IP Carrier: LightSquared's LTE breaks GPS in New Mexico

LightSquared is going nowhere with its proposed Long Term Evolution unless it can fix the interference problems it seems to cause to GPS systems.

Deere & Co. has reported to the Federal Communications Commission the risk of "severe interference" on tractors using GPS systems from as far as 20 miles away from a LightSquared tower and "a complete loss of service" between four miles and 22 miles distant.

Separately, public safety officials near the testing area reported LightSquared's tower knocked out their GPS systems in some areas, according to Bill Range, New Mexico's E-911 program director.

The frequencies Lightsquare uses are located close to the frequencies used by satellite navigation systems, and GPS users?particularly the military and police?worry the company's plan to install 40,000 antennas around the country will overpower GPS signals.

In principle, frequency filters should work, but there also is the matter of signal strength. GPS signals are quite weak, compared to the cell tower transmissions. And filter performance will drift with temperature.

Source: http://ipcarrier.blogspot.com/2011/06/lightsquareds-lte-breaks-gps-in-new.html

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