Status of Radio-Beacon MSK Receivers for USCG DGPS Broadcasts

Michael S. K. Sushko

Abstract:	The U.S. Coast Guard has started the marine broadcast of GPS differential corrections at selected sites. To the marine industry already using GPS equipment, this means that marine vessels in the radio-beacon coverage areas will be able lo plot position within 10 meters (2dRMS) or better. In order to receive the GPS differential corrections from the radio- beacon, this will re- quire a radio beacon MSK (Minimum Shift Keying) receiver. As of this date, only a few GPS differential MSK receivers are on the market. The GPS differential corrections are modulated onto a existing beacon direction finding signal using MSK (Minimum Shift Keying) modulation. The DGPS beacon broadcast consists of GPS differential corrections and a message almanac of beacon location, frequency and output power. The differential message of the beacon broadcast is defined by the RTCM SC-104 (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Service) standard and being considered as a international standard by the IALA (International Association of Light- house Authorities). The GPS corrections in the received signal are demodulated by the MSK DGPS receiver. Necessary information to pro- vide beacon selection is included in the beacon message. Some beacon receivers provide auto- matic beacon selection using the beacon message. There are currently only a few companies that provide beacon MSK receiver products that will enable the marine industry to use the USCG GPS differential correction broadcast. This paper covers the beacon MSK receiver products that are currently available for receiving the USCG GPS differential corrections. It also covers the costs, features and availability of the beacon MSK receivers.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 48th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1992) June 29 - 1, 1992 ANA Westin Hotel Dayton, OH
Pages:	123 - 146
Cite this article:	Sushko, Michael S. K., "Status of Radio-Beacon MSK Receivers for USCG DGPS Broadcasts," Proceedings of the 48th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1992), Dayton, OH, June 1992, pp. 123-146.
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