How does OmniSTAR compare to the Beacon Service?
A. OmniSTAR VBS is superior to Beacons in Reliability, Accuracy, and Coverage. Beacon users usually have only one beacon within reliable range. If it goes down, there are no alternatives. OmniSTAR had a 99.7% on-line reliability in 1998. Beacons have a possible accuracy problem, in that there is a built-in bias error of about 1-meter for every 100 miles from the beacon location. If a user switches from one beacon to another, the position fix difference may be twice that value. Lastly, OmniSTAR covers the entire continent, versus limited beacon coverage. In summary, OmniSTAR is a Commercial Service which is responsive to its customer’s needs, as opposed to a free government-run service. (Who do you call if a beacon goes down?) OmniSTAR XP and HP are an order of magnitude more accurate.
