A New Generation of DGPS Broadcasting Stations

Robin E. Franko, Satish K. Mittal, Thomas A. Stansell, Richard Harris, Eddy D’Amico, Stewart Cannon

Abstract:	Based on practical experience with three trial Differential GPS (DGPS) Broadcast Stations and careful evaluation of future needs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) prepared a specification for an advanced DGPS network. The specified network would meet all international standards, be simple to install, easy to operate, both remotely and locally, and would provide excellent accuracy and operational availability, even under adverse conditions. A solicitation was issued for the initial requirement of three Broadcast Stations, one spare Broadcast Station (for training and maintenance purposes), hardware and software to upgrade the existing trial Broadcast Stations, and four Control Stations. In May, 1996, AMSA awarded this contract to Leica, and all of the Broadcast and Control Stations were installed during 1997. The three Broadcast Stations were declared operational in March of 1998 along with one of the trial Broadcast Stations. The other two trial Broadcast Stations have been commissioned but have not yet been declared operational. Based on excellent performance of the installed sites, an option for four additional Broadcast Stations was exercised. These will be commissioned by the end of November, 1998. AMSA uses the four Control Stations to remotely monitor and control the DGPS Broadcast Stations. Furthermore, a portable Windows 95 version of the Control Station software is used by maintenance staff to access the AMSA network via modem wherever they travel in Australia. Windows NT is used for all other system software, which takes full advantage of its multi-tasking capabilities. A Windows user interface makes operation of this powerful system simple, intuitive, and easy to absorb. The Broadcast Stations are available with either single or dual frequency GPS reference receivers and a single frequency GPS integrity monitor. The reference receivers and integrity monitors meet the latest RSIM and RTCM message standards, are extremely rugged, and are designed for continuous unattended operation. Overall, the design provides a complete, turn-key solution, with continuous integrity monitoring, virtually no downtime, and which is easily installed, maintained, and operated. This new generation DGPS System and its capabilities are described, and the excellent field performance of the Australian DGPS Network is documented.
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:	1271 - 1283
Cite this article:	Franko, Robin E., Mittal, Satish K., Stansell, Thomas A., Harris, Richard, D’Amico, Eddy, Cannon, Stewart, "A New Generation of DGPS Broadcasting Stations," Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1998), Nashville, TN, September 1998, pp. 1271-1283.
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