GPS no-no: NJ man fined $32K for using GPS jammer

[Radar-1]

GPS no-no: NJ man fined $32K for using GPS jammer

I see many Hams are here on VK, since we all know the rules but others might not - I wouldn't recommend using a GPS jamming device near an airport.

For a number of years I drove a commercial vehicle (18-wheel semi) interstate and most of these large OTR over-the-road trucks were always some of the very first vehicles to be equipped with GPS tracking as well as the 100-year "black box" data-recorders (in case of accident, very similar to aircraft flight data recorders). Anyway, you could always tell if another driver was sneaking around or out-of-route etc because you'd see tinfoil wrapped all over the dome of the GPS transmitter/receiver (to block the signals).

Well evidently the jammer can be had for less than $100 and even normal citizen drivers are now using them. You really get your money's worth - as a bonus feature it happens to also conveniently jam aircraft landing navigation signals too!

Just thought some might find the article interesting

N.J. man fined $32K for illegal GPS device that disrupted Newark airport system
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...ng_system.html

[Chip Chester]

I wonder if that's one of the causes for UPS crash, California crash, and the Southwest landing gear thump. I can't imagine GPS is the sole source of info, but nav may be weighted too much towards GPS and not enough towards other instruments.

Not a pilot, though, so this all could be hogwash.

Chip

[Username1]

New technology often means new thinking..... New digital tv offers a few positives, but interference is a big drawback to it. GPS can be fooled there are a bunch of MIT kids that showed they can make a ship follow a directed path way off from what it should be on. This was in the news a few weeks ago. It would be nice to think that the new air craft system would make use of GPS AND Radar, especially since the radar can't be spoofed quite as easily as GPS.....

[N2IXK]

I'm a ham (but not a lawyer) and I wasn't actually sure if what this guy did was illegal.

The law prohibiting jamming (section 333 of the Communications Act) specifically prohibits interference with radio COMMUNICATIONS. Jamming broadcast reception, cell phones, 2 way radios, etc are all obviously illegal, but does GPS really meet the definition of a COMMUNICATIONS service?

Certainly the guy is screwed anyway, as the feds can always find SOMETHING to charge you with if they want to, but this just might give him an opportunity to fight back if he can find a creative lawyer.

Sounds like these GPS jammers are a bit overpowered, at least for blocking a tracking device located only a few feet away....

[jr_tech]

Data is being transmitted from one point to another... how is that not a form of communication?
It is also *very* unlikely that he held a license to transmit on that frequency. No *loopholes* to be found here.

jr

edit add: Here is the FCC NAL:
http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/...-13-106A1.html

[Radar-1]

Here's an interesting link via GPS.Gov about illegal jammers . . .
http://www.gps.gov/spectrum/jamming/

[TV_Engineer]

The irony of course is that the guv'mint can "degrade" the signal in steps to the point where it is useless unless you have the crypto on hand to remove the timing errors. Because this system is of military origin the criteria for this is (probably is subjective at best) classified. I have used the military GPS receivers and they occupy 8RU to house the necessary digital "reconstructors" to re-enable the full signal. I wonder if the FCC would fine the military...

[Jon A.]

Bosses (and the government) can be such killjoys. If not for that, the guy wouldn't have felt the need to try to hide his location.

Some rules are made to be bent.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by KV-1926R

Some rules are made to be bent.

Maybe, but the law is the law, and that man who jammed a GPS system for whatever crazy reason got exactly what he had coming to him. After paying that fine, he will probably, even likely, think at least twice before jamming another GPS transmitter.

The FCC doesn't take these things lightly--far from it. GPS jamming is on par with any other kind of jamming of radio signals; I'm sure it carries the same penalties in any case. If this man is a ham, I'm sure the FCC will revoke his license without thinking twice. Any amateur radio operator who deliberately jams or otherwise interferes with any radio signal, whether or not that signal is legitimate, i. e. coming from a licensed transmitter, will either be fined or face suspension or, at worst, revocation of his amateur license. The FCC considers amateurs who jam other radio signals or otherwise interfere with operations of stations, licensed or not, unfit to hold an amateur license, which is why the FCC suspends or, again at worst, revokes licenses of offenders.

[Jon A.]

Well, he should have done it the old-fashioned way and covered the GPS transceiver with foil.

I was talking about bending silly rules that are just bothersome. Having to recycle electronics for one thing.