A contractor on site was using a gps jammer that not only blocked his company vehicle’s fleet tracking system, it also took down the GBAS in the process. This discovery came after a two-year struggle by FAA and NJ Port Authority officials to determine why the new ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) – primarily used for augmenting aircraft takeoff and landing systems – was experiencing intermittent failures. The cause of these failures seemed impossible to identify until they received help from the FCC and specialized equipment. This incident, which occurred at the Newark Airport, highlights the potential consequences of using devices intended to evade tracking systems. In fact, in 2013, the Federal Communications Commission fined an individual almost $32k for using such a device in his company vehicle.
GPS jammers, often small devices plugged into a vehicle’s lighter port, emit radio signals that overshadow weaker ones like GPS. While illegal in the US, their online availability and the surge in fleet management tracking systems make them increasingly common. Don’t be fooled by their apparent harmlessness; these devices can cause significant harm. The Newark Airport incident illustrates this perfectly, where a mere $30 jammer disrupted a cutting-edge landing system at a major airport, unintentionally. Imagine the consequences if used with malicious intent. Moreover, GPS isn’t just for navigation; it’s crucial for timing and synchronization in vital infrastructures like finance, communications, industry, and the power grid.
Over the past few years, the Department of Homeland Security has launched an initiative to address the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructures heavily reliant on GPS for timing and synchronization. These systems, which require precise synchronization across their networks to function properly, are threatened by signal jammers that can disrupt GPS signals. When this happens, the underlying systems lose their ability to synchronize their internal clocks, leading to a loss of sync with the rest of the network. Even short-term GPS outages can have significant impacts on these sectors, as they demand synchronization within millionths of a second. What’s more, when an outage does occur, it’s often difficult to determine if it’s caused by jamming, highlighting the need for effective solutions to safeguard these vital systems.
Encountering GPS signal interference is becoming increasingly common, especially in warehousing districts or near major highways where datacenters housing critical servers are often located. These areas are prime spots for GPS jammers, causing legitimate signals to simply go unreceived. At Orolia, we’ve witnessed this firsthand and understand the urgency to address these threats. To that end, we’ve developed solutions tailored for our customers’ protection. Among them is BroadShield, released late last year. Utilizing advanced algorithms, it analyzes the RF signal received by GPS receivers to identify any abnormalities, including jamming or spoofing attempts. Furthermore, we’ve recently introduced a new anti-jamming (AJ) antenna designed to mitigate interference. By attenuating or blocking RF signals originating near the horizon, where false signals typically emanate, the AJ antenna ensures that only true signals from satellites near the zenith are received.
Looking for an effective way to protect your critical networks from GPS jamming? Consider the AJ antenna. This drop-in replacement for traditional GPS antennas offers superior protection against fleet management tracking evasion attempts, whether in cars, trucks, or on the ground. Its unique design blocks RF signals coming from below, ensuring uninterrupted GPS connectivity. Plus, it’s easy to deploy, requiring no special power, mounting, or placement considerations beyond standard antenna needs. We’ve tested it with customers experiencing GPS outages due to jamming and recorded remarkable results. Stay tuned for more insights from John Fischer on our blog.
What Is a Selective GPS Jammer?
The GPS Jammer Test Instrumentation (GPS JTI) revolutionizes open-air GPS jamming tests by offering precision targeting of specific GPS-dependent systems while leaving untargeted receivers unaffected. Its unique capabilities support a wide range of electronic warfare exercises and scenarios, providing insights into various experiment approaches against GPS-reliant technologies. Thanks to its proven performance, the GPS JTI serves as a benchmark for evaluating future GPS jamming test equipment requirements and showcasing advanced techniques and technologies for such critical exercises.
Scientific Research Corporation provides comprehensive engineering, testing, and management support for the development, integration, and testing of the GPS JTI. This advanced system accommodates an instantaneous dynamic range of 100 dB, ensuring flexibility through digital attenuator and synthesizer controls, as well as replaceable electronically programmable read-only memory units. By utilizing a control signal transmitter, we extend the programmable and reconfigurable approaches to the transmitting test asset, enhancing overall functionality and adaptability. To achieve hardware architecture flexibility, Scientific Research Corporation has employed programmable and modular techniques, allowing for seamless integration and customization. Our expertise in these areas ensures that the GPS JTI meets the most demanding requirements while maintaining the highest levels of performance and reliability.
To meet the dynamic range demands of the simulation community, we’ve modeled and verified the automatic gain control circuitry through rigorous system acceptance tests. This ensures that our analog hardware preserves the integrity of simulations. Additionally, we’ve characterized the noise properties of the radio frequency frontend, considering AGC noise power spectral density inputs. This comprehensive approach allows us to deliver accurate dynamic range predictions and formulate precise specifications for the RF frontend’s noise performance, ultimately enhancing the reliability and performance of our simulations.