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[porthole]

I still used this up until yesterday.





Coast Guard terminates LORAN-C signal

Posted: 08 Feb 2010 06:44 PM PST

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard terminated broadcast of the North American Long Range Navigation-C signal at 3 p.m. Monday with the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center in Alexandria, Va., coordinating the shutdown.

The LORAN system began as a radio-based navigation system during World War II under a secret program to provide the Allied forces with a reliable and accurate means of navigation at sea in any weather. Receivers for aircraft were eventually developed and the LORAN system expanded to all aspects of the military. LORAN Stations were first established in the Atlantic in 1942 and then in the Pacific. The LORAN system was then used by the Army Air Forces in the bombing campaign against the Japanese homeland. The Coast Guard retained and expanded the LORAN system at the end of the war for merchant and military use.

LORAN has, as a result of technological advancements in the last 20 years, become an antiquated system no longer required by the armed forces, the transportation sector or the nation’s security interests and is used only by a small percentage of the population. Continued use of limited resources to operate LORAN-C is no longer prudent use of taxpayer funds and is not allowed under the 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

Notice of the termination of the signal was published in the Federal Register Jan. 7. Termination of the program was supported through the enactment of the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

[greglyon]

For coastal navigation it was pretty accurate, or at least as accurate as the military would allow.

[porthole]

For coastal navigation it was pretty accurate, or at least as accurate as the military would allow.

The military did not control LORAN. The LORAN system was maintained by the Coast Guard and was strictly a coastal navigation system. In the northeast where LORAN chains crossed at near right angles, accuracy was very good to excellent. Accuracy with LORAN had more to do with the receiver and the operators ability to use it then equipment.

GPS - just about anybody can use it proficiently.

A to military control, that was early GPS with "selective availability". The DOD had the ability to skew the satellite signals. This gave a typical accuracy of around 300' or more.
We first had issues with selective availability  (SA) with the first Gulf war.

This was countered with coastal stations broadcasting a "correction" which a "differential" capable receiver could use to correct the GPS error down to 7-10' with better units (Northstar marine GPS). 

[rottenroger]

I used loran on my buddies sail boat years ago.  My boat is outfitted with all the bells and whistles.
I have a main GPS, a back up hand held and a PERB w GPS. Not to mention all the local coastal charts.
Its not uncommon to run 15 to 30 or miles in the fog on the way back in from tuna fishing off the
Northwest coast in the summer. It makes you appreciate a good electronics system. Gotta love
RADAR and GPS.