The primary intent for an interface between a software-based signal generator and a COTS signal generator is the increased flexibility and deeper levels of configurability that can be achieved in a COTS signal generation environment with the help of software modules similar to how software-defined modules in GNSS software receiver provide configurability for testing sophisticated algorithms and upgrades in signal definitions. The software-defined modules that enhance the capability of COTS signal generator here are chosen to be a software-based signal generator which derives highly precise and proven signal generation capabilities from the existing vector tracking architecture in an advanced software receiver MuSNAT (Multi-Sensor Navigation Analysis Tool). However, the signal generation is limited at the level of producing IF samples and requires translation to RF level to assist complete end to end receiver testing. On the other hand, COTS signal generators are devices that are proven to generate high quality RF signals under different test standards but still lack a deeper level of adaptability. A solution that bridges both the requirements of the software and COTS signal generators is the introduction of a file-based interface between a software signal generator capable of generating measurement-level signal samples and COTS signal generator. The RF signal generated through the file-based interface is investigated under different receiver dynamics and multipath conditions against a reference COTS signal generator and IF-level software signal generator.
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