The BeiDou Navigation Message

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the BeiDou navigation message contents and highlights its specific communalities and differences with respect to other GNSS constellations. Making use of data collected by multi-GNSS monitoring stations of the MGEX and CONGO networks, the quality of BeiDou broadcast ephemerides is assessed through the analysis of satellite laser ranging measurements, comparison with post-processed orbit and clock products as well as positioning tests. Specific attention is given to signal-specific group delays and their proper consideration in the positioning.