GPS systems will be struck by Y2K-like bug on April 6: Security expert says he won’t fly on day zero

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I have a TBI and have no internal geography, so without a GPS there’s no way I can get to TX. Can someone swing by and pick me up?

I’m bringing Diet Pepsi and some verenike & zweibach to contribute to the theme of the party. And if my ride has a truck I’ll throw in a couple of sun tents.

Hey - my son is supposed to visit sometime around then. Maybe he’ll get stranded here and he could drive me down. Will have him bring his guitar.
 
Okay. Serious business mind here. What are the ramifications with this bug?

Should people really delay any flights, or road trips, until the true nature of this beast is explored?

We had many groups back in Y2K that worked on Computer clocks, processor functionality, and software interactions. We worked the problem, and did not allow the problem to work us.

What did we learn then, that can be utilized here?

Mmmmm, I am a little bit concerned with all the growth in dependencies in our technical world. I'm sure many others feel similar, or even more, concerns. Should we be worried? Hmmm? Hmmm.
 
I guess nobody really knows for sure... different experts, different opinions.

The Y2K Moment For GPS Systems Is Just A Month Away

[...]

The U.S. Naval Observatory released a short FAQ on the issue in 2017 and warned that the GPS receiver’s month/year conversion could fail and that incorrect time tags could “corrupt navigation data at the system level.”

A recent memo from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security explained that “a nanosecond error in GPS Time can equate to one foot of position (ranging) error.” Of course, an error of 19.7 years has the potential to make the navigation data useless.

How much fear should this knowledge inject into your daily life over the next month? On a scale of one-to-ten, I’m gonna give a solid two. One reason to chill out is that we’ve been through this before.

On Aug. 21, 1999, the GPS counters reset with little disruption to daily life. But GPS wasn’t as ubiquitous back then as it is today. Still, here in the second Epoch of GPS we’ve been anticipating the rollover and modern devices manufactured after 2010 are largely designed with a 13-bit week counter that only needs to roll over every 157 years.

If you’re more of the better safe than sorry type of person, then I’ll direct you to the comments Trend Micro vice president Bill Malik gave to Tom’s Guide. Malik said that he won’t be personally flying that day and he foresees other potential safety issues. “Ports load and unload containers automatically, using GPS to guide the cranes,” he explained.

“Public-safety systems incorporate GPS systems, as do traffic-monitoring systems for bridges. Twenty years ago these links were primitive. Now they are embedded. So any impact now will be substantially greater.”

[...]
 
cybervampira said:
Right! We need some camouflage material, too! :D
Click to expand...

Oh yes, we need plenty of Camo material to hide the bunker and keep out the masses as they scavange around the neighborhood looking for any scraps of food to eat.

If they are lucky, we will sneak up during the night inbetween our beer chugging sessions to throw the poor saps a few scraps and then we dive back into the bunker and padlock it shut to start another round of pints. :)
 
Jim_M said:
Okay. Serious business mind here. What are the ramifications with this bug?

Should people really delay any flights, or road trips, until the true nature of this beast is explored?

We had many groups back in Y2K that worked on Computer clocks, processor functionality, and software interactions. We worked the problem, and did not allow the problem to work us.

What did we learn then, that can be utilized here?

Mmmmm, I am a little bit concerned with all the growth in dependencies in our technical world. I'm sure many others feel similar, or even more, concerns. Should we be worried? Hmmm? Hmmm.
Click to expand...
From what I've read so far, the problem lies mainly with legacy GPS 10-bit systems vs. newer 13-bit ones which are unlikely to be affected.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning in April 2018 so it seems like industries reliant on GPS navigation systems have had time to upgrade their software or hardware if needed.

And to me, that means that domestic airlines would have rectified any concerns by now. Plus, if there is even the slightest possibility of a safety issue then we'll see the airlines grounding all flights on April 6. Why would they risk the lives of people and countless lawsuits? Plus the Flight Management System uses multiple navigation aids, not just GPS.

https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Memorandum_on_GPS_2019.pdf
https://www.gps.gov/cgsic/meetings/2017/powers.pdf
Who will be affected?

The list is long and varied; some industries come to mind immediately as they are known to use the accurate timing information provided by the GPS constellation. Financial markets, power generating companies, emergency services and industrial control systems may be affected, as well as fixed-line and cellular communications networks.

GPS tracking devices installed in a fleet management system to schedule and monitor deliveries could cause system errors if they start to provide location data that is potentially up to 20 years out of date.

