Using your GPS device in the United States to find the latest geocache could end with nothing but signal interference. That’s if the current proposal before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by the multi-billion dollar communications giant LightSquared™ is approved. According to press reports, LightSquared’s current proposal could render tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of GPS receivers obsolete starting as early as next year. But there is something you can do about it.

The LightSquared proposal involves offering an open wireless broadband network in radio frequency bands adjacent to those used by GPS receivers. LightSquared plans to use both satellites and land-based towers to provide this service.

A report delivered to the FCC in June shows significant interference to GPS receivers from LightSquared’s operations.

Groundspeak has joined a group of those willing to raise their voices in objection to this current plan. The group is called A Coalition to Save Our GPS.  We ask that you add your voice to the conversation. Tell the FCC that the current proposal by LightSquared could affect the family friendly activity of geocaching. Here’s why.

The LightSquared cell towers reportedly cast a signal significantly more powerful than the distant GPS satellites. GPS devices cannot filter out the stronger signal, resulting in interference. Tests reported to the FCC using a simulated LightSquared network reportedly jammed GPS devices used for aviation, surveying, agriculture, the U.S. Coast Guard and personal GPS navigation devices. Tests also confirmed that ambulance and police cars lost their  GPS reception within 600 – 1,000 feet of a LightSquared tower.

The FCC has asked for feedback from the public on the report. Comments will be taken until Saturday, July 30.  The “reply to comments” period then lasts until August 15. After the public comment period is closed, the FCC can announce a decision at any time. We’re asking that geocachers, and anyone who cares about GPS, rally to make the voices of GPS device users heard.

What can I do?

Everyone who cares about GPS should let the FCC know about the threat that LightSquared poses.  In writing to the FCC, we encourage you to cover the following points in your own words:

• How you use GPS technology in your business and/or personal life
• What would happen to your business/personal life if GPS became unavailable or unreliable
• While more capacity for wireless broadband services is important, it should not come at the expense of GPS, which is critical to the global economy
• The results of the testing that was performed at the FCC’s request show that GPS reception on certain devices could be affected by LightSquared’s proposed service.
• Now that the test results have shown interference to GPS, the FCC shouldn’t allow LightSquared to keep trying out modified versions of its plan to use the spectrum near the GPS band.  LightSquared’s operations and GPS are fundamentally incompatible and the FCC should order LightSquared out of that band.

How do I tell the FCC to save GPS?

The FCC has an easy-to-use portal on its website to submit feedback on the testing results:

(1)  Click on this link for the FCC’s Electronic Comments Filing System (ECFS):  http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/begin?procName=&filedFrom=X

(2)  In the box which says “Proceeding Number,” type:  11-109. It is important to include this docket number with your comments.

(3)  In the designated boxes, enter (a) your name or your company’s name, and (b) your mailing address/city/state/zip.

(4)  In the box which says “Type in or paste your brief comments,” do so.  Click “Continue.”

(5)  A review page will load listing all of the information entered.  If correct, click “Confirm.” (6)  If you have trouble, contact the FCC ECFS Helpdesk at 202-418-0193 or e-mail at ecfshelp@fcc.gov.

A letter by a young student helped lead a campaign to put GPS devices in the hands of school kids. Together, geocachers raised more than $9,000 for Donorschoose.org.

Geocachers simply had to introduce a friend  to geocaching, who created an account (basic or premium) and logged a cache in June. For every new referral Groundspeak donated a dollar  to Donorschoose.org.  A total of $9,135 will now be given to the charity. Donorschoose.org connects teachers with donors to fulfill classroom needs.

Karla helped lead the charge in the referral program. She attends a low income elementary school in Texas and a member of the after-school technology club, Tech-Click. In 2009, Groundspeak provided three GPS devices to Karla’s club through DonorsChoose.org. Those three GPS devices allowed Karla and others in her club to learn about latitude, longitude, spatial concepts and more. Karla sent us this letter to thank us for the donation.

Geocachers took part in the referral program to offer more  opportunities involving technology to more students like Karla. On June 1st, Geocachers began to track the progress of the program on the Signal donation thermometer found on the Geocaching.com blog, Latitude 47.   Cachers nearly reached the $10,000 goal. But this won’t be the only chance to help raise money for charity through geocaching.

Next year, geocachers will take on another referral challenge. They again will be able to help those in need by sharing geocaching with friends and family. Stay tuned to this blog for more information. Thank you to all the geocachers who helped school kids through Donorschoose.org. We’ll share any more thank you letters with you  – especially if they are as endearing as Karla’s letter.

Two retired Groundspeak hamsters found ‘forever homes.’ The toy hamsters were retired after playing a starring role in a Geocaching.com video. The segment aired in a continuous loop while the website received a major update in early May. The “Geocaching.com Hamster Power” video played on an old joke – that Geocaching.com is actually powered by hamsters. (It’s not.)

Thank you to the more than 100 geocachers who offered to care for the hamsters in their retirement years. Ultimately, a geocaching family from Germany and a geocaching couple from America will receive the hamsters.

CacheZwerge is a team made up of  10-year-old Kai-Luka and 12-year-old Catharina.

They wrote, “We would be so glad to offer little Hammy a forever home. He was a hard working hamster for geocaching and now deserves a real good place to enjoy the sunny side of geocaching. We will show him all fantastic places in the Black Forest. Take him out to exciting adventures, visiting caves and climbing. Go kayaking with him and we will always carry him if he does not want to walk. Or he can get a special ride with our husky.”

The other hamster up for adoption won’t be traveling as far. It’ll find a home in Indiana, USA. Miss.Betsy and her fiance Mr.Charles have been geocaching since their first date, “We’ve camped, hiked, canoed and swam and now
we’re looking for a special pet to share in our adventures!”

Miss.Betsy says no other pet would do, she’s allergic to animals. “His polyester-based fur wouldn’t require me to medicate myself, we could find some nice hiking gear for him (Or perhaps I could sew him some!) , He would have a forever home in Greenwood, Indiana. He could weekend with us wherever we decide to camp, and he could have a beautiful, two-story, to-scale townhome located in scenic my bedroom! There are many lock-in-locks in which he can nest, and if he feels the need for roomier digs, he can inhabit one of many ammo cans.”

Both CacheZwerge and Miss.Betsy will be receiving their Groundspeak pets soon, with care packages including Travel Bugs so that the hamsters will be trackable. You can watch the video below that made the hamsters famous. Stay tuned to the Latitude 47 blog. You never know when another hamster will come up for adoption!

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