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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but John Rabson sent
me the flg today from BT house magazine :
BEACON AIDS SAFETY AT SEA
BT is playing a key role in an initiative to deploy a
navigational safety beacon around the UK, Ireland and the Atlantic.
The
company has won a contract to deliver a trial long range navigation (Loran)
beacon system to the organisations responsible for providing marine aids to
navigation in the UK and Ireland - the General Lighthouse Authorities. According
to Mike Steel, head of central government business development in BT Global
Services, Loran provides position and time information similar to the
internationally used global positioning system (GPS),
But unlike GPS which
employs satellites to provide coded radio signals Loran uses ground-based low
frequency radio stations.
The 27-month pilot will be known as the Loran-C
trial. "It offers a great opportunity to improve transmitter and hence
navigational coverage in the UK, Ireland and the Atlantic," Mike explained.
"Ships will be given a receiver to monitor the Loran signal as part of their
shipboard safety and navigation equipment. The transmitters all broadcast at the
same frequency, so users will know their position, wherever they happen to be."
BT's major client solutions' radio services unit, part of BT Global Services,
has begun installation of the transmitting system at Rugby radio
station.
I really cannot see anyone using Loran when they have GPS
but there's politics involved. They really WILL have to give away the
receivers.
Walter G3JKV.
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