China threat may force LORAN-C update - Don't toss out that Loran just yet

China threat may force LORAN-C update


Hold on there. Don’t throw that old LORAN-C unit away! Just like clothing and hair styles, they may become fashionable again.

The Department of Transportation, Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are pondering this very issue, asking themselves if they really want to shelve the old radio navigation system.

Their reluctance comes on the heels of a move by the Chinese to develop a missile that could destroy communications satellites in the event of a war. Right now, the LORAN system is our backup.

And we all know the value of a backup plan. After all, parachutists were some of the first outdoor adventure guys (kinda like us anglers) to recognize the value of jumping with two chutes.

I know this is a situation of national security, but if it’s available to fishermen why not have something extra to pull out of your bag of tricks?

Before GPS came along to guide us to our favorite fishin’ hole, there was the LORAN, a product of scientific ingenuity back in the 1960’s.

Remember that? Seems like a long time ago to me.

In it’s day, it was regarded as a miracle of science. No longer did we have to rely on dead reckoning and the radio to guide us in on a hotspot that a buddy found. Nope. We discovered longitude and latitude, plus TD numbers.

Most of the time, as I recall, LORAN worked, but on occasion adverse weather, sunspots and who knows, maybe hordes of mayflies, would KO reception and it was back to dead reckoning again.

Then GPS went public back in the 90’s and suddenly navigation seemed simplified, with accuracy and dependability, since L-L’s were beamed to us via space satellite. Pretty soon all the boaters and fishermen tossed their old nav units and bought GPS (Global Positioning System).

But LORAN (LOng-RAnge Navigation) never went into mothballs. It was updated and it kept humming away because the military, maritime interests and aircraft used the radio beacon system along with GPS.

LORAN is a system of radio towers that were erected all over North America back in the 60’s. Their low-frequency beacons triangulate to produce a position. Later, the system expanded over much of the globe.

Then, on Jan. 12 China announced that it was developing a missile that would have the capability of destroying our GPS in the event of a war. So, for that reason, LORAN may get new life, another update and expansion into the ultimate backup.

According to a filing a few days ago in the Federal Resister, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security is considering the need to continue to operate or invest in the North American LORAN–C Radio navigation System beyond this year.

DOT and Homeland Security are proposing:

Decommissioning the LORAN system.

Maintaining the system as currently configured.

Whether further investment in modernizing and improving LORAN is in the public interest (ie the China threat).

The government is seeking comment on their proposals and will probably hold public hearings and meetings. An update would have to be funded by Congress. What could result is a beefed up “Enhanced

LORAN.”

In October a study group of the International Loran Association came up with a report on eLORAN improvements. The report for lawmakers and policy makers was refined in November at the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center by an international team of authors.

A revamped system, If that is the way it goes, will take advantage of up-to-date technology to give it greater accuracy and performance.

LORAN-C units are still being sold today. They are inexpensive and easy to install, about the same as a GPS unit. Stay tuned on the LORAN debate. A backup system is always a good thing. I have a backup car, a backup computer, telephone and TV. Why not a backup navigation tool?



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