|
ciscoubr
 
location:
Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male
 |  | GPS and Water
< on 3/18/2006 6:51 PM >
|  | | | I just received my SCUBA certification this weekend, and this question has been nagging me for a while…Can GPS signals be received under water? And if so, is t there such thing as an underwater GPS?
Cisco
|
|
zx270
location:
Here
Gender: Male
| | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 1 on 3/18/2006 8:58 PM >
| | | | It probably depends on how deep you go. Ive never used a GPS, so I dont really know. I found this, if it helps http://www.longbea...r-gps-products.htm
|
|
Glass
      
location:
Chicago
as one does
| |  | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 2 on 3/18/2006 9:00 PM >
| | | | Depends on the antenna.
|
|
Flik
location:
Fargo, ND
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 3 on 3/19/2006 8:50 AM >
| | | | I'd assume that the radio waves emitted from the GPS satellites would be reflected off the surface of the water, so the signal would technically not penetrate the water and be received by your GPS. It might works very close to the top of the water, but not likely much further below. It's worth a shot to try it out, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work at all.
|
|
Glass
location:
Chicago
as one does
| | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 4 on 3/19/2006 4:26 PM >
| | | | Posted by -Flik
I'd assume that the radio waves emitted from the GPS satellites would be reflected off the surface of the water, so the signal would technically not penetrate the water and be received by your GPS. It might works very close to the top of the water, but not likely much further below. It's worth a shot to try it out, but don't be surprised if it doesn't work at all.
|
I'm pretty sure that it could work off the secondary land-based system if you were close enough to the surface.
|
|
GreyKat
location:
Minneapolis/St Paul MN
Gender: Male
I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.
| | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 5 on 3/19/2006 5:06 PM >
| | | | No GPS does not work underwater. On the bright side you can use it in the boat to mark your dive positions.
Water like trees, buildings, and certain terrain is considered an obstruction and will block or bounce your signal giving you no signal at all or an incorrect one at best.
|
|
Flik
location:
Fargo, ND
Gender: Male
| | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 6 on 3/19/2006 6:17 PM >
| | | | Posted by mynameisglass
I'm pretty sure that it could work off the secondary land-based system if you were close enough to the surface.
|
...secondary land based system... What?
I think you're confused about some consumer based technologies that are not available to the general public, because I've never heard of any land based GPS signal providing, unless you've got some wild radio. Do please go into detail on this land based system if it exists though.
|
|
Vinny
location:
city watershed wilderness area of Frederick, MD
Gender: Male
| | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 7 on 3/19/2006 6:53 PM >
| | | | Posted by -Flik
...secondary land based system... What?
I think you're confused about some consumer based technologies that are not available to the general public, because I've never heard of any land based GPS signal providing, unless you've got some wild radio. Do please go into detail on this land based system if it exists though.
|
When that poster referred to a "secondary land-based system", it may be that they were referring to WAAS, which is a land-based GPS correction system which works in many parts of the Western hemisphere. However, the WAAS system is not a secondary GPS system, but just a way of offering improved accuracy for GPS receivers which are WAAS-capable (most modern GPSrs can handle WAAS.) So, the WAAS system will not help underwater at all.
As other posters have stated already, GPS receivers and antennas will not work more than a few inches below the surface of water, due to the attenuation in water of the UHF signals from the satellites. Any GPS systems marketed for use by SCUBA divers underwater utilize a small float which carries tha antenna above the surface of the water, along with a preamplifier, and then a long cable carries the signal to the underwater GPS receiver.
with care,
--Vinny
|
|
Glass
location:
Chicago
as one does
| | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 8 on 3/20/2006 1:07 AM >
| | | | Posted by Vinny
WAAS system
|
That's what I meant.
|
|
GreyKat
location:
Minneapolis/St Paul MN
Gender: Male
I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.
| | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 9 on 3/21/2006 4:12 AM >
| | | | Land based could also be referring to BEACON the Navy correctional towers.
WAAS is mainly used for air traffic and land based GPS units where BEACON is more nautical.
|
|
Glass
location:
Chicago
as one does
| | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 10 on 3/21/2006 4:53 AM >
| | | | Posted by GreyKat
BEACON is more nautical.
|
Is that available to consumers?
|
|
junkyard
location:
LaCrosse, WI
Gender: Male
Strategic Beer Command where the metal hits the meat.
| | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 11 on 3/21/2006 10:14 PM >
| | | | LORAN works over water, not sure about under. GPS can be knocked out just in tree cover. Water is way more dense.
I drink gasoline for breakfeast and beer for dinner!
Any problem can be licked with a case of beer and a few sticks of dynamite.
Strategic Beer Command ruling the desert since 1995 http://www.strategic-beer-command.com |
|
Pravus
location:
Chicago Area
Gender: Male
Now the two key words for tonight - "caution" and "flammable"...
| |  | | Re: GPS and Water
<Reply # 12 on 3/22/2006 3:16 AM >
| | | | Alot of GPS now are comming with WAAS, But it's only useable in north america, not sure of the extent so I dunno if it covers canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAAS
Live to Serve, Serve to Live.. |
|
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 78 ms
|
|
Ethics