A few days ago, “Research on the Loran-C Independent Time Service of Our Country”, a project completed by Wu Haitao and other people of the National Time Service Center, won the Second Prize of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province 2006. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and under the subjects and other independently-arranged projects, the project was completed by the subject group through a 3-year research.

By conducting research on methods such as comprehensive experiments, on-site launching test, acceptance test, etc., the project perfected the theory of Loran-C Independent Time Service and Time Information Broadcast, solved the key technological problems in the process of transmission and receiving of the time information code, and made the research results meet the application requirements for the reference source of time synchronization by time users in China. The project established the basic theory of Loran-C Independent Time Service, put forward and studied the realization of Loran-C Independent TOC synchronization and broadcast time code by utilizing the additional modulation channel of Loran-C, and realized the Loran-C Independent Time Service (including the broadcast of perfect information time code) as the first of its kind worldwide, and this also was the problem expected to be solved by the International Loran-C circle. As a matter of fact, the theoretical research and test in this respect has brought us to the cutting edge in this field worldwide.

The research results of the project are not only of great importance in guaranteeing the synchronization of GSM, CDMA and other communication networks in China, avoiding possible technical and security risk caused by relying on the satellite navigation positioning time service systems like GPS, but can also meet the urgent need and demand on Loran-C Time Service from such civil departments as electric power, transportation, etc. and the strategic weapon test as well as satellite launching in China. It plays an important realistic role in the safe operation of communication network and military system in China.

Among the 14 research papers published on the project, Research on the Method of Realizing UTC Synchronization by Utilizing Loran-C Multi-Chains Signals was valued by the reviewer of Astronomic Journal that “The method proposed in the article is the first of its kind internationally and applies to Loran-C users in China”; the paper published has been quoted for 11 times as accumulated; the research results have been used in BPL Station of Loran-C System in Pucheng, China.