GNSS mode

nRF9161 Hardware Verification Guidelines

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) testing is essential on the product level since the GNSS RF front-end design, including Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) and filtering, is the integrator's responsibility.

The following table shows recommended test cases for conducted GNSS signaling mode. The expected results include the contribution of external GNSS LNA.

Table 1. RF performance tests for conducted GNSS signaling mode
Mode Test item Test spec./ ID Band/ Channel Temp/ Voltage Signaling parameters Expected result Note
GNSS RX GNSS sensitivity / CN0 (SNR) NA GNSS TYP/TYP GNSS in receive mode

GNSS signal level −135 dBm

CN0>34 dB1 ARB signal generator can be used for GNSS signal. The GNSS CN0 data can be recorded from Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) trace information. For details on CN0 data tracing, see nRF Connect SDK code examples.
Adjacent frequency band selectivity ETSI EN 303 413 v1.1.1 GNSS in receive mode

GNSS signal level −128.5 dBm

1 satellite min

CN0 degradation <1 dB (vs. without blocker) Requires GNSS and blocker signal (AWGN) generators.
Spurious emissions GNSS in receive mode Below emissions limit Limit:

30 MHz…1 GHz: –57 dBm/100 kHz

1 GHz…8.3 GHz: –47 dBm/1 MHz

Receiver blocking tests verify the GNSS filtering's compliance against GNSS blocking requirements in ETSI EN 303 413 V1.1.1.

1 Assuming that an external LNA is used. The external LNA's Noise Factor (NF) is less than 2 dB, and minimum gain is 15 dB.