On Fri, 4 Aug 2006 16:29:56 -0700, "Peter Duniho"
wrote:

".Blueskies." wrote in message
m...
Excellent, thanks!

In addition to Jon's nice explanation of DME, I'd like to point out that
because DME is an active receive-and-reply system, it can get saturated when
too many aircraft are using the same DME site. A pilot using DME in busy
airspace should keep this in mind, in case some funny numbers start getting
spit out, or the DME just stops giving any indications.

I admit, I've never actually seen this happen, but it is theoretically
possible.

Pete


I can't remember the numbers but a VOR/DME will accept a large number
of aircraft before it saturates. Some Terminal DME's are only capable
of supporting about 5 or 10 aircraft (only needed for an instrument
approach anyway). Since they are short range it's not usually a
problem.

I have more, than once, lost DME but not usually for long (less than a
minute). Mostly at longer range where other aircraft are probably
nearer the DME and a stronger signal than me.