When we go to war will the GPS be shut down? I remember hearing something like this few years back. Any info?

 

They didn't shut it down last time.

 

I agree that it is very unlikely, given a regional conflict such as that with Iraq, that GPS would be turned off.

However, the Govt. has the ability to degrade the navigation accuracy of the GPS system though a variety of mean and retains the right to do so. IMO, all hell would have to break loose for the civil part of the system to be 'turned off' (cell phones and many computer networks rely on GPS as a accurate time source).

In 1996 a Presidential directive was signed by Former Pres Clinton that removed selective availability from the civil GPS signal which significantly increased the accuracy available to non-military users, and basically spawned the market for all the toys we now have.

Additional relevant information can be had at:

http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/pdd6.html

http://www.datum.com/pdfs/GPSWIP1.PDF

No worries for our handhelds for now.

 

See I'm not sure, the last handheld I had noted that "in times of war, the GPS may be shut down" Also from what I hear one of the 9-11 hijackers used a handheld GPS in the WTC towers to grab to location. So this is an instance of it being used against us.

 

It was possible to get a position in other ways, for many years before GPS existed. GPS just makes it easier and quicker.