Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
MBOC signal at top, BOC (1,1) at bottom(Updated May 21) U.S. warfighters could be affected and European navigation users could end up paying more if the British are able to enforce a patent on technology at the heart of the new GPS and Galileo civil signals.
By Inside GNSS
The launch of the first GPS III satellite has slipped to 2015 and completion of the ground control system is now delayed by up to two years, according to the chief of the Air Force’s space operations
“We’ll be ready to launch the first GPS III in 2015, but it now appears the next generation GPS Operational Control System, or OCX, won’t be ready for about a year or two after that,” General William L. Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command told attendees at the 28th Annual National Space Symposium.
By Inside GNSS
Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation OfficeChina will launch another three satellites for the BeiDou-2 (Compass) system by the end of the year, according to officials speaking today (May 18, 2012) at the China Satellite Navigation Conference (CSNC 2012) in Guangchou.
Meanwhile, in comments quoted by People’s Daily Online edition, the system is expected to be adopted by some of China’s neighboring countries in the next year or two. People’s Daily is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China.
By Inside GNSS
Thwarted thus far in efforts to convert satellite spectrum into a terrestrial service, LightSquared Inc. and 19 affiliates have filed for bankruptcy. But the would-be wireless broadband provider said it had not abandoned efforts to build out a nationwide network of transmitters that extensive tests have shown would interfere with GPS receivers.
By Inside GNSS
Spectracom GSG-62Spectracom has announced its new dual-frequency, 32-channel multi-GNSS simulator, the GSG-62.
The GSG-62 offers multiple frequency band operation, multiple-GNSS constellation simulation, and expansion capability for more frequency bands and channels, including support for upgrades to GPS L2C and L5, as well as future GNSS systems.
By Inside GNSS
UK-based Racelogic has been singled out as a double winner in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, receiving both Innovation and International Trade awards.
Announced on April 21 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, the 2012 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise listings contained 209 companies, with Racelogic being one of only four to be honored with the award for both Innovation and International Trade.
By Inside GNSS
IFEN GmbH has announced that the company has enhanced its NavX-NCS multi-GNSS RF constellation simulator product line to support China’s Compass/BeiDou-2 GNSS system.
Together with its WORK Microwave partner, IFEN has added the BeiDou B1 civil signal to its current suite of GNSS signal generation capabilities, which include GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and SBAS. The companies used the modulation scheme and signal specifications outlined in accordance with the latest version of the Compass/BeiDou Signal in Space Interface Control Document.
By Inside GNSS
The first Galileo Full Operational Capability satellite out of 22 so far contracted was assembled in May 2012 for testing. OHB System photo[Updated May 4, 2012] The launch date for the next pair of In-Orbit Validation (IOV) Galileo satellites will be September 28.
By Inside GNSS
Legislation moving through Congress could reshape efforts to counter GPS interference as the government steps up its efforts to fight cybercrime and protect critical systems like the power grid and communications networks.
Though cybersecurity generally focuses on protecting information systems the broad definitions in some legislation now on the Hill appear to encompass GPS support systems, some user communities, and even the constellation itself.
By Inside GNSS
Variations on the common GPS/Galileo MBOC signalThe U.S. government is so unhappy about a British patent claim on the new civil GPS signal that, if things cannot be worked out, officals might consider abandoning the countries’ interoperable signal structure, sources told Inside GNSS.
By Inside GNSS
New York’s 450 Park Avenue, home of Harbinger CapitalHarbinger Capital Management LLC fund manager Philip Falcone has reportedly agreed to eventually withdraw from his leadership position with LightSquared Inc., the would-be wireless broadband that ran into problems because its proposed terrestrial transmitters would have caused interference to GPS receivers.
By Inside GNSS
Two Beidou-2 MEO satellites go up on a Long March rocketChina successfully launched two Compass satellites into space at 4:50 a.m. Beijing Time on Monday, April 30 (20:50 UTC, April 29).
Designated Compass M3 and M4, these are the 12th and 13th of its second-generation Beidou-2 spacecraft to reach orbit and the second and third middle-Earth-orbiting (MEO) spacecraft launched by China’s GNSS program.
By Inside GNSS
Variations on the common GPS/Galileo MBOC signalThe British military establishment is seeking royalties from GPS receiver manufacturers, asserting it holds a patent on the technology at the heart of the new GPS and Galileo civil signals.
Should U.S. manufacturers have to pay royalties, American GPS users, who have already paid for the GPS constellation and made it available to the world free of charge, could find themselves spending more to use its location capabilities. Sources said the development could undermine relations between the U.S. and the European Union (EU), which have cooperated for years to develop a common signal at the L1/E1 frequency centered at 1575.42 MHz.
By Inside GNSS
