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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsStart with the GNSS receiver, not the device’s brand name. Find the receiver or chipset model, confirm that it supports the L1 or L5 band, check its current firmware, and obtain model-and-firmware confirmation from the manufacturer or Xona. Xona lists receivers using L1 or L5 as the first compatibility category for Pulsar, but that criterion alone does not prove that a particular phone, vehicle system, survey instrument, or embedded product is integrated.
Pulsar Verified is useful evidence, not a compulsory gate. Xona says verification is not required to receive or use Pulsar signals. A compatible receiver may still need firmware or integration work, and hardware capability is separate from whether Pulsar service is available at your location today.
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The five checks that determine whether a device is a realistic Pulsar candidate
- Identify the GNSS receiver or chipset. Record the exact part number and, if possible, the board or device revision.
- Check band support. Xona’s Pulsar compatibility description names GNSS receivers using L1 or L5. Treat this as an initial screen, not a model-level approval.
- Record firmware. Note the receiver firmware version and ask whether Pulsar support is implemented in that release.
- Seek exact-device confirmation. Ask the manufacturer or Xona to confirm the receiver, firmware, antenna and intended use together.
- Check service availability separately. A receiver can be technically capable even when the required Pulsar signal or constellation coverage is not yet available where you operate.
If any of these five items is unknown, the honest result is unconfirmed, not compatible or incompatible.
Step 1: Find the GNSS receiver inside the device
The product name on a box or in an app is usually not enough. Pulsar processing happens in the GNSS receiver, its firmware and the surrounding integration. Two products with the same outward function can use different receiver modules, and a later hardware revision can change the chipset without changing the marketing name.
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- WAAS GPS receiver
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Where to look
- Technical specifications: Look for entries labelled GNSS module, positioning engine, navigation chipset, receiver, or satellite-tracking IC. Capture the exact manufacturer and part number.
- Service documentation: A hardware-maintenance manual, engineering drawing or board bill of materials may identify a module that the consumer specification omits.
- Device settings: Some industrial controllers and professional receivers expose the module and firmware under a diagnostics, positioning or system-information page. A general operating-system “About” screen may show only the host device and not the GNSS component.
- Vendor support: Give support the serial number, hardware revision, region and installed firmware. Ask them to identify the GNSS receiver rather than merely confirming that the product has GPS.
Record the antenna arrangement as well. An L1/L5-capable receiver connected to an antenna, filter or front end that cannot pass the relevant signals may not deliver the expected result. The receiver model remains the first technical identifier, but the complete signal path matters when a manufacturer performs a confirmation.
Do not confuse GNSS, GPS and a positioning app
GPS is one satellite-navigation constellation. GNSS is the broader category that can include several constellations and frequency bands. A device advertising “GPS,” “multi-GNSS” or a map application does not, by that wording alone, establish Pulsar support. Ask which receiver is installed and which signals its firmware can ingest.
Step 2: Use L1 or L5 support as an eligibility screen
Xona’s Pulsar product information lists GNSS receivers using L1 or L5 under device compatibility. That is the most useful first filter when you have an existing device. Check the receiver’s datasheet or a manufacturer response for explicit L1 or L5 support.
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|---|---|---|
| Receiver explicitly supports L1 | The receiver is in the band category Xona identifies for the initial Pulsar screen. | It does not prove that this model’s firmware is configured for Pulsar or that the antenna and host integration are suitable. |
| Receiver explicitly supports L5 | The receiver is also in the band category Xona identifies for the initial screen. | It does not prove model-level compatibility, service availability or verification status. |
| “GPS” or “multi-GNSS” with no band listed | There is not enough information to make the screen pass. | Do not infer L1/L5 support from the marketing label. |
| Band support listed only for a different hardware revision | The evidence applies to that revision, not automatically to yours. | Request confirmation for your exact part and revision. |
Do not treat L1/L5 as a performance ranking. A receiver that supports both bands is not automatically more Pulsar-ready than one that supports one; implementation, firmware and system integration determine the practical result. Likewise, an inexpensive generic L1/L5 receiver cannot be represented as Pulsar-compatible without model-specific confirmation.
