June 20, 2012

WAPS Modules Emulate GPS Signals

OEM small-cell developer Tektelic Communications unveiled its Wide Area Positioning System (WAPS) Radio Module, a custom-designed transceiver and power amplifier for use as a core component of NextNav’s terrestrial positioning beacon.

The WAPS system, which operates in the 900 MHz spectrum band, consists of multiple transmitters that broadcast GPS-like signals to mobile devices in places where satellite-based GPS offers poor resolution, including urban and indoor environments..

Here’s how it works: The module accepts digital transmit data from the NextNav digital board and outputs the radio signal necessary to broadcast positioning information. At the same time, it provides a low-noise receive path to receive RF signals from other nearby beacon transmitters and delivers this digital data back to the NextNav digital board.

“We selected Tektelic to deliver our radio technology since they possess the expertise and know-how required to address our very stringent nanosecond timing and spectral mask requirements,” explains Subbu Meiyappan, co-founder and vice president of hardware engineering at NextNav. “As an added benefit, Tektelic’s high-efficiency PA design also resulted in lower power consumption, higher transmit power, smaller size and reduced overall system cost. ”
 
The WAPS Radio Module works within an outdoor enclosure, where it is integrated with the digital and power supply modules that collectively comprise the WAPS beacon transmitter.