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With reference data from the Swepos stations, you can process your GNSS observations with your own software.
What is RINEX data?
You download RINEX data yourself, in hourly or daily files, for post-processing with your own software.
A RINEX file contains observations of the code and carrier of the GNSS signals, from a Swepos station. Each data file contains either one-hour observations or one-day observations. Metadata at the beginning of the RINEX file contains e.g. information about marker ID, GNSS antenna / receiver, approximate coordinates and measurement time.
RINEX data is included in the Post-processing subscription.
RINEX daily files are available free of charge. Read more about RINEX data - daily files .
Rinex data is also freely available for research and teaching; special conditions apply. Contact Swepos Control Centre for more information.
How do I get data?
If you have a Post-processing subscription, you have access to Swepos' FTP server:
- ftp://ftp-sweposdata.lm.se/ (new window)
- sftp://ftp-sweposdata.lm.se/ (new window). SFTP uses an encrypted connection.
When you log in, enter your username and your password.
Only passive FTP is supported.
If you have a Windows computer, you can, for example, use Windows Explorer for FTP transfer. Another FTP client of your choice also works fine. However, FTP transfer directly in the web browser is not recommended. To use SFTP connection, choose an FTP client that supports SFTP.
FTP server content and structure
This is the file and directory structure of the FTP server:
| Data type | Directory |
|---|---|
| Ephemeris | bandata/ |
| Daily files, RINEX 3 | rinex3/se_swepos_daily/year/day/ |
| Hourly files, RINEX 3 | rinex3/se_swepos_hourly/year/day/hour/ (hour: [00–23]) |
| Daily files, RINEX 2 | rinex2/se_swepos_daily/year/day/ |
| Hourly files, RINEX 2 | rinex2/se_swepos_hourly/year/day/hour/ (hour: [a–x]) |
RINEX 3 files
The logging intervals are, for
- hourly files 1 second
- daily files 30 seconds.
nnnnxxccc_s_yyyydddhhmm_ppp_iii_tt.fff .gz
where the various parameters are described in the table below.
| File name parameter, RINEX 3 format | Description |
|---|---|
| nnnnxxccc |
Station ID, where
|
| s |
Data source, where
|
| yyyydddhhmm | File start time (year, day of year, hour, minute) |
| ppp | File length |
| iii | Logging interval |
| tt |
Data type, where
|
| fff |
File type, where
|
Read more about RINEX 3 at IGS website (new window).
RINEX 2 files
RINEX 2 is an older version of the RINEX standard, which does not support all GNSS signals currently available. Swepos continues to provide data in the RINEX 2 format until 2024-12-31. All existing RINEX 2 files will continue to be available from our archive.
The logging intervals are, for
- hourly files 1 second
- daily files 15 seconds.
Compared to the RINEX 3 files, the RINEX 2 files have shorter names,
nnnndddp.yyt.zip
where the various parameters are described in the table below.
| File name parameter, RINEX 2 format | Description |
|---|---|
| nnnn | Station designation. Translation to station name can be found in the coordinate list (see below). |
| ddd | Day of the year |
| p |
Code for file length and start time, where
|
| yy | Year |
| t |
File type, where
|
Information about the Swepos stations
When processing with your own software, you need information about the antenna type and antenna height for the Swepos stations.
In addition, accurate coordinates are needed for the stations. You can retrieve the coordinate list for a specific date via Download coordinate list in th e-service portal (new window).
Station information
Information about antenna type and eccentricities for the Swepos stations can be found in the e-service portal, Download coordinate list.
Some stations have several receivers, why we have chosen to only report antenna type and not receiver type in the station information file. Receiver type appears in the RINEX files. Antenna type, coordinates and eccentricities are also present in the RINEX files, but the information is more reliable in the station information file.
The station information file uses marker names for the marker, as for some stations there is or has been more than one marker. Translation between marker names, file name designation and station name can be found in the coordinate list.
The antennas of Swepos stations have a protective hood, so-called radome, which is referred to as "OSOD" or "OSOP" in the RINEX files. If your post-processing program does not recognize the radome designation, you can use "NONE" instead, as the influence of the OSOD and OSOP radomes is small.
Coordinates
You can retrieve the coordinate list for a specific date via the e-service Download coordinate list, and save as Excel or pdf file.
The coordinates are calculated with absolute antenna models. The station coordinates are controlled continuously and, if necessary, updates are made, e.g. when replacing the antenna. When a station is new, or after an antenna change, preliminary coordinates are first calculated based on five 24-hour measurements.
Twice a year, updates are made to these so-called final coordinates. These are based on three weeks of data during spring or autumn. The time is chosen to minimize the effect of any seasonal variations and to avoid periods of snow on the antennas. Normally, the difference between preliminary and final coordinates is within 5 mm. Exceptions are if the preliminary coordinates are determined during a period of snow or if the station is not completely stable.
If you measured for a longer period, you are asked to take out a coordinate list at the beginning and end of the period. If the coordinates of a desired station differ between the beginning and the end of the period, it may be due to e.g. an antenna replacement.