A named station has the following format:

STA: * GPSTime * StaName * AntHeight * Description * Remarks [CR][LF]

Where:

The second feature is called a GIS feature mark and has the following format:

7.3.4EPP File

Waypoint’s software uses a custom ASCII file format for the ephemeris records. These records are created in realtime with Waypoint’s data loggers, or from the Convert Raw GPS data to GPB utility. Since this file format is ASCII, a simple text-editor can be used to combine ephemeris records from multiple concurrently collecting receivers. This is useful if some ephemeris records were missed from some stations. Duplicate records will be automatically ignored by the software.

7.4 Output Files

This section discusses some of the different output files that are created when processing with Waypoint’s software.

7.4.1FML & RML Files

The Forward Message Log and Reverse Message Log files simply echo all error and warning messages sent to the Processing Window during processing. The common messages are explained here:

Reading ephemeris files...

Processing ephemeris file 'C:\GPSData\rover_.epp'

Detected 40 GpsEph, 0 GlonassEph, 0 GpsIono and 0 GpsAlmanac records

This message is shown at the start of the file. It is a good message to check to see how many ephemerides were loaded.

Best base on BL1 is PRN 17 with 4 points and elevation of 62.1 degrees Second best on BL1 is PRN 16 with 2 points and elevation of 51.7 degrees

This message indicates the base satellite (and its elevation) selected after a base change or at outset. The second best base is also shown. Base satellite selection is based on a point system that includes a number of factors such as elevation above the horizon, whether it is rising or falling, and ambiguity determination accuracy.

Prn 15 dropped out for 2.0 s on baseline BL1--ambiguity reset

Prn 23 dropped out for 2.0 s on baseline BL1--will try to save ambiguity

These message are displayed when an individual satellite drops out for a short period. Whether the first or second message is displayed depends on if the Save ambiguities on satellite drop-outs option is selected. See Section 2.5.1, on Page 61 for help. For some data sets, this saving process may be followed by data errors ($$$). In such a case, try de-selecting this option.

Detected bad Phase measurement. Rms is 2.091 m (Worst Prn is 10 on B/L BL1 with residual of 2.325)

This is almost always caused by one or more undetected cycle slips. In most cases, the software will be able to correct for the problem by removing the affected cycle slip. If not, a cycle slip will be induced to all satellites.

Skipped 83 epochs or 76.1 % due to long distance (used 26 epochs or 23.9 %)

This message shows up if the Maximize long baseline data usage option is enabled. See Section 2.5, on Page 61 for help. It indicates what percentage of the data is shorter than distance tolerance.

Performing KAR search at 525 seconds on baseline BL1

KAR used 525.0 s (PASS) with average of 7.1 sats over average distance of 21.9 km RMS is 0.0809 cycles (FAIL), Reliability is 1.2 (FAIL), Float/fixed sep. is 0.47 m (PASS) KAR failed 2 out of 4 tests, will try again in 15.0 seconds

Message printed for an unsuccessful KAR search. Indicates various statistics.

KAR failed on baseline BL1 after 30.1 minutes--too much time used and starting over

Printed if KAR went too long. The tolerance is generally 30 min., and can be set from the KAR option.

Note: KAR cannot be engaged at this distance (68.6 km) on baseline BL1

Printed if distance too long for KAR to engage. The software will wait until it gets closer.

Epoch rejected due to poor satellite geometry--DD_DOP of 918.0 too large

This message warns that an epoch has been rejected because of poor satellite geometry. The default DOP tolerance is 100.0. This can be changed in the user defined options with the command DOP_TOL.

Doppler L1 cycle slip on PRN 24 of 1575419.57 cycles on baseline BL1

Indicates that a large change in carrier phase has been encountered which is interpolated as a cycle slip. If this message appears continuously, the Doppler may need to be recomputed. See Section 8.2.3.5, on Page 224 for help.

Locktime cycle slip on PRN 4 of -5.92 cycles on baseline BL1

Cycle slip has been reported by base or remote receiver. Size of cycle slip is on approximate.

Inserted L1 cycle slip due to locktime reset for PRN 4 on baseline BL1

Receiver cycle slip counter reset at some time in the past but was not caught. Therefore, slip inserted now.

Less that four satellites at startup--Will try next epoch(s)

Software needs at least 4 satellites and good measurement quality at startup.

Warning: Epoch with less than 4 good satellites (Cycle slips)

This message warns about an epoch with less than 4 satellites. Usually the result of cycle slips.

Locktime cycle slip on PRN 26 of -41.31 cycles on baseline BL1 Small L2 cycle slip on PRN 26 of 0.65 cycles on baseline BL1

Both messages warn of cycle slips on L2. The DPH is an indicator of the size of the cycle slip. It shows the difference in phase. If the data contains alot of L2 cycle slips, it will make for a bad ionospheric-free solution. If there are a lot of L2 cycle slips, try using the relative ionospheric solution.

Prn 15 is below mask angle of 10.0 degrees

This message indicates that a satellite has gone below the elevation mask.

Satellite 7 is rising or re-appearing

This message is usually caused from a satellite on the horizon.

***KAR engaged due to total loss of lock

***KAR now engaged because distance became lower than tolerance

***followed by a message indicates if and why KAR was engaged.

Prn 27 disappeared for 33.0 seconds on baseline BL1

Indicates that as satellite dropped out and is reappearing, a new ambiguity will be solved.

