A: System Categories

June 26, 2011

Airport Authority of India Says GAGAN Satellite is in Position

Detail of India’s GAGAN system, from a presentation by Dr. S.V. Kibe. For full diagram:

The communications satellite that carries India’s GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system has been positioned, according to major news sources in India.

"The initial phase is now over. The satellite is now in position," Airports Authority of India chairman V.P. Agarwal said at a New Delhi workshop on aviation safety.

"We are now going through the certification stage of the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and we will have certification of the system by June 2013." he said, according to reports.

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By Inside GNSS

Intermodulation Effects: Another Perspective on LightSquared Interference to GPS

Much of the research into the possible effects of the planned LightSquared cellular broadband transmissions near the GPS L1 band have focused on the saturation of the front end of GPS receivers caused by the high power of the terrestrial LightSquared base stations. In this article, an engineer with a long history in broadcast digital television takes a look at the likely effects on GPS receivers of third-order intermodulation products created by the LightSquared signals.

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By Inside GNSS
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June 22, 2011

GLONASS, Galileo Finances Star at Paris Air Show

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 photo

Supporters 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.

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By Inside GNSS
June 21, 2011

After Seeking FCC Extension, LightSquared Has a New Plan for GPS

Results of John Deere test of LightSquared’s effect on high-precision GPS receivers

In 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.

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By Inside GNSS
June 15, 2011

LightSquared Gets Two-Week Extension on GPS Interference Report; Congressman Calls on FCC to Rescind Waiver

LightSquared graphic

With 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.

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By Inside GNSS

Completion of Satellite Repositioning Optimizes GPS Constellation

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.

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By Inside GNSS
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