How Do Satellites Communicate with a GPS System? A Look at the GPS Antenna

Antennas are the links of GPS.

In this article, we'll go over the three segments of a working GPS antenna:

In addition, there's control of the satellite constellation itself, providing uninterrupted, continuous GPS coverage.

Antennas have always been part of satellites to transmit tracking signals since visual tracking is of limited usefulness. It took decades to reach the current GPS constellation now in orbit. Each generation (block) of satellites brought expanded functionality and improvements in antenna design.

Block I satellites launched between 1978 and 1985, transmitting L1 and L2 signals. They had eight separately located antennas: two L-band antennas for the GPS signal, four S-band antennas to handle TTC data between the satellite and ground stations, and two UHF antennas to allow communication between the satellite vehicles (SVs).

Block II launched between 1989 and 1997. Each group of SVs within Block II (IIA, IIR, IIR-M, and IIF) carried additional functionality. Block II SVs use multi-element arrays for the L-band signals.

The current 12-element array antenna is arranged in two concentric rings with eight elements in the outer ring and four in the inner ring. The spiral-wound helical antennas provide full earth coverage and generate right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) signals. S-band antennas handle TTC signals, and UHF antennas allow for SV intercommunication.

The initial Block III satellites are scheduled for launch in late 2018 and will include a 4th civilian signal on L1 (L1C). With the launch of Block III SVs, a spot beam antenna will be included in addition to the full earth antenna array.

The current GPS constellation is made up of 31 Block II satellites, a mix of IIR, IIR-M, and IIF. The PNT signal transmitted by each is a combination of the L-band carrier, data, its unique space vehicle number, and pseudorandom noise number (PRN) ranging code for the direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modulation.

The Operational Control System (OCS) is responsible for providing control for the GPS system. It tracks orbits, synchronizes timing, and uploads data messages.

Subsystems include the AEP (Architecture Evolution Plan) which commands and controls the operational GPS satellite constellation and the LADO (Launch/early orbit, Anomaly resolution, and Disposal Operations) system which handles non-operational satellites. The OCS consists of a Master Control Station (MCS) at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado, a backup MCS, dedicated ground antennas and monitor stations.

GPS receivers on the monitor stations passively track the navigation signals on all SVs. The MCS receives the data from the monitor stations, processes it, and sends updated navigation information to the SVs through the ground antennas using an S-band signal. The ground antennas are also used to transmit commands and receive state-of-health data (telemetry).

The frequencies used are:

There are four dedicated GPS ground antennas located at Cape Canaveral, Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, and Kwajalein Atoll. In addition to these, the control segment is augmented by ground stations around the world, including those of the US Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA).

For Block III satellites, a new control segment is required. The OSC is scheduled to be replaced by the Next Generation Operational Control System (OSX), with initial hardware currently being verified.

The user segment consists of all the civilian, commercial, and military GPS receivers, each equipped with internal or external antennas designed to capture the PNT signals sent from multiple SVs. GPS antennas translate the high-frequency, RHCP, spread-spectrum signal to an intermediate frequency. The antennas need a fairly small bandwidth, though receivers designed to pick up signals from other positioning systems, like GLONASS or Galileo, have extended frequency requirements. Clear sky access is needed for the best reception.

For any GPS-enabled device, whether a mobile phone, vehicle, farm equipment, life monitoring system or wearable, an antenna is required. Some people argue the antenna is the most important part of the receiver. Once received and translated, the signals in electrical form are sent for further processing... to a mapping program, tracking application or used for timing.

The availability of GPS on multiple devices has relied on the development of the microstrip antenna, manufactured as part of a printed circuit board (PCB), and the extended GPS technology developed by SnapTrack (now part of Google), meshing GPS data with wireless networks.

By integrating GPS signals with those received from sources like wireless networks and ground/satellite-based augmentation systems, GPS data becomes accurate enough to locate mobile phones for 911 use and to help pilots safely land aircraft. To use these augmentation systems, receivers must include the extra antennas and processing software for integration with GPS.

Two types of antenna have become popular in GPS receivers, the patch antenna and the quadrifilar helix (quad helix).

The name 'patch' antenna is derived from how it is constructed—a patch of metal on a ceramic substrate with feed lines. Patch antennas were initially external antennas as shown in Figure 7a, available in 5" and 2" sizes.

Patch antennas, which function as a resonating cavity, are now manufactured as microstrip antennas. Microstrips are lightweight, low-cost, and integrated into a PCB; small enough to be designed into receivers, they offer a stable and repeatable phase center and excellent single-frequency characteristics.

The other antenna design is a quadrifilar helix (quad helix). These antennas are rectangular and composed of four helices with 1/4 or 1/2 turn phases. They are usually external to the receiver and may be able to be used as a remote antenna (i.e., an antenna that is physically separated from the receiver and connected to it by a cable).

The two antennas differ in how they are oriented. Patch antennas work best held horizontally; quad helix antennas work best held vertically. Both provide omnidirectional gain.

Antennas can be passive or active. Passive antennas do not provide additional signal processing to the received signal; they use less power and have a limited cable length. Active antennas amplify the GPS signal before sending it to the receiver to compensate for signal loss in cables. Most contain a low noise amplifier (LNA), possibly a filter and line driver. Active antennas usually improve the time needed for a lock. Both are available as microstrip antennas (along with additional circuitry, in the case of active antennas).

For environments where obtaining a GPS signal may be difficult, reradiating antennas are sometimes used. Consisting of a power supply, active antenna.