CSDS' Blog

Last year, representatives of a wide variety of industries and companies joined together to form the Coalition to Save Our GPS.  It's purpose was to resolve a serious threat to the reliability and viability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) - a national utility upon which millions of Americans rely every day.

To safeguard GPS, the Coalition sought a number of remedies from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which had granted a waiver to a company called LightSquared that allowed them to repurpose the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of the GPS.

LightSquared planned to transmit ground-based radio signals that would be one billion or more times more powerful as received on earth than GPS's low-powered satellite-based signals, potentially causing severe interference impacting millions of GPS receivers - including those used by the federal agencies, state and local governments, first responders, airlines, mariners, civil engineering, construction and surveying, agriculture, and everyday consumers in their cars and on handheld devices.

CSDS is pleased to report that the Coalition's efforts were rewarded when the FCC announced earlier this week that it will not approve LightSquared's proposal to build a national 4G-LTE network after testing showed that the network would interfere with most existing GPS devices.

Why post-processing issues with Trimble Geomatics Office v1.63 will require an upgrade to TBC software

Recently it was discovered that processing of GPS baselines in Trimble Geomatics Office v1.63 cannot be performed because of a processor code that cannot be corrected (click here to see our Technical Support Note on this subject). As a result of this error, all data collected from September 2011 to the present will not post-process in Trimble Geomatics Office.

Unfortunately, the last build/update for Trimble Geomatics Office was in 2005 and Trimble has elected to proceed with Trimble Business Center as its replacement.

How can I post-process my data?

Trimble is providing temporary licenses through its local dealers that can be downloaded via the Internet and run without a dongle. This will allow post-processing of current data past the September 14th cut-off date. If you would like to obtain this license, please click here to complete a form with the information CSDS requires to make the request on your behalf. This will allow us to have a DVD sent to you with a temporary code from Trimble which will allow you to download and install TBC on your computer.

Join California Surveying & Drafting Supply for a free two-hour educational/informational seminar to introduce the new Trimble GeoExplorer Series.

With the power and precision to get the job done, the Trimble GeoExplorer 6000 Series GPS and GLONASS handheld field computer delivers dramatic improvements in position availability and accuracy -- even in difficult GNSS environments. Don't miss this opportunity to come by and learn about the amazing features this new series of handhelds offers:

• Trimble Floodlight technology
• Built-in 5 megapixel camera
• On-board 3.5 G modem
• Large sunlight readable display
• Field swappable battery

A BBQ lunch will be served at noon, followed by a 30-minute presentation on the GeoExplorer 6000. The afternoon will wrap-up with hands-on field demonstrations and a question and answer session.

• Dublin, Ca.  August 23rd
• Sacramento, Ca.  August 24th
• Fresno, Ca.  August 25th

Trimble has release modifications to their GeoID file releases.

Information on the new GeoID's can be found here,on our Support & Training website.  A video explaing how to use the program can be found here, on our YouTube channel.

Our support site is updated constantly with useful information.  The support site will help you solve many common issues you may have with your equipment or software.  If you would like to request a tutorial be made, please click here.

CSDS Thanks you for your continued support, and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call us.

CSDS Mapping & GIS Specialist Kevin Brown will make a presentation on High Accuracy GIS Data Collection Using Current GPS Technologies at the ESRI Forestry GIS Solutions Conference scheduled for May 24-26, 2011.

The presentation will focus on the many developments that have culminated in a newfound ability to achieve higher accuracies than traditionally possible with Mapping Grade GPS recievers. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how you can collect high accuracy data under canopy and in tough GPS conditions by taking advantage of:

• Dual frequency (L1/L2)
• Carrier phase data collection
• Advanced processing techniques
• Trimble Floodlight satellite reduction technology
• Advanced real-time correction sources (including VRS,VSN, OmniStar High Precision, WAAS (SBAS), Beacon and more)

The ESRI Forestry GIS Conference offers an opportunity for you to build your professional community, learn the latest geospatial technology trends, and come away with practical and applicable solutions for your forest. To register, or for more information about the conference, please visit:

http://www.esri.com/events/forestry/about/index.html

The Coalition to Save Our GPS is working to resolve a serious threat to the Global Positioning System. A company has been granted a conditional waiver by the FCC to build 40,000 ground stations in the U.S. that could cause widespread interference to GPS signals—endangering a national utility which millions of Americans rely on every day.

To safeguard GPS, the Coalition seeks a number of remedies from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which recently granted a waiver to a company called LightSquared that allows them to repurpose the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of the GPS.

LightSquared plans to transmit ground-based radio signals that would be one billion or more times more powerful as received on earth than GPS's low-powered satellite-based signals, potentially causing severe interference impacting millions of GPS receivers - including those used by the federal agencies, state and local governments, first responders, airlines, mariners, civil engineering, construction and surveying, agriculture, and everyday consumers in their cars and on handheld devices.

YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING...

Voice your concerns directly to congressional representatives.

To voice your concerns about GPS interference, you can send letters, emails, faxes, call or visit your Congressional representatives' office in person to explain how you use GPS as a local business and what the impacts of interference would be to the local economy.

Get involved by Joining the Coalition to Save Our GPS

Help CSDS get the word out by POSTING COMMENTS on our blog expressing why your organization is concerned about the threat to GPS.

GPS must be protected. Don't wait until it is too late. For more information, visit: www.saveourgps.org