AOA vs TDOA vs FDOA: Which RF Geolocation Method Fits Which Project?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AOA, TDOA, and FDOA are often listed together as if they were three equally available geolocation features. In practice, they are three different measurement strategies with different assumptions, different failure modes, and different deployment costs. That means the best method depends less on theory alone and more on the project geometry and signal environment.

This matters because RF geolocation projects are easy to overpromise. A brochure can say “geolocation” without showing whether the site has the time synchronization, receiver placement, or Doppler diversity needed for the selected method to work well. Once those conditions are written down, the comparison becomes more honest.

TDOA on Counter UAV Radar — Low-Altitude Surveillance Radar

AOA vs TDOA vs FDOA: Which RF Geolocation Method Fits Which Project?