Performance Analysis of a GNSS Receiver under High Power Satellite and Pulsed RF Interference Conditions

Y.C. Jonathan Lai and Mahesh Surathu

Abstract:	The RTCA DO-229C/DO-253A Minimum Operational Performance Standards documents (referred to just MOPS from here on) specify certain signal and interference conditions for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver pseudo-range accuracy requirements [1,2]. Two of the most challenging interference conditions under which the minimum power satellites (MinPS) have to maintain their ranging accuracy are (1) the presence of a high power satellite (HPS) with a power margin (HPSM) of 18.5 dB to account for intra-satellite interference (ISI), and (2) pulsed interference (PI) of at least 100 kHz signal bandwidth, with 10% PDC (pulse duty cycle) and 1 ms pulse width at a peak power level that will trigger significant AGC response and saturate the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). These conditions have reportedly resulted in significant performance degradations of various GNSS receivers [3,4,9]. The performance degradation effects due to ISI include loss of code and carrier tracking, loss of ranging integrity, and severe C/N0 degradation during the zero Doppler crossover between the HPS and the MinPS at their peak cross-correlation. The problem due to pulsed interference includes C/A code signal power reduction and increase in effective receiver noise floor, which leads to severe C/N0 degradation. The objective of this paper is to provide theoretical analysis for (1) the worst-case C/N0 degradation in the presence of HPS, and (2) average C/N0 degradation caused by the pulsed interference. Finally, based on these analyses, along with numerical simulation and extensive lab testing results, recommendations are made to modify the MOPS-stipulated requirements.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2005) September 13 - 16, 2005 Long Beach Convention Center Long Beach, CA
Pages:	1263 - 1274
Cite this article:	Lai, Y.C. Jonathan, Surathu, Mahesh, "Performance Analysis of a GNSS Receiver under High Power Satellite and Pulsed RF Interference Conditions," Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2005), Long Beach, CA, September 2005, pp. 1263-1274.
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