I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit.
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thx a lot
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(And I should add that I don't know the degree of disruption, but ummmm a lot of people are extremely dependent on GPS for lots of extremely important things, so any disruption at all seems like someone in a government somewhere should be angry. Not just radio astronomers.)
@sundogplanets
All kinds of timing & oscillators use GPS signals to save a once off capital cost.
Most DAB
Cell/Mobile masts.
Some DTT
Some fibre
Other niche stuff.Also FCC illegally gave AST spectrum for telemetery in the 430-440 MHz band, even outside USA.
The FCC is a rogue regulator.Using GPS for time or timing is stupid once off cost savings they'll regret when there is a bad Solar flare. Switching off terrestrial navigation beacons is a mistake.
Accountants shouldn't run companies. -
(And I should add that I don't know the degree of disruption, but ummmm a lot of people are extremely dependent on GPS for lots of extremely important things, so any disruption at all seems like someone in a government somewhere should be angry. Not just radio astronomers.)
@sundogplanets
I still have a sextant and outdated charts so I;m Ehh Oh Kay -
@sundogplanets Considering the US military owns and operates GPS, and doesn't take kindly to jamming it, that is probably going to happen.
Though I don't imagine anything of consequence will happen before January.
@simonbp @sundogplanets
The US system is now one of a handful of systems using satellites for Navigation (GNSS), because it belongs to USA military. EU, Russia, China, Japan & India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigationThey are vulnerable in multiple ways.
I have a good selection of Ordinance Survey maps & use them. Also a real prismatic compass. I know how to do RDF and have gear.
I've used it and even have a BT GPS as well as multiple GNSS in phone.
No-one should absolutely rely on GNSS. -
I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
it is bad:
i wouldn't depend on the usa to do anything about it. competency is gone
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets
Wasn't there a Federal somethingorother Commission that claimed the right to vet satellites before they were launched to make sure they didn't cause communications problems? Whatever happened to them? -
(And I should add that I don't know the degree of disruption, but ummmm a lot of people are extremely dependent on GPS for lots of extremely important things, so any disruption at all seems like someone in a government somewhere should be angry. Not just radio astronomers.)
Oh, so that's what's disrupting the GPS/GNSS that modern aviation relies on.
You'll see frequent reports on the ACARS bots on the Fediverse, for example:
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets The problem is that spectrum use is by consensus and when one rogue states pretty issues licences that have global impact we're stuffed.
If the US wants to mess up coordination in its own territory then so be it, but these clowns are messing up HF and satcom with global impact. And when US licences operators don't behave outside of the US the FCC says "too bad".
AST stomping on amateur bands too. https://www.openresearch.institute/2025/09/12/defending-amateur-radio-spectrum-the-ast-spacemobile-battle-continues/
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
Fortunately, I never subscribed to this 'feature becomes dependency' problem.
Unfortunately, my Govrrnment drank the koolaid.
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets
Is that a bug or is it a feature, for possible use when needed? -
I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets
Or AST could be testing their GPS capability for the DoW.https://cysat.eu/news/ast-spacemobile-gps-backup-pnt-defense
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@sundogplanets
Or AST could be testing their GPS capability for the DoW.https://cysat.eu/news/ast-spacemobile-gps-backup-pnt-defense
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets any details you can share about the technical specifics?
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Oh, so that's what's disrupting the GPS/GNSS that modern aviation relies on.
You'll see frequent reports on the ACARS bots on the Fediverse, for example:
@zl2tod @sundogplanets No, I don't see any indication that AST satellites are affecting aircraft GNSS. The GPS/GNSS disruption is almost entirely intentional jamming in conflict zones, or Russia jamming European countries. See my site, https://gpsjam.org.
I haven't seen any indication of AST causing interference with GPS (yet) or anyone else talking about them currently causing interference.
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets oh, the Space Force isn’t going to like that at all. GPS is critical war-fighting infrastructure first, everything else second.
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
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I just learned from a meeting with radio astronomers that AST SpaceMobile is already disrupting GPS signals with only a handful of direct-to-device satellites in orbit. This seems... bad. And like someone in some government somewhere should maybe care about this?
@sundogplanets Our best and brightest experts are on the job now.
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