[Fourlanders] Interesting Article

[Jim Worsham]

The main concern for our cell phone network is losing GPS for network synch
and if that did happen we still have the old school master clock at the NOC
(Network Operations Center) to fall back on.  We aren't loosing sleep over
solar flares in my shop.  I agree though that if GPS goes down it will be a
problem.  I have to believe though that since that systems primary mission
is military (we tend to forget that sometime) those sats have to be built to
be bullet proof.

73
Jim, W4KXY

It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart
you are.  If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong.
Richard P. Feynman
-----Original Message-----
From: Rogers, Ron [mailto:RR124640 at ncr.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:51 PM
To: Randal DePriest; wa4kxy at bellsouth.net
Cc: Wey - K8EAB; 4Landers
Subject: RE: [Fourlanders] Interesting Article

Well, a few of you have heard my personal voicing of concern about this Sun
Spot "constipation" and what may come when the spots do return, the number
of spots, and the higher probability of flares and coronal ejections (plasma
bursts) from spots being directed right at Earth. 

Even with a "normal" sun spot cycle it is rare when a plasma spewing flare,
is aimed right at the Earth.  You may remember reading about the one such
occurrence that happened back in the 50s that caused the skies to be lit up
nightly for a week with red aurora that was visible clear into Florida.

The latter, with increased frequency, would be devastating to our Earth
bound communications and power grid infrastructures, along with satellite
services, including our GPS ring !!  

Remember, that the last time we really had any sun spot activity Cellular
telephone technology, and supporting cell tower grid, was in it's infancy
and the newer blocks of GPS satellites were not yet launched.

 These technologies we have so quickly come to depend on and take for
granted has never really been exposed to intense and repeated geomagnetic
disturbances from the sun. Hold your breath !!


Ron 

________________________________________
From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
[fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Randal DePriest
[N4AC at amsat.org]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 6:23 PM
To: wa4kxy at bellsouth.net
Cc: 4Landers
Subject: Re: [Fourlanders] Interesting Article

David Hathaway is usually one of the speakers at the Huntsville hamfest and
his sessions are always very interesting.

On Jun 23, 2010 5:49 PM, "Jim Worsham" <wa4kxy at bellsouth.net> wrote:

An interesting article:



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062104
114.html?g=0



73

Jim, W4KXY