u-blox has announced an affordable approach to bringing centimeter-level accuracy to GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receivers. Its new NEO-D9S (https://www.u-blox.com/product/neo-d9s-module) GNSS correction data receiver module receives GNSS correction data from correction service providers broadcast on the L-band (at 1525 – 1559 MHz). A host processor can then decrypt this correction data and provide it to a high precision GNSS receiver, combining corrections directly with readings from the satellite constellations to enable much more accurate position readings than those offered by GNSS signals alone.
Use of the NEO-D9S will also increase the availability of high precision GNSS positioning data in areas with limited connectivity and reduce the amount of cellular data consumed by positioning receivers. Key customers are expected to include carmakers – Tier 1 and OEMs, industrial system integrators that offer position-correction services, and any other applications that rely upon very accurate positioning at low cost.
The NEO-D9S module is a correction-only receiver, based on the latest u-blox 9th generation (D9) platform. This means that it will integrate easily with the u-blox F9 RTK GNSS receivers from u-blox, or can be used as part of a modular product roadmap. The module also integrates a TCXO and SAW filter to ensure good RF sensitivity and resilience to interference from adjacent channels.
The module includes the algorithms necessary to decode satellite data broadcasts. It is configured to work initially with whichever correction service has been set as default, but can be configured for any L-band data broadcast. It stores its configuration settings in non-volatile memory.