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 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)
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’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 GPS Link: Blue OEM module and rack chassis card hardware formats shown. (Photos: ViaLite)
ViaLite is supplying Raytheon Technologies with its GPS over Fiber Extension Kit for Microchip GPS servers. The kit provides mission-critical GPS timing and synchronization for systems requiring extremely accurate clock signals.
Standard transmission distances for the extension kit can be up to 10 km, while solutions are available for distances as long as 50 km.
“The ViaLite kit was chosen for its unique performance with Microsemi’s S650 timing server, along with our best-in-class quality, reliability and support,” said Craig Somach, ViaLite director of Sales North America.
The ViaLite GPS link is designed to provide a remote GPS/GNSS signal or derived timing reference to equipment located where no signal is available, such as inside buildings or tunnels. By using optical fiber instead of traditional coaxial cable, extreme distances are possible with no radio frequency loss and zero introduction of noise.
ViaLite has been asked to supply distributed GPS equipment for the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York for the first time.
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.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the October 2019 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
Multi-GNSS receiver
Refined in the Galileo Online project for rail applications
Photo: TeleOrbit
The multi-GNSS receiver GOOSE, distributed by TeleOrbit GmbH and developed by Fraunhofer IIS, is now available in a new housing. GOOSE now also includes the new OS-NMA beta standard, available by the end of 2019, which was integrated within the research project PRoPART. GOOSE is a flexible, professional GNSS receiver development platform with an open software interface, which can be adapted to a variety of applications and application-specific correction services. The flexible development platform offers multi-system and multi-signal real-time processing; integrated antenna receiver combination (smart antenna); guaranteed stable phase center for all GNSS frequencies; and deployment in commercial PC or as an embedded platform. It allows deep coupling and vector tracking in real time; access to correlation values; and record and replay of IF samples. It also offers access to SBAS data including upcoming augmentation systems and differential augmentation systems. The platform has been refined in the Galileo Online project for specific usage in rail applications. It has also been further upgraded as a robust and reliable Galileo position sensor for autonomous truck applications.
Low-noise performance for high dynamic applications
Photo: Gladiator Technologies
The LandMark 007 inertial measurement unit (IMU) combines low noise, high range sensors and Velox high-speed output in a rugged package measuring 0.7 inches square. With rate ranges up to 2000°/s and acceleration ranges as high as 200 g, the LandMark 007 IMU provides demanding, precision performance for a range of high dynamic, rugged applications. High-speed output data rates (up to 10 kHz) for measurement accuracy and flexibility are complemented by low-noise gyros and accelerometers. A development kit is available.
The QZSS L6 decoder module TAU-1303 supports tracking QZSS signals L6D (CLAS) and L6E (MADOCA). It can decode corrections data broadcast from L6D and L6E signals, and assist developers in applying the centimeter-level accuracy by PPP-RTK algorithm with the correction data. Within its 7.6 × 7.6-millimeter size, the module provides six channels to support tracking L6D and L6E at the same time. CLAS on L6D channel corrects satellite clock, orbit, code bias, phase bias ionosphere delay and tropospheric delay. MADOCA on L6E channel corrects satellite clock, orbit, code bias and phase bias. The TAU-1303 offers superior performance through an on-board 26-MHz temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) and a reduced time to first fix because of its dedicated 32-KHz real-time clock oscillator. Based on 40-nanometer manufacturing processes of the Cynosure III GNSS chipset, the TAU-1303 has very low power consumption of less than 40 mA at 3.3V.
ViaLite’s new Local Integrated GPS Splitter was designed to minimize rack space. The unit provides a fan-out of GPS/GNSS signals within a local area, can accept optical inputs from up to four antennas, and has a 1000-1800-MHz frequency range. Though it has a height of only one rack unit, the system is useful for feeding timing and synchronization signals to single or multiple floors or rooms through eight to 32 optical fiber links with no system loss. It includes built-in simple network management protocol (SNMP) control as well as dual-redundant power supply units. Built for data centers, banking institutions, scientific research establishments, cellular test environments, fixed satcom stations, oil and gas platforms, and big data.
Pointfuse point-cloud processing software converts the millions of individual measurements captured by laser scanning and photogrammetry into 3D mesh models.The latest release features streamlined classification to ensure maximum efficiency and multicore processing for unlimited conversion power. The ability to classify objects and compare as-built objects with the design enables more accurate clash detection, reducing the number of false clashes being flagged. Intelligently optimized mesh models reduce the working data size by a factor of up to 100, making them easy to share with online 3D collaboration platforms, such as BIM 360, 3D Repo, Revitzo and Trimble Connect.
