Septentrio announces PolaRxS

State-of-the-art ultra low noise GNSS receiver designed for ionospheric scintillation monitoring

Leuven, Belgium – Septentrio announces PolaRxS, an ultra low noise multifrequency multi-constellation receiver dedicated to ionosphere monitoring and space weather applications.

Powered by Septentrio’s next generation multi-frequency receiver engine, PolaRxS offers 136 channels capable of tracking simultaneously GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and SBAS signals in L1, L2, L5 and E5ab/AltBOC bands. Coupled with a state-of-the-art Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO), the receiver provides an extensive set of specific measurements for ionosphere monitoring, including signal phase and intensity at up to 100 Hz, with a phase noise standard deviation (phi60) as low as 0.03 rad.

Proprietary LOCK+ tracking technology guarantees robust tracking of rapid signal dynamics such as encountered during high scintillation events, while the integrated interference analysis and mitigation module enables installation in difficult radio environments.

As with all Septentrio GNSS receivers, an intuitive Graphical User Interface – RxControl – is provided for data logging and remote control. Specifically for Space Weather and ionosphere monitoring applications, the logging tool is extended for continuous TEC and scintillation indices (ISMR) logging and monitoring.

The advanced user interface coupled with the receiver on-board internet connectivity enable the deployment of monitoring networks at minimal installation and maintenance cost, while its sturdy waterproof housing and low system power consumption (5W) make installation of autonomous stations possible in the most harsh environment.

“With the currently increasing solar activity heading to a max forecasted in 2013 combined with a reliance to SATCOM and GNSS technologies that have never been so high, ionosphere monitoring and space weather vigilance are becoming of crucial importance” said Peter Grognard, Managing Director of Septentrio. “PolaRxS, which has been developed in close collaboration with prominent members of the ionosphere science community, provides a long awaited, state-of-the-art tool to deploy most effective, low infrastructure-cost, multi-frequency ionosphere and space weather monitoring networks.”

Septentrio will start shipping PolaRxSTM in the last quarter of 2010.

Septentrio Satellite Navigation NV designs, manufactures, markets and supports high-end OEM GNSS receivers for demanding professional navigation, positioning and timing applications. Septentrio has an international team of experts in all areas of satellite navigation receiver design and applications. For more information about Septentrio, please visit our website at www.septentrio.com.