Testing the Susceptibility of GNSS Receivers to Radio Frequency Interference

Abstract:

Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers are employed by the scientific community for measuring a variety of geodetic, geophysical and atmospheric phenomena. Data acquisition frequently occurs in a variety of challenging environments, which include locations with high Radio Frequency (RF) noise characteristics. Tracking the relatively low powered GNSS carrier signals broadcast from space becomes even more challenging in the presence of adjacent band RF noise. The demand for terrestrial RF spectrum use for a variety of non-GNSS applications is ever increasing, which poses potential challenges for GNSS site operators who would like to acquire the highest quality data possible.

In recent years, UNAVCO has observed an increase in the number of GNSS sites which are negatively impacted by RF interference. In previous work, we have shown that telemetry systems utilizing the Iridium satellite constellation can degrade GNSS data quality, as the adjacent-band (1610-1616 Mhz) signals transmitted by Iridium data transmitters are close in proximity to the L1 frequency of GNSS. The impact of RF interference from Iridium data transmitters on GNSS receivers can cause reduced Signal-to-Noise (SNR), increased cycle slips, and in worst case scenarios, prevent the receiver from tracking.

To better characterize GNSS receiver susceptibility to RF interference, UNAVCO has performed a variety of tests with Continuous Wave (CW) noise sources in RF bands adjacent to the GNSS spectrum. We simulate a subset of discrete noise frequencies commonly observed in the field using a frequency generator, which supplies a signal with varying power output from a transmitter located within 1 m of the GNSS antenna. Signal power is incremented in small steps until receiver tracking fails. All receivers are simultaneously evaluated using an 8-way splitter. In addition, we investigate receiver tracking performance with a simulated increase in the RF noise floor. To analyze the results we use the number of tracked satellites, signal strength, and cycle slips to characterize GNSS receiver tracking performance while being subjected to adjacent-band RF interference. In this paper, we will present our preliminary findings from these tests for a variety of commonly used modern geodetic GNSS receiver models.