FYI GPS users Jax FL to NC
 

Taken from Boating Industry
Wednesday June 9, 2004

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Recreational boaters are warned to not rely on any Global Positioning System equipment near Cape Hatteras, N.C., or Jacksonville, Fla. from June 11 through June 20 as the Department of Defense will be conducting radio interference tests on the system, according to a release yesterday from BoatU.S.

The department believes "severe disruptions to GPS service," could occur during the testing periods, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Center.

A "Local Notice to Mariners" was recently posted and warnings are also expected to be broadcast by the Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16. However, BoatU.S. said it was concerned about the relatively short notice given to boaters and the timing of the tests.

GPS navigation is widely used by recreational boaters and sometimes the only tool that gets them home safely. Boaters can help spread the news that on GPS – particularly the auto-pilot function should not be relied upon during these jamming tests.

"GPS should not be relied on for navigation by boats transiting ... approximately 50-60 miles seaward" of Cape Hatteras and "out to 80 miles in the area of the Florida coast between Jacksonville and Melbourne," according to the USCG notice.