FieldGenius for Android, version 1.0, is multi-platform data-collection software built on Android OS. The brand-neutral data-collection software supports most popular GNSS sensors on the market. Features include dynamic data panels synchronized with map views, intuitive interface, simplified workflows and readily available data that surveyors require to make informed decisions in the field. Early adopters receive additional benefits and participate in the newly created MicroSurvey Technology Innovation Group.
The SP20 handheld GNSS receiver offers innovative camera-enabled centimeter-accurate logging in an everyday GIS and survey tool. Rugged, lightweight and versatile, the SP20 delivers high-end performance. It is an easy-to-use tool that delivers accuracy from meter to centimeter, depending on the job. Android-based, it is useful for cadastral, construction or topographic surveys; a range of GIS jobs from data collection to inspection and maintenance; and non-traditional geospatial professionals. The 5.3-inch screen displays the new workflow using a camera to ensure 2D centimeter accuracy handheld and 3D centimeter accuracy with monopole setup.
TerraFlex users can now synchronize data directly to their on-premise Esri geographic information system without cloud services. The new software workflow — called offline data transfer — is possible through the integration of Trimble TerraFlex and the Trimble Positions Desktop add-in for Esri ArcGIS Desktop. TerraFlex is a field solution that enables mobile workers to easily collect, manage and edit their geospatial feature data. The new workflow provides an alternative to using Trimble cloud services for storing and transferring GIS feature data collected with the TerraFlex platform. In addition, TerraFlex field data collected via this workflow using a Trimble GNSS receiver can be post-processed directly inside the Trimble Positions Desktop add-in for improved positional accuracy. The mobile apps are available in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store.The Trimble Positions Desktop add-in is available through the Trimble Geospatial distribution channel.
The Geode GNS2 sub-meter GPS receiver features connectivity with a range of iPhone and iPad devices, made possible by the Geode’s new MFi certification. Features of the Geode GNS2 include an IP-68 rating to withstand harsh environments, all-day battery life, multiple correction sources for precise real-time data, and an open interface that works with a wide range of Windows, Android, iPhone, and iPad devices as well as Juniper Systems’ handhelds.
ViaLite’s new Local Integrated GPS Splitter was designed to minimize rack space. Suitable to applications requiring a fan-out of GPS/GNSS signals within a single local area, the unit can accept optical inputs from up to four antennas.
Though it has a height of only one rack unit, the system is suitable for feeding timing and synchronization signals to single or multiple floors or rooms through 8 to 32 optical fiber links with no system loss.
Available with 1×8, 2×8, 4×8, 1×16 and 2×16 options, the easy-to-install GPS Splitter has a 1000-1800-MHz frequency range. Built-in simple network management protocol (SNMP) control is included as well as dual-redundant power supply units.
Typical application areas include data centers, banking institutions, scientific research establishments, cellular test environments, fixed satcom Earth stations and teleports, oil and gas platforms, and big data.
“Our new GPS Splitter was developed in response to customer demand across a wide range of sectors,” said ViaLite Product Manager John Golding. “We are pleased to have been able to meet their needs by providing a very high-quality product at a reasonable cost.”
ViaLiteHD Blue OEM module, one of the available formats for the GPS RF over fiber link. (Photo: ViaLink)
Carrying timing signals over optical fiber links to 10+ km, ViaLite’s new GNSS/GPS Fiber Extension Kit has been successfully qualified for use with Microsemi’s timing and synchronization products.
Included in the kit is the ViaLiteHD GPS Link, which is designed for providing a remote GNSS/GPS signal or derived timing reference to equipment located where there is no reception, such as inside buildings, tunnels and mines.
ViaLite designs and manufactures RF over fiber links/systems, support modules, rack chassis and outdoor enclosures. It is a division of Pulse Power & Measurement.
The kit is suitable for GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou bands, and the links provide a wide dynamic range with negligible signal degradation from noise or interference.
ViaLite worked closely with Microsemi engineering and product management teams to create the optimized extension kit. Simple single-link extensions are available from both Microsemi and ViaLite, and more complex distributed systems can be defined and supplied by ViaLite.
“We are honored to have been selected by Microsemi as a global supplier for GNSS fiber-optic link equipment,” said ViaLite director of sales Craig Somach.
Microsemi provides synchronization services that assist customers with the planning, deployment and maintenance of synchronization infrastructure.
Their systems need to meet various levels of redundancy, provide multiple timing and frequency outputs, and apply the most accurate GNSS and satcom techniques for measuring offsets between geographically dispersed clocks.
The systems are employed across a wide range of industries, including communications, data centers, aerospace, defense, industrial, financial services, government, oil and gas, power and transportation.