Since this is the second time a GPS week rollover will occur, many manufacturers will have been aware of it in advance and newer receivers will continue through and beyond the rollover date without issue.
Click to expand...
GPS Week Number Rollover Event - April 6th 2019
Service Advisory 1905: GPS Rollover
PRODUCTS AFFECTED:
All Garmin aviation products are affected.
ISSUE:
On April 6, 2019 the week number broadcast by the GPS satellites will roll over. As a result of this event some GPS devices may recognize an incorrect date when powered on after April 6, 2019.

After extensive testing, Garmin has determined there are no known issues with Garmin aviation devices as a result of the April 6, 2019 rollover date.

Further testing is underway to check for future GPS time and date issues.
PILOT ACTION:
No action is necessary.
Service Advisory 1905: GPS Rollover - Aviation Alerts and Advisories

Now about that escort... I'll be in front of my house waiting, hot wings in hand.
 
MsMarple said:
RSBM

Now about that escort... I'll be in front of my house waiting, hot wings in hand.
Click to expand...

You got it. And as I’ve crossed the country numerous times, sans GPS, or any other navigational aids, we’ll be fine when nothing happens.

I will even make sure we travel through Shamrock, TX, on the way to Paradise. We will use all the good luck to make sure #cody22, and all others, receive those wings post haste. ;)
 
Jim_M said:
Okay. Serious business mind here. What are the ramifications with this bug?

Should people really delay any flights, or road trips, until the true nature of this beast is explored?

We had many groups back in Y2K that worked on Computer clocks, processor functionality, and software interactions. We worked the problem, and did not allow the problem to work us.

What did we learn then, that can be utilized here?

Mmmmm, I am a little bit concerned with all the growth in dependencies in our technical world. I'm sure many others feel similar, or even more, concerns. Should we be worried? Hmmm? Hmmm.
Click to expand...
This is a good post, valid questions.

My husband was in an IT-related career at that time and I remember him spending the night at the office that night, just in case. Fortunately nothing happened, but they had worked a lot of extra hours to make sure everything was prepared.

Since he's out of that career now I haven't kept up on any of it. It's pretty scary how much of our daily existence is based on technology now.
 
Jim_M said:
You got it. And as I’ve crossed the country numerous times, sans GPS, or any other navigational aids, we’ll be fine when nothing happens.

I will even make sure we travel through Shamrock, TX, on the way to Paradise. We will use all the good luck to make sure #cody22, and all others, receive those wings post haste. ;)
Click to expand...
You are officially designated to pick me up. :D
 
flute4peace said:
You are officially designated to pick me up. :D
Click to expand...

It would certainly be my pleasure.

Anyone else? I can fit three more with seat belts. Perhaps 2-4 in the cargo area.

What's that line? We're gonna need a bigger car! Or was that a bigger boat?

I can't remember what movie that line was from. Oh well, the more the merrier.
 
Jim_M said:
It would certainly be my pleasure.

Anyone else? I can fit three more with seat belts. Perhaps 2-4 in the cargo area.

What's that line? We're gonna need a bigger car! Or was that a bigger boat?

I can't remember what movie that line was from. Oh well, the more the merrier.
Click to expand...
Great thanks! I’ll bring some munchies for the trip.
 
Oh jeez. I'll never forget y2k. I was working at MCI Worldcom in Cary, N.C. in a call center. They made all employees work double shifts to have enough staff that day/night for the y2k rollover. I remember being so stressed! We were all relieved the following day when nothing happened..and very tired because of the lengthy long preparations.
 
flute4peace said:
This is a good post, valid questions.

My husband was in an IT-related career at that time and I remember him spending the night at the office that night, just in case. Fortunately nothing happened, but they had worked a lot of extra hours to make sure everything was prepared.

Since he's out of that career now I haven't kept up on any of it. It's pretty scary how much of our daily existence is based on technology now.
Click to expand...

BBM

My sister was Data Processing manager at a bank. She was in a Residence Inn in a suburb of a city many, many states away from the bank. One block from the actual facility where the bank's business computers were actually located. If the Internet failed, the bank planned to overnight ALL the processing to her, she would take it all to the processing facility & manually enter the transactions.

As we know, she & her hubby had a rather quite New Year's Eve celebration, 1 bottle of champagne, on that bank.

For you youngsters, most of us didn't have cell phones then.
 
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