ALTERNATIVE TIMING NETWORKS WITH GPS

G.P. Landis, S. Stebbins, R.L. Heard, H.F. Pliegel

Abstract:	An approach to determining accurate time from GPS with an independent network of receiving stations has been investigated. The methods of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for transferring time in previous work has been by the common view" and "melting pot" methods, Both of these techniques have used simplified single frequency receivers operating on the clear/acquisition (C/A) GPS codes and assumes that the satellite transmissions are quality observables producing "GPS time", accurately traceable to UTC(USNO). In the case of "common view", the position of the satellite is assumed to be accurately known from the satellite transmissions. Then the time delays due to position at the two common view sites may be accurately measured for time comparisons. In the “melting pot" method, an individual site measures "GPS Time" as determined from observing all GPS satellites in view resulting in an accurate over-solution of the GPS system time. The satellite broadcasts then provide the UTC - GPS time correction. The investigation into an independent network was performed on the basis of using the simplified C/A receiving equipment to produce accurate timing information regardless of the GPS broadcast information accuracy. The technique can be used to improve the inherent capabilities of these single frequency receivers or maintain accuracy with degraded GPS signals. The similarities with geodetic positioning using GPS will be described. A proof-of-concept experiment will be discussed and data presented to verify the technique.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 21th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting November 28 - 30, 1989 Sheraton Hotel Redondo Beach, California
Pages:	205 - 214
Cite this article:	Landis, G.P., Stebbins, S., Heard, R.L., Pliegel, H.F., "ALTERNATIVE TIMING NETWORKS WITH GPS," Proceedings of the 21th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Redondo Beach, California, November 1989, pp. 205-214. https://doi.org/10.33012/1989.14520
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