Advantages of a Combined GPS/Loran-C Precision Timing Receiver

摘要

In Europe, Asia, and other areas, there is reluctance to depend on GPS as the primary timing reference source (PRS) for a critical part of a nation's infrastructure, hence an alternative PRS, such as Loran, is highly desirable. Essential requirements for that alternative would be the ability to provide timing performance similar to that of GPS and to distribute coordinated universal time (UTC).rnAdvances in Loran receiver technology, coupled with newer NELS and FERNS chains and planned upgrades to the North American stations, has made Loran as high a quality primary timing reference as GPS, and it can be superior in many circumstances. For example, Loran can provide near Cesium clock quality at the receiver site, can generate UTC, and can penetrate urban environments difficult for GPS reception. When coupled with a rubidium oscillator, GPS receiver, or both, a Loran receiver can be integrated into a system that would provide high timing performance with superior reliability.rnTiming data from a new generation Loran receiver will be presented along with predictions of accuracy improvements that will follow implementation of Cesium clock and UTC synchronization updates to the CONUS Loran stations. Timing accuracy of standalone GPS timing will be demonstrated. Finally, performance advantages of integrated Ru/Loran and GPS/Ru/Loran timing systems will be discussed, and implications of encoding UTC in the Eurofix data stream will be reviewed.