Predicting Performance of Direct Acquisition for the M-Code Signal

Abstract

This paper describes a matched filter acquisition algorithm referred to as the sideband correlation receiver. This algorithm provides an efficient approach for initial acquisition of the time of arrival (TOA) of the new military M code signal for GPS. A flowchart of the algorithm is given and analytical expressions are obtained for the probability of successful acquisition and mean time to acquire the signal. The results are illustrated for a number of cases of interest and verified by simulation.