I received a prompt reply from Chris Wahler, the Director of
Marketing for ACR Electronics, and I am grateful for his permission
to post the message to the list.
Rob Seaman
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
---
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [LEAPSECS] a system that fails spectacularly
Date: December 12, 2005 11:41:35 AM MST
Hello Rob,
You may post my Email reply on your list. I'm not sure if it helps
or hurts
your argument, but go ahead if you like.
We have many products that are regulated by the USCG, FCC, FAA,
COSPAS-SARSAT, as well as IMO (International Maritime Organization).
Regulations seem to be forever in a state of flux, and we need to stay
vigilant in order to keep our products in spec. One thing holds
true, we
will not release an update or a new model until it is proven. The
last thing
we want to do is rush a software patch to the field that will
compromise the
performance of our equipment.
Regards,
Chris Wahler
Director of Marketing
ACR Electronics, Inc.
Original reply:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [LEAPSECS] a system that fails spectacularly
Date: December 8, 2005 2:44:46 PM MST
Dear Rob,
I don't know what to think of your E-mails to John Bell regarding Leap
Second, but I can tell you that many of your assumptions are
inaccurate.
We only have a few transponders out of hundreds of products that are
affected by the Leap Second adjustment. The users of that product
do not
speak in terms of UTC, but rather in Course over Ground, Heading,
Speed, and
Position. GPS data for their vessel is displayed and transmitted to
near by
vessels to enhance navigational safety.
The timing of our announcement, mailings and email blast to registered
owners of our equipment has nothing to do with our plans to
implement the
standard or with our lawyers. Getting information into our users
hands in a
timely manor to give us the best chance of compliance is all we are
trying
to accomplish. Sure I could have made this announcement in July,
but why
would I? There is nothing our users can do until Jan 1st anyway.
Ultimately
we need them to perform the task out lined the Technical Bulletin
on the
dates prescribed.
I would like to point out that it is the Quality Systems of our
facility
that have been registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2000 Series
Standards not
our products. We are very proud of that fact. Not many of our direct
competitors can make that claim.
With all due respect to Mother Earth we are just trying keep our
customers
that depend on GPS data safe.
Regards,
Chris Wahler
Director of Marketing
ACR Electronics, Inc.
5757 Ravenswood Rd.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33312-6645
