WIDE-BAND RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SOURCE SURVEILLANCE

Abstract

Reduction in available radio frequency (RF) spectrum for use in aircraft testing has steadily increased the probability of interference. The increase in users and required bandwidth generates requirements for increased monitoring and active management of the RF spectrum. The detection of background RF emissions and monitoring of authorized users will be used by future range test engineers to make decisions on when and where to conduct test missions to minimize the probability of interference. The detection of authorized users exceeding their allotted RF spectrum as well as unknown emitters should include: the general geographic area of potential interference, and times of transmission. This paper outlines the development of a complete system for wide-band RF monitoring to identify and locate active emissions. The RF surveillance system proposed must be inexpensive, easy to maintain, support large area coverage, and monitor wide bandwidths at long range. The system should contain software for emitter identification, which will determine where the current background and authorized RF transmissions occur and how they might effect authorized transmissions, and specialized software to alert spectrum managers of potential interference scenarios in real time based upon the daily schedule.