Who want's Galileo??? !!!!!!!!!!

[The Editor]

Is it just me being my usual cynical self (again) or is this daft new GPS system an utter waste of money??

The first Satellite was launched last week that will ultimately become the European version of GPS - Called Galileo.

Costs have been estimated at circa £3.5 billion. Now we all know what estimated costs are like (remember the Millenium Dome fiasco??). So I think it's fairly safe to say that the eventual final cost of this space junk will be at least double that.

Why do I call it space junk? Well who actually want's it (like the Millenium Dome)?

The American GPS system works and it works well. It has been de-militarilised for some years now and has always been available to the public for free. Can anyone here honestly say that this new fangled Galileo will be offered completely free of charge to us mere mortals. Once this theiving lot of Labour lefties get wind that they can charge for the services everyone will be required to buy a 'Galileo Licence'

The question I ask is.... Are car manufactures going to be asked to install Galileo only navigation equipment in cars imported/built in europe as a condition of sale? Or perhaps they will be required to pay a licence to the government (More revenue for the greedy politicians)

So what will happen? Will owning an american based GPS navigation aid become illegal over here and will the thought police confiscate your nasty american piece of hardware if you are caught using it??!!

The truth of the matter is, £3.5 - £7 billion could be much better spent on our national health service, education system or countless other sensible options.

This system will be run by the private sector and I'm sure they can already smell the money. So what will people do if... sorry I mean WHEN the government starts charging for the privilage of satellite navigation under Galileo?. Well if bespoke car systems are Galileo only then people will say that. I'll get mysely a TomTom (or similar) and avoid the licence fee !!!

Of course the properganda line is "Oh we don't want to be reliant on a system that is run by the American Military" I feel the truth is much more commercially orientated

I see Galileo failing... SPECTACULARLY !!!
Can't say I didn't warn them.....


The Ed

 

[Retired]

I believe the costs are being met by the EU countries so the 3.5b - 7 b isn't all available for hospitals etc.

It isn't licence fees that worry me its road pricing. The Galileo system will deliver greater accuracy than the existing gps system. Accurate enough to know if you are driving on a motorway and not on a parallel road and accurate enough to detect if you entered a congestion zone.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

GPS and GLONASS will be in need of replacement satellites in the near future.....and the idea of freeing it up to all users is so they can off load the cost on to other users when replacemnt times comes....ie the EU.

to be self sufficient in Europe is the goal of the EU anyway

I think you may find that the US tax payers were not happy for GPS to be public funded, so the military keep it from them for a few years....then allowed everyone access, why? some one asked why tax payers moneys was being spent and had not be available to the public? so it became available!

Suprisingly, it is only a signal sent from the things in space. once you have the frequency and you know where its coming from (All 40 have a different signal) anyone with the ability to receive it can use it!

these sattelites have a life expectanly of 12-15years...the first 15 are due for renewal in the next 3 years...Russia has already stated it isnt renewing its ones...its going to use the EU and GPS while they are still there.

It estimated to cost the UK £150m, yes i am sure we can spend that on something more productive! but perhaps we can agree to help this in return for the £1bn budget refund Blair is not giving away?


asylumn seekers anyone?

 

[The Editor]

I believe the costs are being met by the EU countries so the 3.5b - 7 b isn't all available for hospitals etc.

Yes - I understand the government is paranoid about being reliant on the US but what happens after this new all singing all dancing system is fully deployed (should be by about 2075 if past record is anything to go on) and we then decide to go to war with say... France !!:-x

Maybe we will share the key to turn it on and off !!! One day we could have it and another day a different European country takes custody of it !! (Don't laugh, more loony ideas have already emerged from Brussels !:lol: )

The Ed

 

[SLinKyjoe]

for the cynics

http://www.brugesgroup.com/mediacentre/comment.live?article=201

http://www.three-fives.com/microelectronic_news/january05_micro_news/200105Concrete_GPS_contract.htm

http://www.cndyorks.gn.apc.org/yspace/articles/us_could_kill_galileo.htm

http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2142864/gps-users-plan-outages

http://www.rin.org.uk/bfora/systems/xmlviewer/default.asp?arg=DS_RIN_NEWSART_76/_list.xsl/101

http://centaur.sstl.co.uk/gps/Navtec01commercGPS.pdf

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/science/war/counter_terror.html

http://insight.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,39020463,39145631-2,00.htm

http://www.cambridgeconsultants.com/Downloads/Library_presentations/CCL workshop_slides_final.ppt

http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/~dmm/research/pubs/mountainLinLBS.ppt



this ones a good one
http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/galileo.asp

 

[The Editor]

Mmmm... Interesting....

The original projections were 2008 and now they have already 'slipped' to 2010 !!

Like I said.... Brussels involved, UK involved, rest of Europe involved.... should be operational by 2075 ! .... (oh and the cost should at least triple in the lifetime of the project !!)


The Ed

 

[Silver Arrow]

I understand that the satellite launched by the Surrey group was needed to ensure that the bandwith would be available as the allocation required that a space transmitter had to be in place otherwise the allocation would be lost.
The reliance of commercial shipping and flight on GPS/GLONASS is currently influencing its develpement and use. Details can be found with reference to the Royal Institute of Navigation. www.rin.org.uk
The proposed Euro system has a stronger signal than GPS, which isn't available indoors.
The Big Brothers can make of that what they will!