Australian DGPS radio beacons for marine navigation
Paul Edwards
Australian
government organization that is in charge of the marine radiobeacons for
DGPS is...
http://www.amsa.gov.au/ns/dgps/dgps.htm
I have written to them to ask what sort of coverage inland Australia gets
or whether they are directional for sea only. If I get a reply, I'll post
the
results here.
This government organization does NOT appear to be the Australian Coast
Guard. Presumably because they didn't want DGPS engineers to carry guns!
BFN. Paul.
Graham Wolstenholme
Paul Edwards (kerr...@nosppaam.w3.to) wrote:
: Since I only found out about it today, I thought I'd post it. The
: Australian
: government organization that is in charge of the marine radiobeacons for
: DGPS is...
: http://www.amsa.gov.au/ns/dgps/dgps.htm
AMSA = Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
: I have written to them to ask what sort of coverage inland Australia gets
: or whether they are directional for sea only. If I get a reply, I'll post
: the results here.
As you would know, but many readers wouldn't know, the vast majority of
Australia's population is around the coast line, rather like Canadians
being clustered on their southern border. I don't hold much hope for
inland DGPS services.
: This government organization does NOT appear to be the Australian Coast
: Guard. Presumably because they didn't want DGPS engineers to carry guns!
: BFN. Paul.
There is NO Australian Coast Guard. The activities carryed out by the US
Coast Guard are performed here by the Navy and AMSA.
The Volunteer Coast Guard is a voluntary rescue organisation, like the
surf life saving clubs or the Country Fire Authority. (other names in
other states)
Graham
--
"As the radius of knowledge increases.....
So too does the circumference of ignorance"
Paul Edwards
news:37ae...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> http://www.amsa.gov.au/ns/dgps/dgps.htm
>
> I have written to them to ask what sort of coverage inland Australia gets
> or whether they are directional for sea only. If I get a reply, I'll post
> the results here.
Wow!
They aren't directional, which is great.
The signal doesn't travel as far over land as sea.
They genuinely don't know how far inland the signal goes, but it doesn't
sound
like they hold out too much hope. It appears that Sydney city will be
covered,
but we're talking about "Paramatta or bust", not "Orange or bust".
What we need is an organized campaign to improve marine safety on the
Hawkesbury river and we'll be home and hosed!
I was hoping to be able to use it for car trips that I do outside Sydney,
which
will most likely be coastal, so may be covered anyway.
He suggested I speak to a beacon receiver salesman to test coverage. I
would like to have the DGPS receiver so that I can mark tourist waypoints
including unmarked entrances and unmarked chairs, and I need all the
accuracy I can get for that - see the Mrs Macquarie's Chair debacle on
www.kerravon.w3.to.
BFN. Paul.