Analysis of Non Ambiguous BOC Signal Acquisition Performance

Abstract

The Binary Offset Carrier planned for future GNSS signals, including several GALILEO signals as well as GPS M-code, presents a high degree of spectral separation from conventional signals. It also greatly improves positioning accuracy and enhances multipath rejection. However, with such a modulation, the acquisition process is made more complex. Specific techniques must be employed in order to avoid unacceptable errors. This paper assesses the performance of three methods allowing to acquire and track a BOC signal unambiguously : the Bump-Jumping technique, the ”BPSK-like” technique, and the Sub Carrier Phase Cancellation (SCPC) technique. A detailed study of these methods is developed taking into accounts the filtering effects. In order to validate the theoretical results, intensive simulations have been carried out and performance of BOC signal acquisition for the different methods have been assessed and compared with initial theoretical analysis.