AIM+ Anti-Jamming Protection

How to combat radio frequency GPS / GNSS interference known as jamming?

Illegal jamming devices such as chirp jammer can interfere with GNSS signals and cause major havoc
Illegal jamming devices such as chirp jammers can knock out GNSS signals within hundreds of metres

One of the central pillars ensuring reliability of Septentrio GPS/GNSS receivers is the AIM+ technology. This Advanced Interference Monitoring and Mitigation patented technology is built into each one of our receivers, offering resistance against radio interference as well as security against intentional GNSS jamming and spoofing.

GNSS Interference occurs when inherently low-powered GNSS signals are overpowered by other radio signals on the same frequency. This can happen in situations where GNSS receivers are close to other electronic devices (read also the Jam proofing drones and self interference insight), radio antennas or modems. Radio amateurs sending out radio signals in the area can unintentionally cause GNSS interference. Interference can reduce positioning accuracy or cause receivers to lose RTK or even PVT (Position, Velocity, Time) all together.

On rare occasions interference is crated intentionally to disrupt operation of unprotected GPS receivers. Illegal jamming devices can be used to knock out GPS receivers within 100s of meters radius.

 

Chirp jammer interferes with GNSS signals in a 400m radius. Left images: without AIM+  Right image: with AIM+ on
Chirp jammer interferes with GNSS signals in a 400m radius. Left images: without AIM+  Right image: with AIM+ on

GPS / GNSS jamming devices

Jamming devices are sometimes used by truck drivers to avoid road tolling. Such a (GPS) jammer device will disable the GPS unit on the truck, but will also affect other GPS devices in the vicinity. These jammers are available for purchase online for an increasingly affordable price. 

What is GPS/GNSS spoofing?

Spoofing is a "smart" form of GPS interference. During a spoofing attack, the GPS receiver reports wrong positioning because it has received GNSS signals with intentionally incorrect positioning information sent by a 3rd party. Find out more about spoofing and how to combat it. 

Watch the video below to find out more about jamming how AIM+ anti-jamming technology protects applications such as drones. 

AIM+ Anti-Jamming technology protects applications such as drones, against GNSS interference.

Using AIM+ to detect and mitigate GNSS RF interference 

AIM+ technology detects and neutralizes interference resulting in faster set-up, reduced downtime and secure operation. AIM+ protects against simple narrow-band interference as well as more complex wide-band interference, including jamming and spoofing. Your receiver’s web interface allows you to analyze interference with the spectral plot, to be able to determine the type of interference and its possible source. AIM+ can't even be spoofed by an advanced GNSS signal generator: Spirent GSS9000. With realistic power levels and with actual navigation data within the signal, AIM+ can identify it as a “non-authentic” signal.

Narrow-band GNSS/ GPS interference can be caused by electronic devices and effects only a small portion of the GNSS frequency spectrum. To mitigate the effects of narrow-band interference, 3 notch filters can be configured either in auto or manual mode. These notch filters effectively remove a narrow part of the RF spectrum around the interfering signal. The L2 band, being open for use by radio amateurs, is particularly vulnerable to this type of interference. The effects of wideband interference, both intentional and unintentional, can be mitigated by enabling the WBI mitigation system. The WBI system also reduces, more effectively than traditionally used pulse-blanking methods, the effects of pulsed interferers.

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The power spectrum plot

In the Spectrum window of the GNSS menu, you can monitor the RF spectrum and configure three separate notch filters to cancel out narrowband interference. The figure below shows the L2 frequency band with the GPS L2P signal at 1227.60 MHz indicated. Different bands can be viewed by clicking on the ‘Show table’ button as shown. The spectrum is computed from baseband samples taken at the output of the receiver’s analog to digital converters.

 

Spectrum-analyzer-GPS-L2-Band-advanced-RF-interference-mitigation
The spectrum plot of the L2 Band shown in the Advanced RF Interference interface monitoring and mitigation software AIM+

 

GNSS RF Interference Mitigation by configuring the notch filters

In the default auto mode of the notch filters, the receiver performs automatic interference mitigation of the region of the spectrum affected by interference. In manual mode, as shown configured for Notch1 in the above figure, the region of affected spectrum is specified by a centre frequency and a bandwidth which is effectively blanked by the notch filter.

Notch-filter-to-mitigate-GPS-RF-interference
Configuring the first notch filter Notch1 at 1235 MHz - Advanced Interference Mitigation Software AIM+

 

With the Notch1 settings as shown above, the L2-band after the notch filter (After IM) is shown below with the blanked section clearly visible.

Spectrum-Plot-Notch-filter-to-mitigate-GPS-RF-interference-L2-Band
The spectrum plot for GPS L2 Band after applying the notch filter at 1235 MHz - Advanced Interference Mitigation (AIM+) in action.

 

Wideband interference mitigation

Wideband interference of GNSS signals can be caused unintentionally by military and civilian ranging and communication devices. There are also intentional sources of interference from devices such as chirp jammers. The wideband interference mitigation system (WBI) can reduce the effect of both types of interference on GNSS signals.

Configuring WBI mitigation

The wideband interference mitigation system can be enabled by selecting ‘on’ as shown below.

Wideband-RF-Interference-Mitigation-filter-to-combat-GNSS-RFI
Select ‘on’ to enable Wideband Interference Mitigation, then ‘OK’ to apply the new setting. 

 

WBI mitigation in action

The GPS L1 band interference shown in the below figure is produced by combining the GNSS antenna signal with the output from an in-car GPS chirp jammer.

GPS-wideband-RF-interference-chirp-jammer-without-advanced-mitigation-AIM
Simulated wideband interference in the GPS L1 band using an in-car chirp jammer

 

When WBI mitigation is enabled, the effect of the interference is dramatically reduced as below figure shows
 

GPS-wideband-RF-interference-chirp-jammer-with-advanced-mitigation-AIM
Enabling WBI Interference Mitigation greatly reduces the effect of the RF interference caused by the chirp jammer. AIM+ in action.

 

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