What You Need To Know About The GPS 2019 Week Rollover Event

On April 6th, 2019 the GPS 2019 Week Rollover event will take place and it may affect GPS receiver operation. So here’s what you need to know:

What is the “GPS Week Rollover” event?

According to the United States Marine Corps website, “GPS receivers obtain time from the GPS constellation using a 10-bit week number which counts weeks from zero to 1023 and then returns to zero rather than incrementing to 1024. This may cause some receivers to report a date 1024 weeks (19.6 years) in the past when the week number is zero. This means that on 6 April 2019, some GPS receivers may report the date as 22 August 1999. In order to mitigate this issue, GPS manufacturers provide software updates to ensure the zero week is correctly interpreted.”

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What Could Happen + How To Prepare

This MARADMIN advises Marine Corps GPS users about a GPS week number rollover event on 6 April 2019 that may affect GPS receiver operation.

“All Marine Corps GPS users should verify that their receivers are running software that will correctly increment the date through the week rollover. Defense Advance GPS Receivers (DAGRs) using operating software versions 984-3006-008 or 811-4960-002 and systems with embedded Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM) receivers using operating software versions 984-2692-006, 984-2662-005, or 811-2883-004 are expected to be compliant and no further action is necessary. If the software version is different, contact Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA) Operating Forces Tactical Systems Support Center (OFTSSC) at HTTPS: (SLASH SLASH) MCEITS.USMC.MIL (SLASH) SITES (SLASH) MCTSSA or call Monday through Friday 0730-2330 Local Time at (760)725-0533. Users operating GPS receivers from other manufacturers should contact the device manufacturer.”

DJI Statement:

DJI released a statement regarding the GPS 2019 Week Rollover. According to the statement DJI is aware of the GPS 2019 Week Rollover, and that the event will occur on 6 April 2019. DJI confirmed that all of DJI’s platforms have been thoroughly tested and they will not be affected by the rollover.

Customers do not need to take any action and can continue using their DJI drones without disruption.

Have any questions we didn’t cover? Leave them in the comment section below!