Subsystem GPS receiver

GPS receiver

An either locally networked or serially connected GPS receiver is needed in order to automatically set up the precise position of the radar receivers and the airfield’s position respectively. Additionally this receiver could provide the world UTC time, yielding two main attributes supporting ease of operation. The GPS receiver should be collocated with the radar receivers - better: antennas - outside, because any airfield manager's workplace might have bad GPS reception in-house, and many portable presentation devices - laptop, e-reader - lack a GPS receiver.
In case, a stable internet connectivity might be expected, a local GPS receiver is not absolutely necessary. Instead, UTC could be derived from distant NTP servers. The coordinates of the actual place of operation could be specified manually. As XCSoar needs a GPS position for most of its functionality, the subsystem Virtual Flight Radar Backend - VFR-B - will provide a NMEA/GPS fake feed containing the minimum recommended GPS data.
For gaining full autonomous, local operation, a GPS receiver is a must.