A Hardware Testbed for Evaluation of the GPS Modernization Modulation Candidates

Jeffrey T. Correia, Jeffrey J. Blanchard and Paul B. Fine

Abstract:	The DoD has recently selected an innovative binary offset carrier modulation scheme for military use on GPS satellites. The new modulation was selected from a set of strong candidates, each having intrinsic strengths and weaknesses relative to one another. This paper describes the real-time, radio frequency, full bandwidth hardware that was developed to support the GPS Modernization Signal Design Team (GMSDT) activity. The transmitter/receiver hardware suite developed demonstrated the validity of navigating using these unconventional signals, and provided instrumentation quality measurements of important performance parameters, allowing accurate comparisons between the critical aspects of the candidate modulation designs. Both the transmitter and receiver are implemented in reconfigurable hardware and are capable of generating, receiving, and tracking both split spectrum and conventional modulations, all through software control. Novel processing approaches for receiving binary offset carrier signals have also been implemented and tested. It is planned that this hardware be applied and extended to support further testing of the M code signal.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 28, 2000 Pacific Hotel Disneyland Anaheim, CA
Pages:	594 - 604
Cite this article:	Correia, Jeffrey T., Blanchard, Jeffrey J., Fine, Paul B., "A Hardware Testbed for Evaluation of the GPS Modernization Modulation Candidates," Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 2000, pp. 594-604.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In