Designing, Developing, and Deploying a Small Footprint eLoran System

摘要

We explored how current technology could be applied in the development of a cost-effective, small footprint, rapidly-deployable, and easily transportable Loran system in a previous paper presented at the International Loran Association (ILA33) Technical Symposium in Toyko, Japan. [I] At the core of any Low Frequency (LF) system is the transmitter and during the Royal Institute of Navigation (NAV08)/ILA37 conference in Westminster, London, we introduced the prototype Next Generation LF transmitter, a quantum leap forward in implementing a modern Loran system. [2]A joint effort between Nautel, Inc. and UrsaNav, Inc., the NL Series transmitter addresses the issues of smaller Size, Weight, and (Input) Power (SWAIP) necessary for a cost-effective, deployable system. We also introduced the (e)Loran-in-a-Box (ELB) concept outlining various small footprint configurations for housing the system components including: the transmitter; time recovery and signal generation equipment; command, control, and communications capability; ancillary equipment such as HVAC; and backup power.The NL Series transmitter technology provides the opportunity to explore a variety of options for the transmitting antenna, the remaining critical component in the development of a small footprint eLoran system. During the ILA38 conference we presented a prototype antenna designed to operate to a range of 25 nautical miles. [3], [4]In this paper we present some results of our field testing of the small footprint eLoran system and provide further details for the various components of the system.