Alpha (radio navigation)
Encyclopedia
Alpha is a Russian system for long range radio navigation
. RSDN in Russian stands for (Radiotehnicheskaya Sistema
Dal'ney Navigatsii), i.e., radio-technical long-distance navigation system.
ALPHA was used to determine positions of aircraft, ship and submarines (in underwater position). This system was being developed in parallel with U.S. OMEGA System
and also works in VLF-range. ALPHA coverage is up to 10,000 km from the master station, position error of 2.5…7 km.
The alpha system consists of three transmitters, which stand in the proximity of Novosibirsk
, Krasnodar
and Khabarovsk
. Two other transmitters at Reyda and Seyda are not currently operational (2010). These transmitters radiate signals of 0.4 second duration in a 3.6 second cycle on the frequencies 11.905 kHz, 12.649 kHz and 14.881 kHz. From the phase difference of the received signals a location can be determined.
Much like the masts used for the Omega Navigation System
, for technical reasons the masts of Alpha must be very tall. Unfortunately no data are available for their height.
Radio navigation
Radio navigation or radionavigation is the application of radio frequencies to determine a position on the Earth. Like radiolocation, it is a type of radiodetermination.The basic principles are measurements from/to electric beacons, especially...
. RSDN in Russian stands for (Radiotehnicheskaya Sistema
Dal'ney Navigatsii), i.e., radio-technical long-distance navigation system.
ALPHA was used to determine positions of aircraft, ship and submarines (in underwater position). This system was being developed in parallel with U.S. OMEGA System
OMEGA Navigation System
OMEGA was the first truly global radio navigation system for aircraft, operated by the United States in cooperation with six partner nations.-History:OMEGA was originally developed by the United States Navy for military aviation users...
and also works in VLF-range. ALPHA coverage is up to 10,000 km from the master station, position error of 2.5…7 km.
The alpha system consists of three transmitters, which stand in the proximity of Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
, Krasnodar
Krasnodar
Krasnodar is a city in Southern Russia, located on the Kuban River about northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai . Population: -Name:...
and Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk is the largest city and the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. It is located some from the Chinese border. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East, after Vladivostok. The city became the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia...
. Two other transmitters at Reyda and Seyda are not currently operational (2010). These transmitters radiate signals of 0.4 second duration in a 3.6 second cycle on the frequencies 11.905 kHz, 12.649 kHz and 14.881 kHz. From the phase difference of the received signals a location can be determined.
Much like the masts used for the Omega Navigation System
OMEGA Navigation System
OMEGA was the first truly global radio navigation system for aircraft, operated by the United States in cooperation with six partner nations.-History:OMEGA was originally developed by the United States Navy for military aviation users...
, for technical reasons the masts of Alpha must be very tall. Unfortunately no data are available for their height.
Transmitters
- Alpha transmitter Novosibirsk: (55°45′22"N 84°26′52.4"E)
- Alpha transmitter Krasnodar: (45°24′12"N 38°09′29"E)
- Alpha transmitter Khabarovsk: (50°04′24"N 136°36′24"E)
- Alpha transmitter Revda: (68°02′8"N 34°41′00"E)
- Alpha transmitter Seyda: (39°28′16"N 62°43′07"E)
See also
- OMEGAOMEGA Navigation SystemOMEGA was the first truly global radio navigation system for aircraft, operated by the United States in cooperation with six partner nations.-History:OMEGA was originally developed by the United States Navy for military aviation users...
, the Western counterpart of the Alpha Navigation System, no longer in use. - LORANLORANLORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
, low frequency terrestrial radio navigation system. - CHAYKACHAYKAChayka is a Russian terrestrial radio navigation system, similar to LORAN-C. It is also run on 100 kHz and is described like LORAN-C by its GRI.-Chayka-Chains:There are 5 Chayka-chains in use:...
, the Russian counterpart of LORAN