I know at certain times certain birds used for GPS tracking will drop off during a military 'event'. Maybe this is what spurred your GPS loss?

"A mysterious missile launch off the southern California coast was caught by CBS affiliate KCBS's cameras Monday night, and officials are staying tight-lipped over the nature of the projectile.

CBS station KFMB put in calls to the Navy and Air Force Monday night about the striking launch off the coast of Los Angeles, which was easily visible from the coast, but the military has said nothing about the launch."

The "whole" story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/09/national/main7036716.shtml