Posted by Mark Kostora on April 08, 2023 at 15:07:41.

In Reply to: Re: Good eLORAN article posted by Garry, K3SIW on April 06, 2023 at 13:39:29.

A few years ago (perhaps out of nostalgia) I purchased a SeaRanger ASB 2001 Loran-C receiver. When I powered it up whether the antenna was connected or not the radio would continuously reset itself and sound a alarm in the absence of a signal until I would go into the simulator mode. But after reading Steve's announcement of a possible Loran signal on the air I have noticed at time a somewhat different behavior. Sometimes the radio instead of resetting itself it quietly continuously indicates that it is searching but the diagnostics indicates an un-usable signal. Being I am in the west and far inland I am selecting Loran chain 9940. Over the recent years both personally and professionally I have been expressing the concern that as wonderful that it is there is an over-reliance on GPS navigation and we should keep on at least on a standby basis longwave and other innovative means of navigation. Hepburn has been noting on his site that there is an alarming decommissioning of NDB/ADF systems yet he has recently noted the trend of 'zombie' NDB stations returning to the airwaves. My father who was a WWII veteran who flew and navigated over the Pacific daily would take me up in a Cessna now and then and I always remember that re-assuring beacon on the radio and that ADF needle giving us some I idea of where we are. To my understanding just a few weeks ago there was a solar mass ejection that if not on the opposite side of the sun, could have been something of the 'big one' with a damaging and disruptive threat on the GPS system on other space-based services. Looks like some out there is starting to take seriously the concerns I have been expressing. And the airwaves are again sounding that Loran buzz. Thanks Steve and Garry for your announcement of the possible return of Loran. Mark

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