Assisted-GPS Test Platform for Cellphones

Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions (RIWS) an Aeroflex company, says that it has added Assisted GPS (A-GPS) location based test capability to its suite of development and conformance test products. A result of an exclusive collaboration with Navigation Laboratories, supplier of high-end GPS support tools, RIWS is now able to offer a multi-standard location test capability.

Until now, the shortage of GPS test solutions and their failure to deliver the range of test capability required has almost certainly been a contributing factor in the delays of rolling out handsets that support location technology. Manufacturers can now comprehensively test location enabled handsets using RIWS' proven, industry leading test platforms across the range of technologies including CDMA, GSM, EGPRS, and UMTS. Existing users of RIWS' test platforms can take advantage of an easy upgrade route.

Donald Gunn, RIWS business manager commented, "The industry now has much needed and long overdue solutions for testing location technology on proven test platforms. There have been delays by all players in the test industry in addressing this need. It was important for RIWS to collaborate with a provider of the 'best technology', with a track record for delivering flexible and robust test solutions that mirrors our own. With Navigation Laboratories Inc. there is a synergy that will enable us to deliver test solutions that are future-proofed and will keep pace with evolving standards particularly for less mature markets such as GSM and UMTS. The capability is also available for users of our development as well as our conformance test platforms. We believe that we are the only supplier currently able to offer this range of solutions from a single source."

RIWS has integrated Navigation Laboratories' GPS constellation simulator with its own platforms. Navigation Laboratories GPS constellation simulator is one of the most powerful tools of its kind and has been widely used in military and automotive applications. It is able to simulate up to 14 satellites simultaneously, allows satellite parameters to be easily customized, simulates both C/A and P(Y) codes (the latest GPS satellite standard) and can be remotely controlled allowing its integration with RIWS test platforms by Ethernet.

Navigation Laboratories Inc., based in California, has been at the hub of location technology delivering GPS constellation simulators since 1990. Dr. Frank Bletzacker, President of NavLabs commented, "This agreement provides NavLabs with a tremendous opportunity to expand our GPS Simulation Capability into a wider market. We are very excited about being able to offer our test solutions and a real choice to developers of A-GPS capable handsets through this new partnership."

Posted to the site on 10th December 2003