Agenda

GPS technology concepts

GPS and GNSS overview
Assisted GPS (A-GPS)

Basic tests required for GPS receiver verification

Test solutions
Signal creation for GPS receiver test
A-GPS test systems

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Typical Tests for GPS Receiver Verification

Time To First Fix (TTFF)
Cold, warm, hot start conditions

Sensitivity
Acquisition sensitivity
Tracking sensitivity

Location Accuracy
Absolute and relative accuracy
Moving GPS receiver accuracy
Satellite tracking accuracy

2010 Agilent Technologies

Time to First Fix (TTFF)

Time To First Fix (TTFF)

For cold, warm, hot start conditions
Time between start of GPS signal and the acquisition of a location fix by
the GPS receiver
May be tested under different conditions or states of the GPS receiver:
Cold start: Receiver does not have time or position information, no valid
ephemeris (or almanac) data (typical TTFF 30-50 sec, may be up to several
minutes)
Warm start: Last position and approximate time known, valid almanac, no valid
ephemeris data (typical TTFF 30-40 sec)
Hot start: Time and last position known, valid almanac and ephemeris (typical
TTFF 1-5 sec)
Need to specify satellite power level when testing TTFF

Test requires a multi-satellite GPS signal with valid navigational messages
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Sensitivity
Sensitivity
Acquisition sensitivity
Tracking sensitivity
Sensitivityminimum = -174dBm/Hz + C/Nominimum + NFreceiver
Minimum level of signal that allows GPS receiver to acquire or track the GPS signal
(may also be specified in terms of C/No)
Acquisition sensitivity: minimum level to successfully perform TTFF under cold
start (typically around -140 to -150 dBm)
Tracking sensitivity: minimum level to maintain location fix once it has been
attained (typically -150 to -160 dBm)

Test requires multi-satellite GPS signal with valid navigational messages for TTFF,
and real-time satellite power control to reduce power levels to test sensitivity

2010 Agilent Technologies

Location Accuracy
Location Accuracy
Absolute and relative accuracy
Moving GPS receiver accuracy
Satellite tracking accuracy
Absolute location accuracy: Closeness of the receivers calculated
location fix to the ideal (simulated) location
Relative location accuracy: Compares location fixes between tests
May be tested for both stationary and moving GPS receivers
Satellite tracking accuracy: Track location of single satellite

Tests require multi-satellite GPS signal for location fix, repeatable test
scenarios, moving GPS receiver scenarios, and ability to vary power and
other satellite parameters to test tracking
2010 Agilent Technologies

Secondary GPS Verification Tests

Calculate reacquisition time

Time required to resume location fix following loss of
signal

RF interference measurements
Measures the ability of the GPS receiver to operate in
the presence of interfering (jamming) signals (second RF
source required)

2010 Agilent Technologies

Why You Need GPS Simulation

GPS simulation offers the following advantages over live satellite

signals:
Repeatability
Ensure exact replication of the signal conditions for each test

Flexibility
Use different scenarios to simulate different locations and times, with different
satellites and orbits

Control
Use standard test scenarios throughout your process

Stress Testing
Turn individual satellites on/off and change satellite power
Reduce satellite visibility
Introduce specific, known impairments
2010 Agilent Technologies

Requirements for GPS Test Signals

GPS Signal Simulation
Feature

Test Challenges Met

Multiple channels to simulate multiple

satellites (4 to 15)

Minimum of 4 for TTFF. 15 allows you to

reproduce all satellites visible from any
location.

Stationary and moving GPS receiver

scenarios

Test more realistic case of moving GPS

receiver as well as simple stationary case

Real-time satellite power adjustments,

satellite visibility on/off

Test sensitivity, ability to reacquire satellite

signals

Custom scenario generation capability

Flexibility to create scenarios for any date,

time, or location

TTFF

Sensitivity

Accuracy

Requirements for GPS Test Signals

Impairments
Feature

Test Challenges Met

Multipath signals (requires more

channels)

Simulate real-world situation with reflected

signals from obstructions

Reduced satellite visibility: partial or

complete, elevation mask

Test loss of visibility due to tunnels,

mountains, or other obstructions

Ionospheric and tropospheric modeling

Account for atmospheric effects on GPS

signals (refraction, delay)

Add calibrated AWGN

Add broadband noise to control C/No of

GPS signal

TTFF

Sensitivity

Accuracy

2010 Agilent Technologies