HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ANALYSIS OF PORTABLE AIR GNSS RECEIVERS

Abstract

Development of Global Positioning System (GPS) started as experimental military program during end of 1960-ies. Commercialisation of GPS started during 1990-ies and culminated with Governmental decision to turn off signal degradation for civilian (open) use. During mid 1980-ies Russia started her own GLONASS program, while EU, China and India developing own independent systems. Integration of all these systems within domain of their compatibility is called Global Navigation Satellite System – GNSS. Air navigation is area where GNSS is used very intensively. Portable air-navigation GNSS receivers are used to back-up and support main air navigation systems. Extensive usage shows that these devices and related support software applications are not quite fit to their purpose. This paper reveals some of deficiencies and limitations of portable GNSS receivers and related software applications, and offer solutions to those problems.