I received an email from Dr. Pete Dailey asking us to list (on an attached spreadsheet) the types of GPS equipment we utilize. The request is to assist the USDOT and AASHTO prepare a response by September 2 to present to the FCC in opposition to the LightSquared petition. The spreadsheet is broken down into four categories:
Augmented High-Precision Receivers
Non-Augmented High-Precision Receivers
Timing Receivers
All other Specialized Receivers
Are augmented receivers those that are network capable, i.e. Trimble R-8? Am I even on the right track? What about the other categories?
Augmented GPS ?
Let's list a few.
WAAS (SBAS worldwide)
Coast Guard Beacon
Satellite correction services, Starfire, John Deere etc.
WAAS L1 ranging, Ashtech PM 3, 100, 200, 500 receivers.
Single base RTK, yours or commercial service.
Multi-base RTK networks
Virtual Reference Station.
There is experimentation on ranging using TV broadcast signal.
NON-AUGMENTED HIGH PRECISION
Typical L1/L2, OPUS or not.
TIMING RECEIVERS
GPS Clocks, not generally important, except for power generation, broadcast signals etc.
ALL OTHER ?
Precise navigation ?
Paul in PA
GPS Argument?
If you are looking for a GPS argument, well, you have come to the right place!
🙂
N
Augmented GPS ?
My question is: under which heading does each of my receivers go? Are they all augmented high-precision receivers? 3 Trimble R-7's, 3 Trimble R-8's and 6 Trimble 4000 SSI's.
Augmented GPS ?
A Non Augmented GPS, is alot like a hunter's grade GPS, and many auto navigation GPS's. It is a free standing solution. An augmented solution, is like RTK, which allows: Autonamous, Float, and Fixed. Autonamous, is NON augmented. Float and fixed are forms of augmented.
At least, that is how my tiny brain wraps around the question.
As Paul above said, there are MANY ways to augment.
N
Augmented GPS ?
Got it. Thanks guys.
Augmented GPS ?
> An augmented solution, is like RTK, which allows: Autonamous, Float, and Fixed. Autonamous [ . . . ]
Does autonamous only work in vehicles?
Questionaire needs improvement
Dr. Dailey needs to refine his questionaire and provide some help to those he is questioning if he expects to get accurate information - the owners of GPS receivers generally do use the term "augmentation" and do not know what augmentation means.
It appears what Dr. Dailey is really trying to determine by the term "augmented" is the population of receivers that by design listen to the MSS L-Band (1525-1559 MHz - just below the RNSS spectrum where GPS L1 lives) through integrated antennas and receiver circuitry to receive broadcast-from-satellites "corrections" services such as OmniSTAR and John Deere's StarFire.
These receivers are particularly susceptible to interference/overload from LightSquared because they have to receive MSS L-Band signals to get the corrections (augmentation) necessary to achieve rated accuracy.
There are other augmentations that Dr. Dailey's questionaire probably does not care about because they are not likely to be affected by LightSquared.
If you are using a traditional RTK GPS base/rover setup, the base broadcast is definitely an augmentation, but since the broadcast is in the UHF band the rover receiver receives that broadcast from separate antenna and circuitry - not the same antenna and circuitry that receives the GPS signals. So my guess is since the GPS antenna is not deliberately designed to receive something from 1525-1559 MHz Dr. Dailey would consider this to be non-augmented.
WAAS is is an augmentation that is broadcast on the GPS L1 frequency in the RNSS band so will not be in the same frequency band as LightSquared.
Another form of augmentation is the Coast Guard beacon system that broadcasts corrections on frequencies between 285 and 325 kHz, MUCH lower than the potential LightSquared interference.
If that line of logic is correct, I agree with Paul in PA - the three Trimble models you list are all high-precision non-augmented receivers.
To improve the accuracy of responses, the questionaire should provide examples of the popular (and not-so-popular) receivers that fall into each class.
They should also set up a web page where respondents can ask the correct classification for other models. This web page should provide a reference once a particular receiver model has been classified so others will not have to ask.
Finally, Dr. Dailey should differentiate between single- and dual-frequency receivers - that distinction would make his data much more valuable.
GB
Augmented GPS ?
Sorry Paul, I apparently didn't thouroughly read your post and didn't catch where you had broken the list down. I guess I am finally awake.
Isn't Dr. John Dailey your sex therapist? Aren't you getting your sex life and surveying life mixed up? Just saying, "augmented" sounds strangely like something from the bedroom!
correction, Dr. Pete Dailey!!!
