Omega: a Low-Cost Precision Synchronizer

Edward Savage, George B. Litchford

Abstract:	The omega Navigation System employs eight globally-distributed ground stations to transmit a pattern of super stable 10 to 14 kHz frequencies in the VLF band. Because of the propagation characteristics of signals transmitted at these frequencies, a receiver can receive three or more stations anywhere on the earth's surface at any time, day or night. Omega has provided land, air, and marine users reliable worldwide navigation for over two decades. A recent development is the use of omega signals for a tracking and positioning system. This paper describes a concept for exploiting this global resource to generate precision timing triggers to obtain highly precise, localized positioning data for display of land/air/marine traffic. It then postulates the use of the same concepts to synchronize data distribution networks to provide this data to the various Command and control (C ) hierarchies.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1989) June 27 - 29, 1989 Alexandria, VA
Pages:	97 - 100
Cite this article:	Savage, Edward, Litchford, George B., "Omega: a Low-Cost Precision Synchronizer," Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1989), Alexandria, VA, June 1989, pp. 97-100.
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