Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee today (June 23, 2011) approved action that would prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from expending any funds related to a conditional waiver it granted a company called LightSquared until all concerns have been resolved about interference with Global Positioning System (GPS).
By Inside GNSS
The report concerns economic effects on high precision commercial uses of GPS, such as precision agriculture. (U Calif. photo)Research released yesterday (June 22, 2011) indicates that interference from LightSquared cellular broadband transmitters could cost manufacturers and users of commercial GPS technology up to $96 billion in annual losses.
By Inside GNSS
The two Soyuz ST-B launchers and Fregat-MT upper stages arrived at Kourou harbor on June 18 are the most powerful Soyuz-Fregat combination available, intended to launch the four Galileo IOV satellites. Arianespace photoSupporters of Europe’s Galileo system got some good news today (June 22, 2011) at the Paris Air Show: savings in the program have freed up funds that may be able to support acquisition of at least six additional spacecraft by 2014.
Taking part in a signing ceremony for the final Galileo work packages, European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani announced that improved program management and cost-cutting by industry vendors could free up €300 million ($482.8 million) — enough to ensure that 24 satellites could be launched by 2015.
By Inside GNSS
Results of John Deere test of LightSquared’s effect on high-precision GPS receiversIn what looks like a pre-emptive strike in the wake of extensive evidence that its proposed terrestrial wireless broadband transmissions will interfere with GPS receivers, LightSquared today (June 20, 2011) proposed to solve the problem by cut the power of its base stations in half and temporarily use a bandwidth further away from GPS.
By Inside GNSS
LightSquared graphicWith test results and congressional sentiment running against it, LightSquared has received a two-week extension for filing its report and recommendations, due to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday (June 15, 2011), on likely interference to the GPS L1 band.
Meanwhile, a congressional critic of LightSquared’s effort to roll out a 4G/LTE broadband cellular service adjacent to the GPS frequency has called on the agency to rescind its waiver of limits on the company’s plans to build a high-powered national network of terrestrial transmitters.
By Inside GNSS
Successful completion today (June 15, 2011) of the rephrasing of the GPS constellation known as “Expandable 24,” has produced the most optimal geometry in the system’s 42-year history, maximizing GPS coverage for all users worldwide.
The 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, successfully executed the two-phase expansion and repositioning of satellites, which improves global GPS coverage and provides a more robust signal and higher probability of signal acquisition in terrain-challenged environments.
By Inside GNSS
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, which is developing the GPS IIIA generation of satellites,
announced today (June 14, 2011) a 7.5 percent reduction in its
workforce designed to “address affordability” and improve the company’s
“competitive posture.”
Accord Software and Systems Pvt. Ltd., of Bangalore, India, has announced two new GNSS chips, a system-on-a-chip (SOC) with GPS and integrated peripherals and a GPS/Galileo-comopatible RF front-end chip.
By Inside GNSS
Hemisphere GPS LX-2Hemisphere GPS has introduced its LX-2, a second-generation L-band differential GPS OEM receiver board.
By Inside GNSS
Bliley GMX1001Bliley Technologies, Inc., has unveiled two GPS frequency and timing modules at the 2011 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium taking place this week (June 5–10, 2011) in Baltimore, Maryland.
The company’s GMX1001 and GMM1002 modules launch a new product line for the company — introducing the first in a series of next-generation technologies for the Erie, Pennsylvania–based company.
By Inside GNSS
The Space-Based PNT National Coordination Office is located in the Dept. of Commerce Hoover BuildingRepresentatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), LightSquared, and Trimble will weigh in on the GPS vs. LightSquared interference at the afternoon session of a National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board meeting tomorrow (June 9, 2011).
By Dee Ann Divis
A belated response from Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman to Republican Senator Charles Grassley’s request for documents surrounding the LightSquared effort to broadcast near the GPS L1 band appears unlike to satisfy either Grassley or the GPS community.
By Inside GNSS
An informal discussion at the 2010 symposium.The Symposium Gyro Technology has changed its name to Inertial Sensors and Systems because of the expanded focus and scientific topics covered at recent conferences. It will take place at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany on September 21 and 21, 2011. The conference will be held in English.
By Inside GNSS
