In future, most receivers will be Multi-GNSS, many also using augmentation as a key aspect of the navigation or positioning solution. Multi-frequency GNSS will increasingly be used to support applications requiring sub-metre accuracy.

Navigation and positioning technology is no longer just about GPS L1 C/A code. GPS is being modernized, the GLONASS constellation is nearly complete, new systems including QZSS, Galileo and Compass are on the way.
These Multi-GNSS offer significant opportunities and challenges to GNSS technology, system and application developers as using satellites from more than one constellation brings special challenges and design choices for receiver design and evaluation.

GNSS is the standard generic term for satellite navigation systems that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage e.g. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and COMPASS.

Currently, the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS. The Russian GLONASS is a GNSS in the process of being restored to full operation. China has indicated it will expand its regional Beidou navigation system into the global COMPASS navigation system by 2015. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is a GNSS in initial deployment phase, planned to be operational in 2015.

Spirent understands the issues that developers face, as an official provider of test systems which supported the development and in-orbit validation of the Galileo project. Spirent also recognises that GNSS developers and integrators require robust and scaleable solutions as navigation and positioning applications become more complex and widespread and end user demands increase.

With additional signals from those GNSS and augmentation systems such as EGNOS, WAAS and the soon to be GAGAN and QZSS systems the range of signals available to those developing GNSS technology has also increased and Spirent is responding to this increase in signals by providing test solutions to meet those needs.

The use of a GPS, Galileo, GLONASS or SBAS simulator enables controlled, repeatable performance testing at nominal and extreme or error state conditions. Only using an RF simulator is it possible to characterise fully, receiver performance in all conditions. By integrating a simulator with other equipment it is possible to realistically test and optimize application performance and experiment with new technology areas.

If you're not working on Multi-GNSS yet, you probably will be soon. Spirent offers a wide range of test systems and capabilities to meet your Multi-GNSS test needs, whether you are undertaking R&D performance testing or assessing manufacture of Multi-GNSS devices. Spirent's Multi-GNSS test systems are available now and GPS/SBAS, GLONASS, Galileo & QZSS are all supported today.