Recommendation 3 of the 78th CIPM (1989)

Reference coordinates of antennas

The Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM),

considering that the use of inconsistent coordinates of the antennas is an important source of error in time transfer by one-way satellite techniques,

recommends that, in any site, for such operations in support of International Atomic Time (TAI) :

• the reference coordinates of the antenna should correspond to its real position in the terrestrial reference frame of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS),
• the reference coordinates and the operational coordinates used within the receiver should be reported to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) and collaborating laboratories,
• neither the operational coordinates nor the location of the antenna should be subject to change without pressing cause,
• if such a change is, however, found to be necessary, data sufficient to main tain the accuracy of the time comparisons should be passed without delay to the BIPM and the collaborating laboratories.

The CIPM also recommends that methods of relative positioning be employed to link the antenna to the IERS stations, in consultation with the BIPM.

DOI : 10.59161/CIPM1989REC3E