World News: Spirent® launches combined GPS/Galileo simulation system

Spirent Communications has announced the availability of its GSS7900 GPS/Galileo simulation system that enables the testing of advanced multi-system GNSS receivers by supporting the free-to-use signals from the GPS and Galileo systems.

The GSS7900 simulates the RF environment to characterise, optimise and validate GNSS receivers under accurate, controlled and repeatable conditions in the laboratory.

The new dual-constellation simulator is derived from the GSS7700 GPS simulator and the GSS7800 Galileo simulator that Spirent developed last year to support the test needs of the Galileo Ground Mission Segment and Test User Segment programs.

These test systems, including the new GSS7900, benefit from Spirent’s flexible and feature-rich SimGEN for Windows® software suite, which enables advanced flexibility and control over simulated parameters and is designed to facilitate a variety of test configurations and results analysis.

“Spirent is responding to our customers’ desire to perform combined GPS/Galileo receiver development work,” said John Pottle, marketing director at Spirent. “The release of the Open Service Galileo signal-in-space interface-control-document (SIS ICD) has stimulated interest in the additional capabilities that Galileo will enable.”

He added that, currently, Spirent’s Galileo system uses public domain information about Galileo only, as there are restrictions on the use of the Galileo ranging codes and navigation data.

However, when these restrictions are lifted, Spirent will upgrade its GSS7900 customers to full ICD compliance via a simple field upgrade.

Connected Vehicles