Testing Ranging GNSS Integrity Channel (RGIC) and Wide Area Differential GNSS (WADGNSS) Concepts Using Inmarsat-2

A.J. Van Dierendonck, Jim Nagel, Quyen D. Hua, David C. Wescott

Abstract:	Inmarsat-3, the next generation of lnmarsat satel- lites, will carry a dedicated transponder package that will be capable of transmitting signals ’ virtually identical to GPS at the Ll frequency (1575.42 MHz). [l, 21 The purpose of this capability is to provide an geostationary overlay to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with a Ranging GNSS Integrity Channel (RGIC) and, possibly, Wide Area Differential GNSS (WADGNSS) corrections. These Inmarsat-3 satellites will be launched in the 1994-95 period, which leaves us with a delay in the ability to test the concepts of RGIC and WADGNSS. To circumvent this delay, the Inmarsat-2 satellites will be used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and lnmarsat to provide a similar capability for testing, but not at the Ll frequency. They will only broadcast in the 1530 to 1560 MHz frequency range. This prevents the direct use of GPS receivers in a test program, especially with the capability to track the Inmarsat-2 signals and the GPS satellite signals simultaneously. lnmarsat has taken on an effort to modify a GPS receiver to have those capabilities. Copies of this receiver will be used by the FAA in their test bed program. After a summary description of these test bed pro- grams, this paper will present the design and capa- bilities of this modified GPS receiver, how it will be used in the PN test program, and its growth potential for testing future RGIC and WADGNSS concepts.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992) September 16 - 18, 1992 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	935 - 944
Cite this article:	Van Dierendonck, A.J., Nagel, Jim, Hua, Quyen D., Wescott, David C., "Testing Ranging GNSS Integrity Channel (RGIC) and Wide Area Differential GNSS (WADGNSS) Concepts Using Inmarsat-2," Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992), Albuquerque, NM, September 1992, pp. 935-944.
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