Development of a One Channel Galileo L1 Software Receiver and Testing Using Real Data

F. Macchi and M.G. Petovello

Abstract:	With the recent or upcoming availability of several new signals from GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and Compass, the beginning of a new era in the field of GNSS has arrived. The recent development and launching of the first Galileo satellite GIOVE-A, part of the Galileo System Test Bed as well as the still on-ground testing satellite GIOVE-B is the start of this new age. Therefore, with such an improvement in the number of signals available to the user and the geometry offered by the combination of the various constellations, the current capabilities but also complexities of the receivers will be increased. One challenge is of course the acquisition and tracking of Galileo signals, especially using the actual data transmitted by the current orbiting satellite GIOVE-A. Due to the properties of the new L1 Galileo signal, novel acquisition techniques need to be developed. Beginning with the common zero padding technique, four new techniques of acquisition are described and implemented. The four acquisition methods (two for each the pilot and data channel) are then tested and compared in terms of processing time and acquisition sensitivity. Then, a tracking algorithm is presented using common strategies and the parameters of the filters are studied. All these tests are realized using real data from the current Galileo satellite. The two methods of acquisition using a longer incoming signal permit an improvement of the SNR of 5 dB for the data channel and 4 dB for the pilot channel. But these new strategies require more processing time and thus should be used only for weaker signals. The results of acquisition and tracking are validated using a NovAtel 15a receiver for comparison.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2007) September 25 - 28, 2007 Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX
Pages:	2256 - 2269
Cite this article:	Macchi, F., Petovello, M.G., "Development of a One Channel Galileo L1 Software Receiver and Testing Using Real Data," Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2007), Fort Worth, TX, September 2007, pp. 2256-2269.
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