CrossRate Tech Launches GPS + eLoran Marine Receiver
Sam Wormley
December 15, 2009
http://www.gpsworld.com/transportation/marine/news/crossrate-tech-launches-gps-eloran-marine-receiver-9289?print=1
CrossRate Technology of Windham, Maine, has launched a combined GPS/eLoran receiver. The
new product comes despite the news that President Obama has proposed terminating the
"outdated" Loran-C system in the FY2010 budget.
The eLGPS 1110 receiver integrates a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with an eLORAN receiver
that provides a non-magnetic true heading even while stationary for chart plotters, radar
overlay, or autopilot. The eLGPS 1110 is fully Loran-C compliant, outputting Loran-C TD's
(time differences), and eLoran compliant.
By combining eLoran with GPS, CrossRate is taking advantage of two federally supported
positioning systems, the company said. GPS, although accurate, has inherent limitations as
a result of its high frequency (1.57 GHz), low power (25 watts) transmitters, located more
than 20,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Alternatively, Loran is land based with
a low operating frequency (100 kHz) and typical transmitters approaching 1 million watts.
The lower frequency and higher power of Loran allows its signal to penetrate into many
areas where GPS does not work, the company said.
The patent-pending I2E integration engine uses a Kalman filter to, in real time, integrate
the GPS and eLoran position information as well as monitor the health of the systems
providing enhanced reliability and accuracy if systems degrade. The receiver has been
tested to IEC60945 maritime equipment specifications and is manufactured in an
ISO9001:2000 certified facility.