Accurate Overland Radio Positioning in Southehn California With the ARGO System Medium Frequency Ground Wave

J. Ralph Johler, Alan R. Cook, Steve Sampson

Abstract:	The phase of the radio ground wave is precisely predictable and as such can provide accuracies in radio positioning which are limited only by the resolution of the equipment or by receiver noise. Stochastical and ad hoc methods of area calibrations fail to guarantee accuracy of position and consequently seriously degrade the system performance. With proper calibration. the fulI accuracy potential for ground wave systems is readily achieved in applications over the land masses of the earth. As a medium range over the horizon system. the medium frequency ground wave offers excellent capability for rapid and high accuracy "real time" position determination in terrestrial radio applications. The stability of the radio ground wave is sufficient to provide capability for applications such as trilateration surveys a n d electronic signposts with accuracies comparable to satellites. In this paper the authors discuss their accomplishments in accurate spatial calibration of the medium frequency (1.65 1.769 MHz.) ARGO system for coverage over an area in southern California. Propagation paths that are entirely overland are discussed. Lane corrections which are necessary for accurate calibration are analyzed in terms of overland propagation corrections resulting from the irregularities and inhomogeneities of the propagation paths. Propagation modeling designed to account for propagation errors In measurements of the ground wave phase is presented. A scheme is described to incorporate the model in an area filter to effectively map a geographical area in terms of Time of Arrival, Time Difference, or Lane Count measurements. The cal (brat ton procedures are universal and will remove sufficient propagation bias to ensure accuracy of three meters or better for a medium frequency ground wave system.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1985 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 15 - 17, 1985 San Diego, CA
Pages:	167 - 176
Cite this article:	Johler, J. Ralph, Cook, Alan R., Sampson, Steve, "Accurate Overland Radio Positioning in Southehn California With the ARGO System Medium Frequency Ground Wave," Proceedings of the 1985 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1985, pp. 167-176.
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