Step 3: Check firmware and the integration path
Xona describes firmware updates as one way existing GNSS devices can gain Pulsar capabilities. That means the same receiver hardware can have different answers depending on its installed firmware and the manufacturer’s integration work.
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Make a firmware record
- Open the device’s diagnostic or system-information page, if it has one.
- Write down the GNSS firmware version, host-device firmware version and hardware revision separately.
- Record when the versions were checked and the device’s region or configuration.
- Check the manufacturer’s release notes for Pulsar, new signal support, receiver-library updates or navigation-message changes.
- Do not install an unofficial image merely to test compatibility. Use the manufacturer’s documented update method and preserve a way to restore the previous firmware.
Questions to send to the manufacturer or Xona
- Is the exact receiver part number supported for Pulsar?
- Which firmware version implements that support?
- Is a separate receiver configuration, license, SDK component or host-software update required?
- Does the supported configuration require L1, L5 or a particular combination of signals?
- Are there antenna, filter, oscillator, data-interface or processing requirements?
- Has this exact device, hardware revision and firmware been tested, and under what conditions?
- Is support available in the country or operating region where the device will be used?
Ask for the answer in writing with the exact model and firmware named. A general statement such as “our products support advanced GNSS” is not equivalent to Pulsar confirmation.
Step 4: Look for exact-device evidence or request it
Xona’s Pulsar Verified program is the clearest formal route described in the available material. Verification involves an agreed test plan and submitted test results. It can show that a product has been evaluated against requirements relevant to its intended application.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHowever, Xona explicitly states that verification is not required to receive or use Pulsar signals. Treat the labels this way:
- Verified: Evidence that the product completed Xona’s validation route. Check that the listing covers your exact model, hardware revision and firmware.
- Not listed: No public verification evidence was found. This is not proof of incompatibility.
- Manufacturer-confirmed but not verified: Potentially usable, provided the confirmation identifies the receiver, firmware and integration details.
- L1/L5 only: Initial eligibility evidence, not a final compatibility result.
The reviewed Xona pages do not provide a public, model-by-model list of receiver models and firmware versions that can settle every individual product. When you cannot find your device, contact both the device manufacturer and Xona rather than substituting a generic receiver specification.
What the Pulsar Verified process involves
For an integrator or manufacturer, Xona describes a four-part route:
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- Access the SDK. Obtain the development resources needed to connect the product to Pulsar capabilities.
- Define requirements and a test plan. Xona’s integration team and the product team agree on a plan aligned with the product’s goals and the expectations for verification.
- Submit test results. The integrator runs the agreed tests and supplies the results for review.
- Join the ecosystem if verified. A successful result can support inclusion in Xona’s verified ecosystem.
This is different from simply checking a datasheet band. The plan can reflect the product’s intended application, processing architecture and performance requirements. A manufacturer evaluating a fleet device, for example, may need a different test design from one evaluating a survey receiver.
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Even a confirmed receiver does not establish that Pulsar service is available everywhere today. Xona’s current Pulsar information says Pulsar-0 signals are being received and tested across regions of the United States and Canada, while a full-constellation rollout is planned over the next few years. That is a company-stated deployment status, not a guarantee of coverage at a particular address or date.
Before purchasing or deploying equipment, ask Xona for the current service status for the operating area and the signal generation your device is expected to use. Confirm:
- Whether the device’s operating region is within current signal reception or testing.
- Whether the application depends on Pulsar-0 or a later constellation phase.
- Whether open-sky operation is assumed or obstructions, indoor use and local interference are allowed for.
- Whether a subscription, activation or other commercial arrangement applies to your deployment.
Do not infer present-day global service from the planned constellation size or from a receiver’s technical capability. Coverage and commercial terms can change as deployment proceeds.
