A SURVEY OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE POSITIONING SYSTEMS

Stephen R. Sampson

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	The requirement to accurately position and track a moving aircraft, vehicle or vessel requires the user to select from an often bewildering array of commercial positioning systems. Each offers a different combination of range, accuracy, dynamics, operational modes and inherent limitations. This paper presents a tabular summary of the available commercial systems and their key specifications. Supporting text uses the transmitted frequency band to divide the systems into generic categories with generally common performance. Within each group, the characteristic capabilities and limitations are discussed. Topics include GDOP, calibration, multipath, skywave, propagation velocities, frequency allocation and measurement ambiguities. The reader will find the paper provides the basic navigation aids required to chart a safe course through the maze of systems available.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 32, Number 2
Pages:	139 - 148
Cite this article:	Sampson, Stephen R., "A SURVEY OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE POSITIONING SYSTEMS", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 32, No. 2, Summer 1985, pp. 139-148.
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