on punch tape...

...with magnetic core memory. Anyone with vacuum tubes?

[Scott]

I cant help you guys, I back up on external tape drive. Not enough through put on serial to get the OS across in less than like 2 decades.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Cant talk now, acoustical modem is too loud....

[Scott]

Dude you're a total dinosaur. Your using a 2400 aren't you? Im cutting edge. I hacked my 9600 fax/modem and overclocked it. The internet CANNOT handle the speed I can transfer at. IT WILL NEVER BE FASTER. its physically impossible!!

They are talking about something called a v-90 56K? It wont work. The pipe is too small. I guarantee it!

[c130king]

I guess you guys take great pride in flaunting your nerdiness...

[bastonjock]

Yup i agree with KHE on that one,if the pilots want it,then they can pay for it.

As a matter of navigating my boat,i regularly use a compass and charts.When i first went sailing about 25 years ago,i remember my buddies being very excited over a new compass.They generally navigated using charts and almanacs.

Its pays to practice these old systems,you never know if the suns going to fry a couple of satalites


My Abacus ,pencil and paper works also

[School House Steve]

I just keep a sack of old potatoes on board. When the visibility is such that I can't see my way, I just take a potato to the bow and throw it as far as possible. If I hear a splash I just keep going in that direction.