NaviGadget

new EU satellite system to fine tune GPS

Oct 5, 2009 gps navigation, misc news Leave a comment

The European Union recently launched a satellite navigation network to fine tune U.S.’s world wide used GPS satellite accuracy from 10 meters down to 2 meters. The new solution will help pilots, motorists and even blind people.

The EGNOS system (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) will utilize three satellites and 40 ground stations to narrow the horizontal accuracy and make some improvement over the vertical accuracy.

EGNOS will be paving the way for Galileo project, a European satellite system which will eventually stop EU’s dependency on U.S’s GPS satellites by 2014.

EGNOS is open to everyone with a GPS/SBAS compatible receiver and currently covers 27 EU countries.
via

SiRFprima supports GPS and Galileo

Feb 9, 2008 gps navigation, misc news 8 Comments

SiRF just introduced SiRFprima, a new super sensitive GPS receiver platform combined with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and multimedia encoding and decoding engines designed to significantly enhance user experience for location applications and media rich content.

The SiRFprima multifunction processor delivers SiRF’s renowned, industry leading, GPS-enabled location performance, featuring 64 channels with -161 dBm sensitivity. The hardware scalable location engine, with more than 1,000,000 correlators, is among the first capable of working with both GPS and Galileo signals simultaneously. Additionally, the SiRFprima processor has been specifically designed to support SiRF’s proprietary GPS technologies, providing, for example, a dedicated accelerator for the SiRFInstantFixII technology.

SiRFprima also has the ability to support peripheral and external interfaces for connecting to touch screens, mass storage devices, video cameras, DVD players, satellite radios and other devices.

The SiRFprima multifunction platform will begin sampling to lead customers in the second quarter of this year.

China wants the ability to destroy GPS satellites when above China

Dec 4, 2007 gps navigation, misc news 1 Comment

According to the annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, the Chinese military is acquiring the “ability to destroy or temporarily incapacitate every enemy space vehicle when it is located above China”.

The Chinese also plan to attack U.S. global positioning system (GPS) satellites through various means, including anti-satellite weapons, high-energy weapons, high-energy weather monitoring rockets and ground attacks on earth-based stations.

I guess if this ever happens, then U.S. would bring down China’s Beidou – and then not to be left out of the game Russian would attempt to hit EU’s Galileo satellites until every positioning satellite left in orbit is knocked out of the sky. So if you ever experience some sort of interruption in your GPS signal reception you can be sure that WWIII has started. But seriously, check out our article on navigation satellite programs if you want to learn about other nations’ GPS programs… via

eTrex Vista HCx now official – no Galileo

May 31, 2007 garmin, gps navigation 3 Comments

Garmin’s new addition to the eTrex series, the eTrex Vista HCx just got the official announcement from Garmin today. When we first announced the new eTrex series a few days ago we said they have support for the upcoming Galileo navigation satellite system built by EU but the Garmin does not mention such thing. We’ll just go ahead and blame our source.

Anyhow, the eTrex Vista HCx is still quite capable despite lack of support for Galileo. It has a color screen, barometric altimeter, and an electronic compass that can you show you where north is without making you run in a straight line. Vista HCx accepts microSD cards, which means you can insert your MapSource card (requires extra cash) with detailed street maps, and Vista HCx can provide turn-by-turn directions to your destination just like a car navigation system.

Another nice thing about Vista HCx is that it runs on AA batteries so you won’t have to worry about plugging after the first 25 hours – just take some batteries with you.

Suggested retail price for the eTrex Vista HCx is $320.

new eTrex H from Garmin with Galileo support

May 23, 2007 garmin, gps navigation 8 Comments

Garmin will be coming out with a new eTrex model (eTrex H) this fall that will support both GPS and Europe’s upcoming Galileo. Other new models that will support Galileo will be the eTrex Legend HCx, and the eTrex Vista HCx. However the devices are not Galileo ready out of the box but will accommodate a drop-in chip when available.

Specs of the new models after the jump…
Read More …

navigation satellite wars

Apr 10, 2007 gps navigation, misc news 1 Comment

GPS is not the only global navigation satellite system out there, at least not for long. There are other nations trying to break their dependence from USA’s globally available free service – which can be shut down at will of U.S. military. Not to mention GPS (Navstar) is aging (even older than 1st generation iPods!!!) fast and it needs some serious upgrading.

European Union – Galileo

Initiated in 1999, Galileo is a joint effort of European countries. When first started, the U.S. opposed the plans stating that it would end their ability to control positioning satellites in military conflict scenarios. The pressure from the U.S. backfired and as a result the Galileo project was over-funded by European nations who decided it was crucial to be independent of U.S. controlled GPS.

The total cost of the system is expected to be around €3 billions. Galileo is funded by EU nations and China.

Primarily intended for civilians, Galileo will support different kinds of services: OS (open service) will broadcast in two bands (1164–1214 MHz and at 1563–1591 MHz) and when both are used you’ll be able to get <4 meter accuracy. CS (commercial service) will require a fee but if used with ground stations it will be able provide accuracy of less than 10 cm’s. It will use an extra band at 1260–1300 MHz in addition to the OS frequencies.

• Number of satellites: 30
• Completion Date: 2011
• Current Status: First satellite launched in December 2005 and first ‘Galileo’ signal received in January 2006.

China – Beidou

China’s Beidou was first planned to be used for military purposes but Chinese government has already announced it will be free for civilians as well. This would conflict with EU’s Galileo which plans to profit from selling of receivers and subscriptions to benefit from high accuracy signals.