Calculating fixed solution Calculating RMS values

Continuous fixed solution reliability: 7.43 (PASSED), RMS: 0.0372 m (PASSED), STD: 0.0014 m

Continuous fixed solution position is: 39 01 23.54716, -84 36 21.25817, 259.7909 m Computing New Fixed solution

This message shows the results from the multi satellite fixed solution. The reliability is the ratio between the second best RMS and the best RMS. The minimum reliability for a pass is 1.35. The RMS is the RMS fit of the fixed solution. This number is in meters and the maximum value to pass is 0.025 m + 1PPM for dual frequency and 0.015 + 1PPM for single frequency.

Warning: No precise available for prn 21

Message warns that a precise ephemeris is missing for a satellite. The user may want to try another SP3 file to better the results.

$$$ GPS data errors detected--will try and reject measurements, baselines or satellites

Error messages starting with $$$ indicate bad carrier or code measurements encountered. The above message should be following another message indicating what residuals are out-of-range and which satellite has the largest value. This indicated satellite may not be the actual problem one because the Kalman filter distributes the errors around. A number of tests will be performed to isolate the problem data and satellite. Therefore, this message is followed by the messages shown below.

C/A code tested OK (CaRms is 2.1 m)--The problem must be due to the carrier phase

Indicates that the C/A-only tested OK and a problem is very unlikely to be a problem. If the C/A was invalid, then another message will be printed.

On code, worst PRN is 20, RMS is 1.46 m (PASS), reliability is 1.84 (FAIL)

A further test on the combined code-carrier solution to ensure that the code is OK.

On phase, worst PRN is 28, RMS is 0.0949 m (PASS), reliability is 1.19 (FAIL)

This test will generally indicate if a missed cycle slip to other carrier phase problem was fixed by removing a particular satellite. The above message indicates that the problem could not be fixed, and will generally be followed by a filter reset message. See below. The reliability must be greater than 4.0 to be signaled as a pass. The user should investigate the clock offset information at this epoch via GPBView to see if the problematic epoch is due to an incorrectly computed clock shift.

Could not fix Kalman filter by rejecting a satellite--Failed 2 out of 4 tests

Unable to correct bad GPS data--issuing filter reset

This message indicates that a data problem could not be repaired.

$$$ Engaging filter reset--Accuracy is severely reduced

This is printed when the filter reset is being engaged. It should be preceded by a message indicating why the filter reset was issued. A filter reset is when a cycle slip is issued to all satellites and the position is reset to startup values.

*** KAR engaged due to occurrence of filter reset

Printed when a manual KAR record is being implemented and the Engage Filter Reset flag has been enabled. See

Section 2.5, on Page 61 for help.

Locktime and doppler cycle slip on PRN 30 of -307.64 cycles on baseline BL1

Indicates that a cycle slip has occurred and it has been detected by both the locktime and a large changed in the carrier phase.

%%%PRN 18 was omitted for time range 488400.0-488500.0 s on ALL baselines

%%%ALL satellites were omitted for time range 8000.0-8100.0 s on baseline mast

‘%%%’ followed by a message indicates when and how long a baseline and/or prn was omitted from processing.

@@@ followed by a message indicates if a position fix was processed. Position fixes can originate from fixed static or from user-entered remote initialization. See Section 2.6, on Page 94 for help.

7.4.2FSS & RSS Files

The Static Session Summary files present a summary of the float, fixed static and KAR processing. The FSS file is created during processing in the forward direction, while the RSS file is created in the reverse direction. The project configuration and processing settings are at the beginning of the file and return status at the end of the file. The following is an example of the project configuration and processing settings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Configuration and processing settings

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project settings:

The processing settings will not be displayed if Print input settings to static/KAR summary is disabled. See Section 2.5, on Page 61 for help. The following is an example of the return status:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Program finished, return status

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

}

The file may look slightly different depending on whether static or kinematic processing was performed. When static processing, output includes the final coordinates and various statistics associated with those coordinates. In kinematic processing, the KAR summary record is the only output. When doing kinematic processing without the use of KAR, the user will not see these output in the FSS or RSS file.

The following is the output satellite tracking list. This output is only displayed on fixed static solutions. It shows which satellites are tracked when, how long, and the status of the satellite. The status is important because it will show if any satellites are rejected. This output can also be seen for all data types in the plot ‘Satellite Lock’.

File Formats Chapter 7

Following are the final coordinates that are output in a static solution. This is not seen for kinematic data. The difference between the fixed and float output is the fixed will have an RMS and reliability output. The RMS is the RMS fit of the fixed solution. This number is in meters and the maximum value to pass is 0.025 m + 1PPM for dual frequency and 0.015 + 1PPM for single frequency. The reliability is the ratio between the second best RMS and the best RMS. The minimum reliability for a pass is 1.35.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final FIXED static position for Station STATIC, Base BL1

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7 File Formats

The only output from kinematic processing is the KAR summary record as shown below. Note that if kinematic processing is used without KAR, no output will be shown in the FSS/RSS files.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

KAR summary records for succeeded solutions

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

}

ARTK does a good job of determining which fixes are acceptable. For each fix, the following parameters are available: