Theoretical Analysis and Design Optimization for Multi-GNSS Direct Radio Frequency Sampling Receiver

Abstract: Recently, a considerable amount of research has been conducted on multiple GNSS receivers using the Direct RF sampling concept. This approach greatly reduces the hardware requirements of the traditional receiver by placing the analog-todigital converter as close as possible to the antenna, eliminating the mixer stages. Furthermore, directly sampling the RF signal using the ADC allows for a more efficient design. In this paper, a Multi-GNSS Direct Radio Frequency Sampling Method is designed, optimized, and its performance is presented for several GNSS signals, including GPS L1, GPS L2, and GPS L5. The implemented method is used to find the ranges of valid sampling frequencies in single and multiple band RF signal cases. The algorithm presented results in an easier way to find valid sampling frequencies and a straightforward implementation without the need for complicated mathematical calculations. We consider aliasing issues and computational problems, providing a full theoretical and practical analysis compared to previously presented algorithms in the literature. This paper also examines the relationship between the sampling frequency, noise folding, and its effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), thus allowing for the selection of the optimal sampling frequency.