Spirent Adds QZSS support to its Multi-GNSS Simulation Platform

Paignton, United Kingdom - October 17, 2011 - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), the leading provider of navigation and positioning test solutions, announced today the addition of Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) simulation capabilities to its GSS6700 Multi GNSS Constellation Simulator, enhancing the ability to meet the current and future testing needs of GNSS devices.

The GSS6700 offers the industry’s most comprehensive solution for R&D, integration and verification testing of GPS, QZSS, GLONASS and Galileo devices. Spirent was the first to bring QZSS simulation to market on its GSS8000 platform in 2009. Now customers with evolving test needs can benefit from QZSS L1 C/A code support on the powerful GSS6700 platform.

"Many commercial receiver developers are realising the potential of multi-GNSS, first with GPS and GLONASS and now with the addition of QZSS,” said Rahul Gupta, product manager at Spirent's positioning technology division. "Spirent is committed to helping customers bring commercial QZSS devices to market and this latest software option enables testing of receivers, systems and applications that will use the QZSS signals.”

Spirent’s live-sky record and playback system, the GSS6400, is also capable of capturing the transmitted QZSS signal along with GPS and GLONASS. Record and playback is an increasingly widely-used technique to capture the full richness of multi-GNSS in challenging environments such as urban canyons and indoor/outdoor transitions.

Simulation of GPS, QZSS, GLONASS and Galileo is acknowledged as the best way of testing GNSS receiver, system and application performance. Only laboratory simulation can ensure controlled, repeatable testing that explores both nominal and off-design conditions with easy access to test data. By following a structured test approach, Spirent's customers can test multi-GNSS receivers, systems and applications resulting in reduced costs, shorter development times and improved performance.

The GSS6700 supports any combination of GPS/SBAS/QZSS, GLONASS and Galileo L1 signals and provides accurate, repeatable combined multi-GNSS signals and can be configured with up to 12 channels of one constellation only or with multiple constellations. Up to 36 channels are supported with 12 channels of simulation per constellation. The GSS6700 is available with a range of software capability to suit differing test requirements.

Spirent is the first choice of major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide for GNSS testing and simulation solutions. Today, Spirent simulation systems are used throughout the world through a broad range of clients in more than 30 countries. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning test equipment and services to all sectors of the navigation and positioning community, from government agencies through to high volume commercial markets.

The QZSS license and software for the GSS6700 is now available for order. For more information on GSS6700 visit http://www.spirent.com/Solutions-Directory/GSS6700.aspx.