Loran and GPS combined

The satellite positioning community is getting more and more aware of the potential threats from jamming and spoofing of GPS and other satellite positioning systems the need for alternatives expands.

As satellite positioning and timing play key roles in modern society, back up systems have become an essential need to reduce risks of GNSS denials.

Although eLoran and the Russian Chayka terrestial systems are recognised as powerful alternative systems, the current receivers on the market are rather large compared to miniature GNSS devices.

This may limit the use of portable eLoran/Chayka which in many cases requires the use of portable units with very small volume and low power consumption. This has led Dutch company Reelektronika to invest significant time and effort in research and development to find a breakthrough in size reduction and lower power needs.

The resulting new product Loradd++ meets these two requirements and has resulted in and electronic board measuring just 60x30x8 mm and which requires less than 500 mW of power when in continuous operation. Based on this Loradd++circuit board, Reelektronika has developed a series of receivers.

The first product, the Loradd++/E is an integration of the Loradd++ receiver with an E-field antenna housed in a single small radome. This can be connected via a data cable up to 150 metres long and a dongle to a USB port on a PC to provide alternative and back up positioning information. This radome also contains a GNSS receiver with its antenna and the whole unit has a height of 135mm and a diameter of 85mm. The Loradd++/E receiver needs less than 700mW at 4-16 volts dc.

Reelektronika is a company that specialises in radionavigation with experience of eLoran, Eurofix, 9th pulse, GNSS and radar for land, maritime and aeronautical applications. The company has long experience in analysing, designing and prototyping complex systems in these specialised areas.

Reelektronika developed, tested and manufactures the new eDLoran system which is claimed to offer higher accuracy than competing systems. eDLoran works with existing Loran transmitting stations and incorporates the benefits of the Internet. eDLoran is an extension of systems using differential eLoran and it is claimed to yield unprecedented differential Loran position and navigational accuracies and is suitable as a robust backup for GPS. In Northern Europe there are still transmitting Loran stations in the UK, Denmark and France that can combine to give position information and Reelektronica claims that accuracies of 5 metres can be achieved, better than that of the local differential systems established by the General Lighthouse Authorities in the UK.

Reelektronika also manufactures eLoran equipment for users, service providers and surveyors, that has successfully been used in installations in Europe, the US, the Middle-East and the Far-East.