Jump to Navigation

Help

Email if your question remains unanswered.

Requesting services

  • Who can use the service?
    Scientific users - academic staff and students; collaborators and OS users.
  • What is an OS user?
    This group includes public and private sector users, who are restricted solely to 30s RINEX data, that are at least 30 days old.
  • Why can't I have current 30s RINEX data?
    We are not permitted to release data which are less than 30 days old. But, such data can be obtained directly from OSGB, or for Northern Ireland, from OSi.
  • I am engaged in commercial scientific research, why can't I have products?
    Products are the output of a software suite, Bernese, with an academic user license. This means that output can only be supplied to academic scientific users, and not to commercial scientific users.
  • I am engaged in commercial scientific research, why can't I have 1Hz data?
    BIGF is not permitted to supply 1Hz data to commercial scientific users. For 1Hz data you should subscribe to Smartnet, the Ordnance Survey's Net partner service.
  • Are there further restrictions?
    Yes, other data have restrictions, see access mode at each level under data access.
  • How do I apply?
    By completing the request data form, as fully as possible - to avoid incurring a delay. These forms include guidelines for completion.
  • How is an application assessed?
    The information that you provide when making a request, is assessed against NERC's user specification, and to verify that the proposed use of BIGF data or product is appropriate. It is also used to accumulate usage statistics and metadata, which form part of the Facility's annual report.
  • Who has to complete the peer review section of a request form?
    Only the scientific user group, including PhD students. Master's and Batchelor's degree users should provide a title and a few words of description, to permit a proper assessment of the proposed usage.


Receiving services

  • How long does it take?
    Applications are assessed daily, and transactions normally completed on the same day. For large or complex requests or where there is a question over usage, this may take exceptionally up to 5 working days.
  • How are datasets supplied?
    For small volume requests, via an emailed web link, and for large volumes, via a named ftp account.
  • Not all that I asked for was supplied.
    If any data have not been supplied, then they do not exist. You can request alternative data - review the data availability tables, and make another request.
  • I asked for more than one station, but there is only one navigation file, where are the other navigation files?
    The navigation, or Broadcast Ephemeris file, is a daily file, for use with all stations on that day. Note that some processing packages require the file to be renamed.
  • I asked for compact RINEX data, but what do I do with them now?
    You need to uncompact them first, before use, with the compact RINEX decompression utility.
  • How long will my data remain available?
    You should download your data within five working days of notification. We automatically housekeep our servers.


Data and product related

  • What does BIGF's 'quality assurance' of raw GNSS data mean?
    It means that information in the RINEX observation data file header records is verified as being consistent with the IGS format log file for a particular station. It also means that the RINEX observation data file has been successfully passed through TEQC software to create metadata relating to the quantity and quality of the observations.


Website usability

  • Under data availability, I can only view the current month, how can I see previous months and years?
    The complete functionality of this tool is not supported by all browsers. We recommend Mozilla Firefox (PC), or Safari (Mac).
  • When I try to view PDF files with Mozilla Firefox v4, I get a blank black and then a white screen. What is the solution?
    Simply install the PDF Download add-on.


Official issues