Analysis of Antennas to Improve Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) Reception on Locomotives

Details

• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Antennas
  • Locomotives
  • Interference
  • Global Positioning System
  • Locomotives
  • Test
  • Antennas
  • Installation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  RR00-03
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  California ; United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Abstract:
  The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development sponsored a research investigation to improve DGPS signal reception in the locomotive electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. The main objective of this investigation was to test whether a new Starlink prototype E-field antenna designed to significantly reduce EMI effects surrounding operating AC and DC locomotives performed as intended (see Figure 1). During the testing, the performance of the Starlink prototype balanced E-field cone antenna was compared to that of a standard off-the-shelf Starlink H-field loop antenna (MBA2). The antennas were placed in various locations on the roof of the test locomotives. Overall, the Starlink E-field cone antenna performed significantly better than the off-the-shelf Starlink H-field loop antenna, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by 10 dB. It was determined by prior tests that a 10 dB increase in the SNR is sufficient for the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) Service to work effectively on railroads. The NDGPS Service will broadcast differential correctors for GPS throughout the nation on the radio beacon
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/40508/dot_40508_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 940.52 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection ; Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7b67224280c10f8a1efed80284282fef689392d4f379b50bfbf2cfd782d79e50