Drifting Satellite Could Knock Out Cable TV 217
A few days back we discussed some of the problems caused by the demise of Intelsat's Galaxy 15, including possible degradation of GPS and its WAAS refinement. Now reader crimeandpunishment writes in with another damage scenario, one which could affect vastly more people — interference with cable TV programming across the US. "A TV communications satellite is drifting out of control thousands of miles above the Earth, threatening to wander into another satellite's orbit... Galaxy 15 continues to receive and transmit satellite signals, and they will probably interfere with the second satellite, known as AMC 11, if Galaxy 15 drifts into its orbit as expected around May 23... [A spokesman] said one option would be using AMC 11's propulsion system to shift that satellite about 60 miles (100 kilometers) away to an orbit that's still within its carefully prescribed 'orbital box' but as far away as possible from Galaxy 15."
The only downside.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Is that now all the people who spend their time watching reality TV all day will be out in public interacting with others..
It's like myspace and facebook.. evil .. but at least contained! Better than the anglefire/geocities days!
And yeah.. this is totally a troll.. but it's Tuesday and I just got back from work and I really need to make something for dinner but I don't have anything and I'm too lazy to go to the store..
Way to go Galaxy 15! (Score:5, Insightful)
How many other slashdotters are actually rooting for Galaxy 15? The thought of it possibly knocking about cable television is just far too amusing to me (unlike cable television ;).
Re:ham radio (Score:3, Insightful)
For DX you've got to worry about sun spot cycles and/or the time of day and ionosphere conditions.
Over the past few thousand years, these have all been more predictable than geopolitics.
I can walk a few hundred yards from almost anywhere to a convenience store, Wal-mart, etc. and buy a pay as you go cell phone for $50 USD
Indeed. And you'd be reasonable to choose it today. Since the Great War was the war to end all wars, you'll always be able to choose it.
And... (Score:1, Insightful)
nothing of value was lost