Implementation and Testing of Eurofix

W.F. Roland, G.W.A. Offermans, A.W.S. Helwig and D. van Willigen

Abstract:	The existing Loran-C infrastructure may with some minor changes become a very powerful augmentation system for GNSS. By additional modulation of the Loran-C pulses a long range data channel can be established which enables broadcasting of DGNSS correction data and integrity information to GNSS users. The applied additional three-level modulation is fully balanced so it has negligible influence on the basic Loran-C positioning accuracy. Since 1989 Delft University has been working on this system called Eurofix. The user can expect DGNSS accuracies of better than 5 metres (95%). As long as DGNSS performance is good the ASF values of the Loran-C propagation can continuously and accurately be updated by the precise DGNSS positions. During periods of poor GNSS reception in urban canyons, highly calibrated Loran-C may take over. So, the Eurofix can offer the user very good DGNSS service, external GNSS integrity and improved radionavigation availability, In January 1997 the German DOT allowed implementation of Eurofix in the Sylt Loran-C station on experimental basis. The paper highlights some on-air static measurements and mobile experiments of Eurofix; carried out in France, Germany and Switzerland. After the successful first experimental year, NELS (Northwest European Loran-C System) decided to extend the Eurofix tests by modifying another three stations. This allows an evaluation of the Regional Area concept for Eurofix. Further improvements of the system are anticipated.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1998 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 21 - 23, 1998 Westin Long Beach Hotel Long Beach, CA
Pages:	271 - 279
Cite this article:	Roland, W.F., Offermans, G.W.A., Helwig, A.W.S., van Willigen, D., "Implementation and Testing of Eurofix," Proceedings of the 1998 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Long Beach, CA, January 1998, pp. 271-279.
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