LORAN equipment

[z28jimi]

With the LORAN system dead, does anyone know of any sort of market for LORAN equipment? My boat has a Northstar 800X display at each station, and I plan to pull them out, but hate to just toss them in the trash. I guess I could try EBay, but I'm steering clear of Craig's list. The few times I've posted something there, the responses seemed to be 100% from nutcases and third-world types.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Just throw it away. What a shame. Thanks Obama.

 

[robertm]

I have kept ours just in case the signals are ever brought back. Who knows; It might be necessary someday if the satellite systems ever fail. I never understood the system being taken off line for a savings of what??? Maybe I'm just a dinosaur, but I always liked having LORAN as a backup.

 

[Avenger]

I just did a quick search of completed listings on e-flea and only one or two sold for about $15. I suspect either electronics hobbyists/collectors, or shill bidders.

Supposedly there were manufacturers developing enhaced GPSs that used LORAN signals in conjunction with the satellites between the time the gov't spent millions to upgrade the LORAN transmitters and then shut them down. I'm keeping mine in storage for a while in case the gov't comes to their senses, but I have a feeling it will end up in the garbage in a few years.

 

[captainwjm]

Just throw it away. What a shame. Thanks Obama.

Actually, its Thanks Congress. http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/coastguard_LORAN_010710w/

Anyway, I recycled mine at the same location that takes old computers and TVs. I agree its a shame that we couldn't afford to keep it as a back up, although think how the Light Squared controversy would have played out if there was an alternative to GPS.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Actually, its Thanks Congress. http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/coastguard_LORAN_010710w/

Anyway, I recycled mine at the same location that takes old computers and TVs. I agree its a shame that we couldn't afford to keep it as a back up, although think how the Light Squared controversy would have played out if there was an alternative to GPS.

I just remember Obama using it in a State of the Union speech as an example of the waste he wanted to cut out. Come-on, you can't find bigger pork to fry?

 

[captainwjm]

I just remember Obama using it in a State of the Union speech as an example of the waste he wanted to cut out. Come-on, you can't find bigger pork to fry?

As former Illinois senator Dirkson [yes, I'm dating myself] said, "A million here, and a million there, and soon you're talking about real money."

 

[rsmith]

No it was an OBama/ Gates PR cut. Yes Congress aproves it but at the recomendation of the admin. I still remember the speech.They also cut F22 funding and engine replacement for the JSTARS. BTW the Air Force is not keeping the GPS system up to date and there are a # of Sats that are getting ready to die with no back up. Since most of the military still uses Vietnam era INS nav GPS dropping dead wouldnt be an end all deal.

 

[Boatsb]

If the GPS system goes down many of us will need to go back to real charts. It's the kids I am worried about. How will they find a starpukes without it.

 

[DLCameron2]

I agree with Sky on this one OBAMA cut the coast guard budget after they invested $80M in upgrading the Loran system. More was needed but it was a great back up system at least here in the great lakes. A lot of pilots also objected to this cut. Please see my new government approved system below. DC

 

[GJH]

Everybody is all for cutting government spending as long as it doesn't affect any spending they like.

Actually, the system is being maintained, and on top of that, the Chinese, Europeans and Russians are all deploying systems as well. This for the trade e-magazine is a great source of information:

http://www.gpsworld.com/

 

[DLCameron2]

Of course there are other alternatives/backups:

 

[GJH]

LORAN? GPS? We got no GPS! We don't need no stinkin' GPS!

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/captain-bligh-voyage-of-survival.html

 

[rsmith]

Everybody is all for cutting government spending as long as it doesn't affect any spending they like.

Actually, the system is being maintained, and on top of that, the Chinese, Europeans and Russians are all deploying systems as well. This for the trade e-magazine is a great source of information:

http://www.gpsworld.com/

Oh yeah, I have a hi degree of confidence in chineeze and Ruskie equiptment.

 

[34Hatt]

Oh yeah, I have a hi degree of confidence in chineeze and Ruskie equiptment.

I hope so most likely the Chineeze made your gps your using now
God I got to go look at mine now !

 

[DLCameron2]

I replaced the OBAMA Navigation system with a SIMRAD NSS7, I am building a small SIMNET which will have my depth-speed-temp, plus this plotter, the autopilot, and when I get around to it AIS. I think this will help more than the system I removed!

DC

 

[z28jimi]

Well, if there was any chance at all of LORAN being resurrected, it's a sure thing now...I pulled my stuff out today and it's sitting in a pile on the floor in the garage.