Local‐area nanosecond‐accuracy time synchronisation based on GPS L1 observations

Abstract

To date, high-precision time synchronisation has been applied in many fields, such as high-precision indoor positioning, multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and etc. This study focuses on the use of only global positioning system (GPS) L1 civilian signals to achieve regional nanosecond time synchronisation. GPS errors are analysed in this study to determine their effect on GPS timing. This study also examines the specific features of the error in fixed-position timing technology and related error reduction techniques to illustrate the feasibility of nanosecond high-precision time synchronisation with GPS L1 signals in a fixed-position timing mode. Then, the results of a specific GPS timing receiver working in a fixed-position mode and using GPS L1 signals are shown to indicate that the use of GPS L1 signals to achieve nanosecond-accuracy time synchronisation in a local area is feasible. Finally, this study also analyses the impacts of the imprecise position in a fixed-position timing mode.