Creative Speculation

siligut

(12,272 posts)

3. The GPS giving incorrect data would seem to indicate a solar flare

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 03:48 PM

Jan 2014

Going on that theory, the satellite that provides positioning information to your GPS may have been hit with the coronal mass ejection as it headed toward Earth and you at the station.

If the GPS had just malfunctioned, the disruption could have been a more local source, but because it gave directions that were incorrect makes me believe that it was receiving fouled data. Had you been using the GPS just prior to stopping at the station? CMEs can travel up to "1000 km/second (2 million mph)". http://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/cme.html

So it passed through the satellite your GPS was using and then you and the station just seconds later. My conclusion at any rate.

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An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) ??? Strange thing happened ... I stopped to fill the car with gas, [View all] RKP5637 Dec 2013 OP

Either that or a close encounter of the second kind siligut Jan 2014 #1

This happened last month, south FL. I've been back in that area, never had it RKP5637 Jan 2014 #2

The GPS giving incorrect data would seem to indicate a solar flare siligut Jan 2014 #3

Yes, I had been using the GPS just prior to the gas station and it was working OK, when I RKP5637 Jan 2014 #4

This has been a fun mystery. It is the GPS that convinced me it was solar activity siligut Jan 2014 #5

Yes, this all makes sense to me too! Thanks! RKP5637 Jan 2014 #6

Dials screwed up fadedrose Jan 2014 #7

Nope, I was right on time for the appt., but it was really strange, I also have RKP5637 Jan 2014 #8