GPS World

Tag: mission-critical

  • Locus Lock teams with General Dynamics on software-defined PNT for U.S. Army

    Locus Lock teams with General Dynamics on software-defined PNT for U.S. Army

    Locus Lock, a leader in software-defined GNSS technology for precise position, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions, has teamed up with General Dynamics Mission Systems to deliver software-defined precise PNT capabilities for the U.S. Army. 

    General Dynamics Mission Systems, a provider of mission-critical solutions to defense, intelligence, and cyber-security customers across all domains, brings extensive expertise in mission-critical systems integration to ensure seamless deployment across Army platforms.

    Locus Lock’s software-defined GNSS technology enables rapid deployment and procurement of advanced multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS capabilities, providing essential signal diversity in contested radiofrequency (RF) environments to advance the Army’s modernization objectives. 

    The collaboration with Locus Lock and General Dynamics enhances the resilience, precision and reliability of Army navigation systems operating in complex and contested environments. 

  • Portable Time-Loader ready for field deployment

    Portable Time-Loader ready for field deployment

    Image: Focus Telecom
    Image: Focus Telecom

    Focus Telecom has introduced a new timing product for defense and mission-critical applications, the Time-Loader.

    The Time-Loader can be deployed in environments where GNSS signals are denied or disrupted, to support any ground, naval and airborne system that needs real time of day (TOD) and 1PPS external synchronization aligned to UTC or GNSS.

    In this emerging era of rapid tactical deployment of defense systems, communications intelligence, missile defense systems, radar/electro-optical sensors and UAS batteries in the field are often in GNSS-denied or jammed environments. This situation creates challenges for access to real time and accurate time of day.

    To solve this problem, the Time-Loader generates a GPS L1 C/A code RF output as if the signal were coming from a live-sky GPS antenna. It provides full-constellation GPS output and is compatible with external GNSS receivers. It encodes times with nanosecond accuracy for GPS timing receivers.

    The Time-Loader’s GPS-disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) is the Microsemi MAC-SA53/55, which provides excellent UTC accuracy with outstanding hold-over rubidium clock performance.

    The Time-Loader is the size of a suitcase, hand-carried and easily deployed. It activates quickly from a cold start or when sensors are deployed for the first time.

    Included in the Time-Loader is a self-contained, miniature GPS simulator that provides real-time extremely accurate signals. The 18-channel full-constellation simulator stores location/time/date data in internal memory and stores complex vector data to simulate dynamic scenarios. The simulator also can be used to transcode NMEA or SCPI position/velocity/time (PVT) data into GPS RF signals.

    Learn more about the Time-Loader.

  • ViaLite distributed GPS systems chosen for NASDAQ

    ViaLite distributed GPS systems chosen for NASDAQ

    ViaLite has been asked to supply distributed GPS equipment for the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York for the first time.

    Photo: ViaLite
    Photo: ViaLite

    ViaLite’s Distributed GPS System is being used to feed mission-critical timing and synchronization signals over optical fiber to multiple S650 GPS referenced NTP time servers.

    Stock exchanges need to offer their clients the fastest possible trading speeds and, for this, their IT systems need to be provided with highly accurate timing signals, which can be obtained from GPS/GNSS satellite networks.

    The equipment Vialite supplied included GPS lossless distributed multi-port fiber-optic links, supplied in OEM format to meet NASDAQ’s requirements.

    “ViaLite was chosen for its performance attributes that are not readily available elsewhere in the RF over fiber market, as well as for its best in class quality, reliability and support,” said ViaLite director of sales, Craig Somach.

    For more information on RF over fiber for data centers, stock exchanges and more, visit www.vialite.com.

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/Eviart
    Photo: Shutterstock.com/Eviart

  • Timing in Mission-Critical Systems

    Broadcast Date: March 31, 2016
    On-Demand Available Until: March 31, 2017
    Sponsor: Microsemi
    Summary: You’ll hear from our expert speaker panel about real-life timing challenges in mission-critical applications, such as satellite and military communications, test ranges and radar; time transfer accuracy and stability via GPS or PTP; and what technologies to look for in your next-generation instrument class clock to cost-effectively deliver accurate and stable time and frequency signal types, signal output flexibility and robust security.
    Speakers: Paul Skoog, Microsemi Corporation; Scott Williams, G.L. Williams Associates; and James L. Wright, Range Generation Next