RINEX 4.00 has been approved in the IGS/RTCM RINEX Working Group as the necessary next step for maintaining the suitability of the RINEX format to store GNSS data and measurements. The new format was officially accepted by the IGS Governing Board on Dec 7, 2021.

The IGS Infrastructure Committee carefully considered the impact these changes may have on the users’ end, including:

• Breaking but minor change for many software packages handling observation and meteorological files due to version change.
• Breaking change for many software packages for navigation files due to format change.

As announced in [IGSMAIL-8207] RINEX 4.00 transition and trial period, the Infrastructure Committee implemented a RINEX 4.00 transition phase and subsequently started a trial phase in 2022:

• DLR has provided a merged BRDC summary navigation file (BRD00DLR), as of  January 2022.

• GFZ and DLR provide station-wise observation, navigation, and meteorological files available at CDDIS and BKG in their respective campaign directories, as of May 2022.

From July 19, 2023 onwards, station-wise RINEX 4.00 data files can be found in the operational archives.

From this date onwards, only one of the two versions (RINEX 3.xx or RINEX 4.00) is allowed to be uploaded.

The upload of RINEX 2.11 files is not affected.

Station operators are encouraged to switch to the new format version as soon as possible.

Station operators are required to send a notice to the IGS mailing list (IGSMAIL) before they switch.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Central Bureau (cb@igs.org).

On behalf of the IGS Infrastructure Committee,

Markus Bradke