Date: 04/10/2012

Agilent’s Signal Studio for GNSS enables Galileo testing

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced that its Signal Studio for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) software (N7609B) has been enhanced with real-time and basic mode capabilities designed to permit engineers to simulate Galileo signals for receiver testing and to meet the needs of the manufacturing test market.

Signal Studio's new capability, involving the Advanced Galileo real-time mode and the Scenario Generator for Advanced Galileo, lets users to carry out real-time, multi-satellite simulation for the European Galileo system. Galileo is a satellite-based navigation system similar to the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian GLONASS system. While the full system (including 27 operational satellites and three active spares) is not likely to be completed until 2019, Galileo-ready chipsets and receivers are available today.

Agilent's Advanced Galileo software supports these development efforts by permitting engineers to generate signals that simulate Galileo satellites or a combination of Galileo, GPS and/or GLONASS satellites. With the Scenario Generator for Advanced Galileo, users can create custom scenarios (simulating stationary or moving receivers) for specific locations, dates and times that contain Galileo satellites. Such capabilities are targeted at engineers designing or testing GNSS chipsets, modules, components or receivers, as well as mobile devices offering navigation or location-based services.

Signal Studio's new basic-mode capability is available via the Basic Single Satellite Waveform option. It offers engineers with single satellite waveform files that can be utilized for simple receiver testing in manufacturing and other applications. In addition to GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, waveform files are also available for the Chinese Compass/Beidou2 system, satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), and the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The availability of waveform files for these newer systems speeds up time-to-market by enabling basic testing for satellite acquisition/tracking and receiver sensitivity in R&D and design verification.

"By incorporating GNSS receivers that take advantage of satellites from multiple constellations into smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, engineers now have the ability to not only differentiate their products, but also improve their location-based capabilities," said Jim Curran, marketing manager of Agilent's Microwave and Communications Division. "Agilent's new Signal Studio for GNSS capabilities simplify these tasks by allowing simulation of signals from multiple satellite systems, along with modeling of impairments to enable thorough testing of GNSS receivers under different situations. Such capabilities are critical to effectively addressing the needs of the rapidly growing global GNSS market."

Agilent's new Signal Studio for GNSS real-time capabilities for Galileo (Opt. N7609B-UFP and Opt. N7609B-VFP) and basic waveform generation capability (Opt. N7609B-EFP) are now available at a starting price of $9,368. The product includes a connectivity option (connection to Agilent's EXG or MXG signal generator) and any one of the real-time options for GPS (QFP), GLONASS (SFP) or Galileo (UFP).

The basic waveform capability begins at $3,898. Included in this price are a connectivity option (e.g., connection to Agilent's EXG or MXG signal generator) and the basic single satellite waveform option (EFP). The basic waveform capability can also be used with Agilent's ESG or PSG signal generators, EXT wireless communications test set, or PXB baseband generator and channel emulator.

For more information: www.agilent.com/find/N7609B

Source: Agilent