The Development and Future of MF DGNSS as an International System

Nicholas Ward

Abstract:	Marine Medium Frequency Radiobeacons have become the accepted international standard for broadcasting differential corrections to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in maritime applications. The system has technical advan-tages and disadvantages compared with LF, VHF or satellite communications, but one factor in its success has been the availability of frequencies under the control of maritime administrations. By mid 1998 there were 187 maritime radiobeacons in 28 countries known to be broadcasting DGNSS corrections. In addition to the USA and Canada all the Scandinavian countries and most of the European countries with Atlantic coastlines are providing such services, as are Australia, China, Japan and some of the Gulf States. In most cases these services are only partly deployed and are being expanded. Services are planned or proposed in Korea, South Africa, Russia and a number of South American countries. The International Association of Lighthouse Authorities has acted as a coordinating body for this system, helping to develop standards and maintaining a database on transmit-ting and reference stations. Applications include hydrographic survey, buoy position-ing, dredging, pipe-laying and rig positioning as well as navigation in restricted waters, such as harbour approaches and entrances. The future role of radiobeacon DGNSS in the overall mix of systems needs to be assessed in the light of the expected deployment of geo-stationary overlays and the possible use of Loran-C to provide DGNSS corrections.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1998) September 15 - 18, 1998 Nashville, TN
Pages:	1265 - 1269
Cite this article:	Ward, Nicholas, "The Development and Future of MF DGNSS as an International System," Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1998), Nashville, TN, September 1998, pp. 1265-1269.
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