LORAN - Sperry Gyroscope Company, Inc.
June 1946 Radio-Craft

June 1946 Radio-Craft [Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

In the 1940s, the LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) system, originally designed at the Massachusetts of Technology (MIT), was considered as significant of a breakthrough technology as GPS (Global Positioning System) was when it became operational in the 1990s. Unlike with GPS and its P (precision) and C/A (coarse/acquisition) codes for military and civilian use, respectively, the full accuracy capability of LORAN was available from the start to both military and civilian users. There were no encoded signals to discriminate between users. Not until the year 2000 did civilian use gain access to full GPS accuracy. As would be expected, LORAN underwent a number of improvements over the years, and evolved into LORAN−C, which offered greater range and accuracy.

Sperry Gyroscope Company, Inc. - LORAN

Loran by Sperry

Accurate LOng RAnge Navigation ... anytime ... in all weather

With Sperry Loran the navigator has at hand a quick and accurate means of determining a ship's position at any time, in all kinds of weather. This system involves the reception of accurately timed radio pulses from shore-based transmitting stations, usually 200 to 400 miles apart.

The difference in time of arrival of signals from a pair of transmitting stations is measured and the time difference is then used to determine, from special charts or tables, a line-of-position on the earth's surface. When two lines-of-position from two different pairs of Loran stations are crossed, you have a "Loran fix. " Fixes are obtainable at distances from shore stations up to 1400 miles at night, 700 miles in daytime.

In your consideration of Loran, note particularly that Sperry's equipment is easy to operate. A Time Difference Meter (see illustration above) greatly simplifies the operator's work and prevents errors in readings.

Sperry Loran is hacked by a world-wide service organization and meets the usual high standards of test and performance of all Sperry products. Loran equipments in limited quantity are ready for immediate delivery.

* The Time Difference Meter, giving position references directly, is a Sperry exclusive.

Sperry Gyroscope Company, Inc.

Executive Offices: Greak Neck, New York • Division of the Sperry Corporation

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Posted September 24, 2021