Canadian Helicopters and EMI
The Canadian government has refused to accept four Cyclone test helicopters because that they are non-compliant because certain flight systems, an engine computer, and the engines are not sufficiently shielded against electromagnetic waves. The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopters are slated to replace CH-124 Sea Kings,that have been in operation since 1963.
Canadian Air Force Helicopters Beset with EMI Woes (Interference Technology, 09/19/2013)
LightSquared Subsidiary LLC is a company seeking FCC approval to provide a wholesale, nationwide, wireless broadband network integrated with satellite coverage. They intend to combine its existing satellite communications services with a ground-based 4G-LTE network that transmits on the same radio band as its satellites. The band is right next to the primary Global Positioning System (GPS) frequency (L1).
The Global Positioning System (GPS) community was concerned because testing has shown LightSquared's ground-based transmissions would overpower the relatively weak GPS L1 signals from space. Although LightSquared would operate in its own authorized band, the band is so close to the GPS signals that many GPS devices could pick up the stronger LightSquared signals and become overloaded or saturated. There is also concern that millions of existing GPS users could be forced to upgrade their devices and/or accept GPS performance losses to accommodate the new network.
On February 14, 2012, the FCC moved to stop LightSquared's planned national broadband network after being informed by the NTIA, "the federal agency that coordinates spectrum uses for the military and other federal government entities, that there is no practical way to mitigate potential interference at this time." LightSquared is challenged the FCC's action.
FCC OKs LightSquared to Test Spectrum Sharing (Wireless Week - 4/30/2013)
LightSquared (Wikipedia)
For the last 20 years, ITU has been coordinating efforts of government and industry and private sector in the development of a global broadband multimedia international mobile telecommunication system, known as IMT. Since 2000, the world has seen the introduction of the first family of standards derived from the IMT concept. Since May 2007, there are more than 1 billion IMT-2000 subscribers in the world!
´IMT-Advanced´ provides a global platform on which to build the next generations of mobile services - fast data access, unified messaging and broadband multimedia - in the form of exciting new interactive services.
A major focus of the GPS modernization program is the addition of new navigation signals to the satellite constellation. The new signals are phasing in incrementally as the Air Force launches new GPS satellites to replace older ones. Most of the new signals will be of limited use until they are broadcast from 18 to 24 satellites. The government is in the process of fielding three new signals designed for civilian use: L2C, L5, and L1C. The legacy civil signal, called L1 C/A or C/A at L1, will continue broadcasting in the future, for a total of four civil GPS signals.
