01 - LabSat Introduction
The LabSat is a dedicated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal simulator with RF record and playback facilities, enabling real world GPS & Galileo testing to take place in the laboratory. The LabSat is small and rugged, allowing it to be used in the field to continuously record the RF GPS/Galileo signal in a digital form which can then be replayed at a later date.
LabSat is ideal for almost any kind of GPS development, e.g. GPS engines; GPS enabled Smartphones, Portable Navigation Devices, GPS tracking systems and much more. It is also very well suited to production line testing as it can represent a real world test as well as a carefully simulated scenario.
To cover all testing requirements, replay scenarios can also be generated directly using the Racelogic SatGen software. LabSat works with the L1 (1575.42MHz) signal and has no limit to the number of satellites that can be logged. Galileo L1 Signal can be recorded and replayed.
Real world GNSS effects can be seen in test scenarios
- Multipath
- Drop-outs
- Tree coverage
- Adverse terrain effects
- Atmospheric effects
Ability to replay data allows repeatable testing of GNSS receiver capabilities such as:
- Sensitivity – Tracking and Acquisition
- Time To First Fix (TTFF) – Cold, Warm and Hot Start
- Position Accuracy and Repeatability
- Tracking Accuracy and Repeatability
- Reacquisition Time
Hardware Overview
Connector | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|
DATA | High speed USB 2.0 link | Transfers data to and from PC |
PWR | 12 Volt DC | Power Supply Input to LabSat |
AD1 | - | Reserved for future use |
AD2 | Digital Input | Digital Input 1 – TTL Input – used to mark events during GPS recording |
D OUT | Digital outputs 1 & 2 |
Digital output 1 used to replay digital/trigger events Digital output 2 outputs 1PPS TTL pulse when internal GPS engine has satellite lock during replay |
CAN | NMEA Output RS232 / CAN Bus | RS232 outputs NMEA from internal GPS engine during replay / CAN Reserved for future use |
SER | RS232 / Interface modules | Firmware upgrade / Connection of interface modules |
RF OUT | GNSS Simulation RF Output | GPS L1 Transmission during replay mode |
ANTENNA | GNSS Active Antenna Input | Used when recording GNSS signals |