Configuring an RF Record and Playback System from General Purpose RF Instrumentation

D.A. Hall

Abstract:	RF record and playback solutions provide a viable test technique for GPS receiver characterization. Using commercial off-the-shelf hardware, engineers are able to record raw IQ waveforms directly from a GPS antenna. Upon playback of recorded waveforms to a GPS receiver, the receiver behaves as if it were in the recording environment. Configuring a record and playback systems requires careful attention to the RF front end and data storage mechanism. By cascading commercial off-the-shelf low noise amplifiers, engineers can configure an RF front end that is able to sufficiently amplify GPS signals for use with an RF vector signal analyzer. Moreover, modern hard drives are capable of achieving read and write rates sufficient to continuously read and write GPS IQ waveforms to and from disk. RF record and playback systems enable engineer to perform sophisticated environmental testing of GPS receivers in the laboratory environment. In addition, the same test systems used to record and playback GPS signals also apply to all GNSS systems.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2009) September 22 - 25, 2009 Savannah International Convention Center Savannah, GA
Pages:	1932 - 1936
Cite this article:	Hall, D.A., "Configuring an RF Record and Playback System from General Purpose RF Instrumentation," Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2009), Savannah, GA, September 2009, pp. 1932-1936.
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