GPS World

Tag: RF over fiber

  • ViaLite GPS links ensure reliable emergency support

    ViaLite GPS links ensure reliable emergency support

    Photo: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty ImagesPhoto:
    Photo: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    Femtocell cellular base stations used by Global Medical Response (GMR) in their Dallas, Texas, offices are receiving high-accuracy GPS location and timing signals from RF-over-fiber links from ViaLite Communications.

    The GPS signals help GMR provide emergency quality medical care at a moment’s notice, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services in the United States and around the world.

    The Local Integrated GPS Splitter. (Photo: ViaLite)
    The Local Integrated GPS Splitter. (Photo: ViaLite)

    The highly reliable system consists of a ViaLite GPS Link that sends the GPS and timing signals from the rooftop antenna down an optical fiber to a Local Integrated GPS splitter situated in the building. The splitter then distributes the timing data to multiple femtocells.

    “The efficiency of ViaLite’s signal distribution techniques is second to none, and in this emergency support application, when action at a moment’s notice can be vital, our equipment’s reliability and performance are crucial,” explained Craig Somach, ViaLite sales director.

    A monitoring and control module is built into the GPS splitter. (Photo: ViaLite)
    A monitoring and control module is built into the GPS splitter. (Photo: ViaLite)

    Use of the high-tech splitter, which features a built-in monitoring and control module, also eliminates the need to install multiple antennas on the rooftop, avoiding the appearance of an antenna farm.

    “As a first-time customer, we found the deployment was as smooth and simple as ViaLite had promised,” said Dan Cottom, senior manager of communication systems at GMR. “The GPS distribution is working great.”

  • ViaLite adds resilience to critical GPS timing services

    ViaLite adds resilience to critical GPS timing services

    Diagram: ViaLite
    Diagram: ViaLite

    ViaLite’s RF-over-fiber systems can carry GPS/GNSS timing signals over long distances with very low signal degradation. However, the same cannot be said of GPS signals before they reach the GPS/GNSS antenna, as these weak radio waves are highly susceptible to jamming or spoofing.

    Timing-critical infrastructures in areas such as defense and cyber security can now be protected from this kind of attack by installing one of ViaLite’s new GPS Protection Packages. The packages integrate either the GPS Resilient Kit or OtoSphere Protection Module products from Focus Telecom for jamming protection.

    The GPS Resilient Kit has two GPS antennas, which enables the direction of the attack to be pinpointed. At its heart is the small OtoSphere Protection Module, which has a unique interference filtering algorithm that combines the patterns from the two omnidirectional antennas.

    The module can analyze the direction from which the interference is coming and feed it into its algorithm, directing a null towards the unwanted signal to reject and reduce disruptions.

    Using OtoSphere, GPS receivers are up to 50 times more resilient to jamming attacks on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems compared with having no protection. The GPS receiver is able to continue working normally throughout the attack.

    “ViaLite customers typically need the highest grade of reliability and service, particularly for critical infrastructure timing applications,” said Richard Jacklin, ViaLite sales director. “With the increase in jamming threats, both land-based and maritime, these Focus Telecom anti-jamming products are a perfect complement to our range of GPS/GNSS signal distribution solutions.”

    The Protection Packages can be integrated into new installations or retrofitted to existing ViaLite systems. The GPS Resilient Kit and OtoSphere are already IP-rated, so they can be simply added to outdoor installations. Alternatively, for a full package solution, the OtoSphere module can be integrated into the ViaLite ODE-MINI outdoor enclosure.

    The packages are suitable for use in critical infrastructure sectors such as defense, satcoms, utilities, cellular communications, broadcast, data centers and transportation.

    Other Focus Telecom products, introduced by ViaLite, include the GPSensor for monitoring GPS frequencies and reporting intentional and unintentional attacks, and the GPS RF Switch which protects PNT systems from vulnerabilities by isolating them from the RF signals coming from the antenna.

  • 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