U.S. DoD buys GPS receivers at $2200 each
Dec 4, 2006 explorist, gps navigation, misc news
Price conscious Department of Defense just placed an order for about 35,000 of these retro looking GPS receivers at $2200 each. The Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR), manufactured by Rockwell Collins, incorporates anti-jam improvements as well as something called Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM). The DAGR uses the NightHawk 12-channel GPS receiver chip and weighs nearly a pound, but is small enough (6 3/8″ x 3 7/16″ x 1 9/16″) to fit into a standard two-clip ammo pouch.
DAGR can find its first position fix within 60 seconds, and can run continuously for twelve hours on its battery. There are a number of useful accessories, including an anti-jamming device, a more powerful antenna and external power cables. DAGR has one major advantage over commercial GPS receivers, it can use the Precise Positioning Service (PPS) signal. PPS allows users to operate reliably when someone is trying to jam GPS signals. DAGR also has the most popular features found in commercial GPS receivers, and can easily have its software updated. DAGR has a 1.7×2.3 inch display, and can survive submersion into nearly 40 inches of water. DAGR costs about five times more than equivalent civilian models. The Department of Defense has bought about 125,000 DAGRs so far.
According to our source some troops still use civilian GPS receivers that are more convenient to use :) We wonder if they’re using the Garmin eTrex ($90), or the Magellan eXplorist 100 ($85).
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
[...] will offer the same features and ruggedness of their military grade Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR: pictured above) and Miniature Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver Engine (MPE). The Polaris Guide, [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Any troop using a civilian GPS over the DAGR is too stupid, clumsy, and incompetent to learn how to use the device properly, and is probably taking dangerous, ill-advised shortcuts. You also forgot to mention the most important, useful and exclusive of the many features of the DAGR: crypto. I could go on and on singing its praises. But one thing remains: troops who prefer to use a civilian model don’t know how to use the DAGR. The DAGR looks “retro” as you call it. This almost looks like a bad review. It also survives extreme shock, temperature, mud, dust, water; and why on earth would you want a flashy GUI and pretty display when you could have a far more accurate, durable, reliable, encrypted, anti-jamming model? There is nothing equivalent on the civilian market, even if you claim there is at 1/5th the price. This device stands alone. Anything better is classified beyond my pay grade. Stick to the civilian weekend highway map market, which you know best. The usual stuff you review is not for serious land navigation.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:13 am
[...] a handheld GPS receiver called MicroDAGR which carries the same functionality as their older model DAGR in a smaller, lighter, but still very rugged form [...]
October 7th, 2009 at 6:19 am
[...] a handheld GPS receiver called MicroDAGR which carries the same functionality as their older model DAGR in a smaller, lighter, but still very rugged form [...]
May 20th, 2011 at 11:10 am
anon.mil,
troop using a civilian GPS use it because DAGR plan and simple sucks!
I will give you the rugged nature of the dagr, as far as Crypto code is concerned, You ought to know better!
Crypto codes are not allowed for civilian use. Nothing to do with capability of the other producers of the commercial gps. For obvious reasons commercial GPS need not be as rugged.
Commercial product are better in Power consumption, better in dealing with multi-path, better in operating in foliage and have better acquisition when they lose an SV. Unlike Rockwell coolings, Commercial products do not just add onto their legacy cards, They use the latest and best electronics chips and modules,
Commercial world is WAY ahead of anything produced by RC’s military branch. Troops are no too dumb, Rockwell product is jut not that good. Unlike commercial products which at the end of the day must pass the ultimate test, that is consumer satisfaction to sell their product, DAGR needed to pass the required specs in controlled Lab.