Agilent Technologies Unveils Beidou GNSS Signal Simulation at International Wireless Symposium

Agilent is demonstrating the enhancements at the first IEEE International Wireless Symposium, under way through April 18, at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

The Beidou satellite navigation system, also known as Compass or Beidou 2, began offering service for the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012. It currently has16 satellites in service; a full constellation of 35 satellites is scheduled for completion in 2020. Following the official release of the Interface Control Document with specifications for the Beidou B1I open service signal, an increasing number of companies around the world have begun developing Beidou chipsets and receivers.

A key enhancement to Agilent's N7609B Signal Studio software, Option WFP, supports these development efforts by enabling real-time simulation of Beidou B1I satellite signals. The software enables engineers to simulate stationary or moving receivers. A scenario-generation capability enables them to create and edit custom scenarios.

Option WFP may be used with Agilent's N5172B EXG or N5182B MXG X-Series signal generators. It will be available for use with Agilent's N5106A PXB baseband generator and channel emulator at a later date.

While the Chinese Beidou system is farther along in deployment than its European counterpart, Galileo, it still faces the same test challenges, especially with regard to receiver test, said Jim Curran, marketing manager of Agilent's Microwave and Communications Division. Addressing these challenges is critical for its continued deployment and for proliferation of Beidou receivers in consumer devices. Our software enhancements address these challenges head on by providing users with the real-time capabilities they need to easily simulate Beidou signals and generate Beidou-specific scenarios.

Additional Real-Time GNSS Enhancements

Agilent has added a number of enhancements to the N7609B Signal Studio software to improve its real-time GNSS capability. For example, 40 channels for line-of-sight and multipath signals are now available for any combination of GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou satellite navigation systems. Sixteen additional channels are available for the Galileo system. Additionally, ephemeris and assistance data output is now available for Galileo scenarios. The output of simulated scenario data (truth data) can also now be accessed for comparison with results from the receiver under test.

Product Option Changes

Included in the enhancements are a series of changes to Signal Studio's option structure. Previously, the real-time simulation function and scenario generator function were offered as separate options for each GNSS constellation. Since most users require both functions, these separate options have been combined into a single offering for each constellation. The new real-time and scenario generator options for the N7609B Signal Studio software are as follows: Option PFP for GPS functionality, Option SFP for GLONASS functionality, Option UFP for Galileo functionality, and Option WFP for Beidou functionality.

The previously available real-time GPS capability, as well as the RFP, TFP and VFP scenario generator options are all being discontinued. Option EFP for basic single-satellite waveforms will still be offered. Additionally, Option 9FP has been added to support basic single-satellite waveform capability for Agilent's M9381A PXIe vector signal generator.