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US Coast Guard Intends To Kill LORAN-C

Posted by kdawson on from the we-will-always-have-signals-from-the-sky dept.

adaviel writes "LORAN (Long Range Aids to Navigation) is an electronic navigation system using low-frequency radio, used by many boaters (including me) before GPS. It has an approximately 200m accuracy and is a functional replacement in case GPS fails or the US implements selective availability in time of war. The US Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, intends to turn it off starting February 8." This is in spite of $160M spent on modernizing LORAN stations over the past 10 years.

2 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. hmm by nomadic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It has an approximately 200m accuracy

    Wow, I didn't know it was that inaccurate.

    and is a functional replacement in case GPS fails or the US implements selective availability in time of war.

    If the US implements selective availability of GPS, they can certainly also just turn off Loran-C.

  2. Costs and benefits by MaXintosh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is in spite of $160M spent on modernizing LORAN stations over the past 10 years.

    There's this thing called the Concorde Fallacy that is relevant here. It doesn't matter how much money you spent, all that should matter is anticipated future costs and benefits. And I think for a 200m redundant navigation system, future costs >> benefits.