Beidou-3 PPP-B2b signal: a precise positioning solution for China

With the rapid development of global positioning technology, BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) high-precision positioning services have gradually become an important force in the navigation field. The PPP-B2b signal of BDS-3 provides users with precision single point positioning (PPP) services, and its application prospects in China and surrounding areas are broad. This article will explore in detail the availability of BDS-3 PPP-B2b signal and its practical value.

System Analysis: Data Reveals Advantages

In China and its surrounding areas, the availability of BDS-3 PPP-B2b signal correction parameters is as high as 71% to 95%, with Beijing performing the best. In contrast, the availability of GPS correction parameters is only 68.5% to 88.6%, which is significantly inferior to BDS-3. This data indicates that BDS-3 has an advantage in the availability of parameter correction, especially in China and surrounding areas. 

Height angle impact: challenges during critical periods

During low altitude periods, users in China and surrounding areas may encounter a lack of PPP-B2b signal correction parameters. As the cutoff height angle increases, the availability of correction parameters also increases accordingly. Specifically, the average number of available satellites for BDS-3, GPS, and BDS-3/GPS system correction parameters in China and surrounding areas is approximately 8, 7, and 15, respectively. This means that although sometimes one BDS-3 satellite and two GPS satellites cannot participate in real-time precision single point positioning (RT-PPP) services due to the lack of PPP-B2b signal correction parameters, overall performance can still be guaranteed.

Dual System Federation: Solutions for the Southern Hemisphere

For regions south of the equator, it is difficult to effectively provide PPP-B2b services for a single system, and the average availability of corrected parameters is less than 50%. However, the combined use of BDS-3/GPS dual systems can provide approximately 7 to 11 available satellites in some low latitude areas. This result indicates that dual system collaboration can not only improve availability, but also ensure high-precision positioning services for a wider range of regions.

Parameter update: brief mismatch phenomenon

It is worth noting that due to the inconsistent update frequency of orbit correction parameters and clock bias correction parameters, there may be a brief mismatch of correction parameters when updating the clock bias correction parameter version number (IOD Corr). Although this phenomenon exists, its impact on the overall service is relatively small and will not significantly reduce the effectiveness of BDS-3 PPP-B2b signal usage.

Practical application: broad prospects

The high availability and superior performance of the Beidou-3 PPP-B2b signal provide strong technical support for various industries. The demand for high-precision positioning services is constantly increasing in fields such as autonomous driving, drone delivery, geological exploration, and agriculture. The BDS-3 PPP-B2b signal, with its precise and reliable characteristics, will play an important role in these fields.

Conclusion: The Leader of Navigation in the New Era

The launch of the Beidou-3 PPP-B2b signal marks another breakthrough for China in the field of global navigation. With the continuous improvement of technology and the continuous expansion of application scope, BDS-3 high-precision positioning service will surely win more recognition globally and become a leader in the new era of navigation.