• Completion Date: Coverage of China and neighbors by 2008 – global coverage in later years
• Number of satellites: 35
• Current Status: 4 satellites in orbit

Russia – Glonass

Russia’s Glonass has a long history which goes as far back as the peak of Cold War. The Glonass system has never been globally available since then, mostly due to instability in Soviet Union and current Russia. India, and possibly China, collaborate with Russia on Glonass. Since 1992 Russia has launched 44 satellites, some of which are no longer in service. Glonass’ civilian signal – which is only available half the time in Russia, and less globally – can provide <100 meters of accuracy. Military signals are better, providing accuracy of <15 meters. Russia has announced that it would make military grade signals available this year.

• Completion Date: 2011
• Number of satellites: 24
• Current Status: 16 in orbit, 5 of which is switched off. 12 more scheduled to be in orbit in the next two years

India – IRNSS

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS, was recently approved with a budget just over $300 million. IRNSS is planned to provide only regional coverage provided by 7 satellites.

• Number of satellites: 7
• Completion Date: 2011
• Current Status: First satellite to be launched in 2008

USA – Navstar (GPS)

It is the only fully functional, globally available navigation satellite system so far. It is free for everybody on this planet. The first one of the satellites was launched in 1978 and the system has been fully operational since 1995. However the satellites get old and need to be replaced and technological advancements require GPS to be upgraded.

The modernization has been approved since 2000 and is called GPS III. The new system will provide capabilities such as to shut off GPS service to a limited geographical location while providing GPS to US forces. The new GPS III satellites will still provide legacy capabilities while adding high-powered, anti-jam military-code signals.

These satellites will have about 500 times the transmitter power of the current system, multiplying its resistance to jamming. With a constellation of 30-32 satellites, GPS III will have second and third frequencies to contain civilian signal, L2 & L5, more robust signal transmissions, and provide real-time unaugmented 1 meter accuracy.

Completion Date: 2011
Number of satellites: 24+
Current Status: Fully functional, upgrade in process

u-blox GPS receiver supports Galileo and TTFF under 1 second

Feb 1, 2007 gps navigation, misc news 1 Comment

Swiss GPS chip maker u-blox will be introducing a new GPS receiver chip called u-blox 5 at the 3GSM event Barcelona this month. The new chip is said to have a 1 second TTFF which is unheard of (compare to ~35 seconds of SiRF Star III). The u-blox 5 series receivers will have a sensitivity of -160dBm which will provide GPS fix even indoors and underground and 50mW power consumption will make it suitable for most handheld devices.

What makes these 5th generation GPS receivers unique is that they’re also Galileo compatible.

Our u-blox 5 single chips and chipsets are prepared for mixed system reception. This new generation, as our previous generation, can simultaneously receive GPS, WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS. As soon as Galileo signals become available, our receivers will be able to simultaneously receive and track these signals too, via a simple software upgrade.

homemade GPS jammer

Jan 29, 2007 gps navigation, hacks, tracking 10 Comments

Today we are featuring an article from Phrack – an online hacker magazine. What we have is a do-it-yourself GPS jammer that can have a range of upto several hundred feet. Keep in mind this is not an easy hack – a bachelors in electrical engineering seems like a prerequisite.

The GPS band pass filter is a 2-pole Toko 4DFA-1575B-12 ceramic dielectric filter from Digi-Key[4], part number TKS2609CT-ND. This part is optional, but helps clean up the RF spectrum before further amplification. The filter’s insertion loss is around 2 dB.

The final RF amplifier is a WJ Communications AH102. It provides another 13 dB of gain, with a higher P1dB compression point of around +27 dBm (500 mW). The AH102 draws the most current of any part, and is not really necessary if you’re aiming for a low range, low current, battery operated device.

This hack is designed to be a low cost one, only using components you can easily find at a trip to Radio Shack. It targets the Global Positioning System (GPS/NAVSTAR) L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz. Also keep in mind this device will not work against the Russian GLONASS or European Galileo systems.

CSR’s GPS technology for an extra $1

Jan 16, 2007 gps navigation Leave a comment

British company CSR today announced the acquisition of NordNav and Cambridge Positioning Systems (CPS) in attempt to bring software based GPS applications to mass market mobile handsets and personal navigation devices (PND) for less then $1 (increase in cost when used with their bluetooth).

CSR has acquired CPS for its Extended GPS (EGPS) software algorithms for mobile handsets and network server software. These algorithms allow users to achieve a faster location fix (less than 3 seconds), and also provide GPS coverage in dense urban areas and even indoors where there is no access to GPS satellite signals. In addition to improved user experience, the faster fix means that in comparison to conventional Assisted GPS, power can be reduced by a factor of 10 or more.

With a combined GPS and EGPS software for handsets, CSR will be able to offer the most competitive, complete and technically advanced mobile GPS solution available to mobile handset, PND, and other portable device makers and operators. CSR’s GPS technology will support the Galileo global standard.

CSR’s GPS technology will be demonstrated at 3GSM Congress, 12-15 February, Barcelona.

press release

Galileo GPS chip w/ acquisition time less than 1 sec

Sep 27, 2006 gps navigation, misc news Leave a comment

u-blox announced the u-blox 5 family of GPS and Galileo-ready single chips and chipsets featuring an acquisition performance of under 1 second. The new chips feature SuperSense -160 dBm acquisition and tracking sensitivity, power needs of less than 50 mW and a footprint smaller than 100 mm2, making u-blox 5 receivers ideal for PDAs, personal navigation devices, cameras, cell phones, media players and other battery-operated portable devices.

The chips’ software contains an innovative jamming suppression mechanism that automatically filters signals from interfering sources, thus maintaining high GPS performance no matter what the environment. A built-in multipath detection and elimination mechanism endows u-blox 5 chips with best-in-class navigation in urban canyons.

We can easily say we are on the right track for integrating a GPS chip into every single electronics device!!! That may not necessarily be such a great thing for privacy though.