Questionaire needs improvement
Many more of you may have already received a similar message. If not yet, you probably will if you subscribe to a RTN. Here is some background info:
To: Members, Standing Committee on Highways
cc: Subcommittee on Construction
Subcommittee on Systems Operation and Management
Subcommittee on Maintenance
Response requested by Friday, September 2, 2011.
Please coordinate the following request for information with your State DOT’s construction, maintenance, GIS, and survey personnel – and, if possible, with contractors and consultants doing business for the State DOT.
Background:
A company called LightSquared has purchased a satellite provider and their licenses, and proposes to install 40,000+ high-powered transmission towers across the country in an effort to “bring Broadband to rural and underserved areas.” Unfortunately, the signals from these towers will likely interfere with GPS operations, especially that of “precision” GPS units, which are used throughout the highway industry in such applications as surveying, operating machine-controlled equipment, asset tracking systems, and precision timing. The potential impacts of LightSquared’s proposal are immense, as this network will have a direct effect on how each state conducts its surveying, construction, and other operations.
Request:
In an effort to accurately assess the potential impacts, AASHTO is assisting FHWA in determining what equipment could be affected and the potential level of impact to that equipment so that they can respond to the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration). The focus of this inventory is on timing and precision receivers. As time is short, we are requesting that the enclosed spreadsheet be filled out and returned to [email protected] no later than Friday, September 2, 2011. If your state subcontracts work to companies using precision GPS, FHWA would appreciate your obtaining as much information from your contractors as possible. The goal is to obtain as complete an inventory as possible.
Under each column on the enclosed spreadsheet, we are requesting the following information:
Manufacturer – the manufacturer of each precision unit
Model Number or Identifier
# of Units – Number of units of this model that are owned by an agency or contractor
Off-the-shelf? (or custom-built) – In addition (if known), as the precision unit uses a radio link, is the link using public safety (local government) frequencies or the itinerant business frequencies?
Mission or Purpose – What is the primary purpose or mission for the unit? Examples include surveying, precision navigation, guidance for paint striping operations, timing, location of equipment, etc.
Location – Where can this equipment be found (city, state, etc.)
Available for testing? – The USDOT would like to borrow any unique equipment, if possible, for up to a month to ensure they know of any potential impacts to its use should LightSquared’s network become operational
Contact – Who has control of the device(s)?
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
To: Members, Standing Committee on Highways
cc: Subcommittee on Construction
Subcommittee on Systems Operation and Management
Subcommittee on Maintenance
Response requested by Friday, September 2, 2011.
Please coordinate the following request for information with your State DOT's construction, maintenance, GIS, and survey personnel - and, if possible, with contractors and consultants doing business for the State DOT.
Background:
A company called LightSquared has purchased a satellite provider and their licenses, and proposes to install 40,000+ high-powered transmission towers across the country in an effort to "bring Broadband to rural and underserved areas." Unfortunately, the signals from these towers will likely interfere with GPS operations, especially that of "precision" GPS units, which are used throughout the highway industry in such applications as surveying, operating machine-controlled equipment, asset tracking systems, and precision timing. The potential impacts of LightSquared's proposal are immense, as this network will have a direct effect on how each state conducts its surveying, construction, and other operations.
Request:
In an effort to accurately assess the potential impacts, AASHTO is assisting FHWA in determining what equipment could be affected and the potential level of impact to that equipment so that they can respond to the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration).
The focus of this inventory is on timing and precision receivers. As time is short, we are requesting that the enclosed spreadsheet be filled out and returned to [email protected] no later than Friday, September 2, 2011. If your state subcontracts work to companies using precision GPS, FHWA would appreciate your obtaining as much information from your contractors as possible. The goal is to obtain as complete an inventory as possible.
Under each column on the enclosed spreadsheet, we are requesting the following information:
* Manufacturer - the manufacturer of each precision unit
* Model Number or Identifier
* # of Units - Number of units of this model that are owned by an agency or contractor
* Off-the-shelf? (or custom-built) - In addition (if known), as the precision unit uses a radio link, is the link using public safety (local government) frequencies or the itinerant business frequencies?
* Mission or Purpose - What is the primary purpose or mission for the unit? Examples include surveying, precision navigation, guidance for paint striping operations, timing, location of equipment, etc.
* Location - Where can this equipment be found (city, state, etc.)
* Available for testing? - The USDOT would like to borrow any unique equipment, if possible, for up to a month to ensure they know of any potential impacts to its use should LightSquared's network become operational
* Contact - Who has control of the device(s)?
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
-- Jim
Jim McDonnell, P.E.
Program Director, Engineering
American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 249
Washington, DC 20001
Oh you mean there is something besides surveying life? I missed out apparently. Congrats again on your license Clark.
Thanks, and apparently we have all missed out as we have an addiction called surveying.