Superior utility for certification and maintenance of ADS-B equipment, Air System monitoring, and RF environment simulation

Description

Forward looking concepts in Air Traffic Management, including the desire to implement aircraft free flight, depend upon a new set of GPS enabled technologies, such as ADS-B. Performance verification of these new technologies necessitates a new generation of sophisticated maintenance and certification test tools.

To meet this need, Freestate Electronics has developed the 1090 MHz ADS-B Test Set and the ADS-B Test System.  These provide the test functions necessary to verify performance to the latest ICAO requirements and standards.

Operation

ADS-B functions are controlled by use of a laptop PC loaded with FSE virtual instrument software.

The characteristics of each RF transmission are precisely controlled by digital signals from the Process Control and Communication module.

The scenario generator describes all aspects of each transmission event and allows quick review and editing of scenario configuration files.

The two independent Reply Generator channels enable intricate event timing, including coincident pulsed RF transmissions.

Up to three ADS-B systems may be synchronized to maximize signal generation capability and test versatility.

Construction

The ADS-B electronics are housed in seven RF shielded VXI plug-in modules mounted in a standard 7-inch high, 19-inch wide, rackmount chassis.

ADS-B Test Set Characteristics

Operating Modes

CW, Pulsed RF - Fruit Generation, Squitter Generation, Static Data, Special Test Signals, Scenario Playback

Signal Simulation Types

ATCRBS Fruit; static ATCRBS (static data content, X bit, SPI bit);
Mode S Fruit (DF=16, 17, 18, 20, 21, or 24);
Mode S Squitter (DF=17, random data);
static Mode S (static data DF=4, 5, 11, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, or 24);
Mode S error correction verification and missing preamble signals

User Controlled Signal Parameters

Pulse Width; Pulse Timing; ATCRBS Data Content; Mode S Data Content; Squitter Error Correction Verification Signals; Missing Preamble Pulse; Squitter Data Content, Dropped Data Bits, Random Data, Random Trigger, Output Level

Scenario Generation

Up to 6,000 user programmable (pulse, ATCRBS, or Mode S) events per RF Channel; event resolution is 25 n Sec

Fruit Generation

Random Data and Random Timing (synchronized to squitter); or Fixed Data and Fixed Timing

Data Logging

Records up to 500 events/second continuous, burst capture up to 6,000 events; Time Tag resolution is 1 μ Second

Signal Generator RF Outputs
(1080 MHz to 1100 MHz in 200 kHz Increments)

Two Independent, Non-Coherent, Signal Sources
(Combined internal to the Test Set)

RF Level Control

-95 dBm to 0 dBm, 0.5 dB increments; plus 0.1 dB fine level control (independent control for each signal source)

Absolute Output Level Accuracy

+/- 0.5 dB maximum, +/- 0.2 dB typical

Test Outputs

1090 MHz - Output Channel A or B
70 MHz - IF Signal
1020 MHz - Upconverter LO
TTL - Generator Derived RF Modulation and Triggers
Data Logging - Record of all Fruit and Squitter signals (data logging on OCS PC)

Test Input

ADS-B Transmitter Test Port
(RF in @ +20 dBm to +47 dBm, +50 dBm absolute maximum)

Control Interfaces

IEEE-488 and RS-232

This data sheet is available as a PDF file.

6530 Commerce Court
Warrenton, VA 20187

e-mail: info@fse-inc.com
Web Site: www.fse-inc.com

Tel 540-349-4727
Fax 540-349-4740