Time transfer performance of Broadcast Positioning System (BPS)

Published

January 28, 2025

Author(s)

Tariq Mondal, Jeffrey Sherman, David Howe

Abstract

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the most prevalent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that provides Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). GNSS vulnerability is well-known, and the search continues to find another independent system that can provide PNT services with the same accuracy and precision, low user cost, and diverse coverage as GNSS services that might be denied or deemed unhealthy. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has developed and demonstrated a terrestrial PNT solution, known as the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS™), that uses existing television transmission facilities to broadcast ns-level time. We describe how HDTV broadcast transmitters can be used as time-reference beacons by use of ATSC 3.0 communications frames. This paper focuses on the BPS time transfer test results and stability using KWGN TV station and the NIST facilities in Boulder, Colorado.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the 56th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting

Conference Dates

January 27-30, 2025

Conference Location

Long Beach, CA, US

Conference Title

Precise Time and Time Interval Meeting

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

time, synchronization, clock, gps, gnss, positioning, navigation, timing, PNT, alt-PNT, critical infrastructure

Citation

Mondal, T. , Sherman, J. and Howe, D. (2025), Time transfer performance of Broadcast Positioning System (BPS), Proceedings of the 56th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Long Beach, CA, US (Accessed February 24, 2025)