A practical decision table for an existing device
| Receiver identified? | L1 or L5 documented? | Firmware/integration confirmed? | Recommended conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Unknown | Unknown | Unconfirmed. Obtain the receiver part number first. |
| Yes | No | Unknown | Not eligible under Xona’s stated first screen; ask the manufacturer whether the documentation is incomplete. |
| Yes | Yes | No | Candidate only. Request exact model-and-firmware confirmation. |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Technically supported according to the manufacturer or Xona; check local service availability next. |
| Yes | Yes | Verified for the exact configuration | Strongest available evidence of device readiness; still confirm service availability and operating conditions. |
Performance figures: useful context, not a compatibility test
Xona’s current Pulsar page states expected figures for the full constellation in open sky. They describe the service’s intended performance and should not be used to certify an individual receiver.
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| Figure stated by Xona | Qualification | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cm × 4 cm horizontal-by-vertical position accuracy | Expected performance for the full constellation in open sky. | Do not assume a device will achieve it before its receiver, antenna, firmware and environment are validated. |
| Less than 10 ns timing accuracy | Company-stated Pulsar performance figure. | Use it as a service target, not as a result guaranteed for every installation. |
| Up to 100× GPS L1 C/A signal strength | Company-stated comparison with GPS L1 C/A. | It does not remove the need for a compatible receiver front end and antenna. |
| Approximately 300 planned satellites | A planned constellation count, not the number already in service. | Do not convert the plan into a current coverage claim. |
Common mistakes and how to recover
“The device has GPS, so it should work.”
GPS presence identifies a function, not a Pulsar-ready receiver. Return to the specifications and obtain the chipset and band information.
“It supports L1, so it is confirmed.”
L1 support passes the initial screen only. Ask for firmware and integration confirmation for the exact model.
“The device is not Pulsar Verified, so it cannot work.”
That conclusion is too strong. Xona says verification is not required. Treat the absence of verification as missing validation evidence and seek a manufacturer or Xona confirmation.
“A firmware update is available, therefore support is guaranteed.”
Only a release that specifically implements Pulsar support answers the question. Generic GNSS updates may change performance without adding Pulsar capability. Confirm the release notes and supported hardware revision.
“A verified product will work anywhere.”
Verification concerns the product and its test plan. It does not override current regional deployment, obstructions, interference or service terms. Check availability for the operating location.
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“A replacement antenna will make any receiver compatible.”
An antenna cannot add receiver firmware or signal-processing capability. It may be part of a validated configuration, but the receiver and complete signal chain still require confirmation.
What manufacturers should prepare before contacting Xona
A concise integration package speeds up a useful answer. Include the receiver and host processor part numbers, hardware revision, firmware versions, antenna and front-end details, data interfaces, intended application, operating regions and any timing or positioning requirements. State whether you want informal compatibility guidance or the Pulsar Verified process.
For organizations building test infrastructure, an ESA NAVISP project page describes a hardware-in-the-loop testbed collaboration involving Xona entities and QinetiQ, including work to enhance a Q40 GNSS receiver for Pulsar. That example illustrates why integration can involve receiver changes and controlled testing rather than a simple band checkbox; it does not certify unrelated products.
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Licensing information needs a date and source
A 2024 UNOOSA-hosted Xona presentation states that Pulsar licenses are activated by the customer or come pre-installed with the receiver. This is historical licensing context, not proof of current commercial terms for a particular product. Ask Xona or the device manufacturer for the terms that apply to your model, region and deployment date.
The shortest reliable workflow
- Photograph or copy the receiver part number and hardware revision.
- Save the GNSS and host firmware versions.
- Find explicit L1 or L5 support in the receiver documentation.
- Send those identifiers to the manufacturer and ask for Pulsar support in writing.
- Check whether the exact configuration appears in Xona’s verified ecosystem or request the verification route.
- Confirm current Pulsar signal availability where the device will operate.
- Only then plan procurement, firmware changes or a field deployment.
The defensible answer to “Will my device work with Pulsar?” is therefore a chain of evidence: identified receiver, L1 or L5 capability, supported firmware and integration, exact-device confirmation, and service availability for the intended location. A generic band label or a product name by itself is not enough.
Quick Recap
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