Quality assurance for reliable spectrum monitoring

ITU compliance

Quality assurance for reliable spectrum monitoring

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies — ICTs. As a corporate platinum sector member of the ITU since 1964 with memberships in the ITU-R, ITU-D and ITU-T, Rohde & Schwarz actively contributes to the work of the ITU.

The ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) plays a vital role in the global management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. As an ITU-R sector member, Rohde & Schwarz contributes to meetings of Study Group 1 and its working parties on spectrum engineering techniques, spectrum management and spectrum monitoring.

For many years, Rohde & Schwarz has hosted ITU Academy training courses on spectrum monitoring in Munich and Singapore.

The ITU-R publishes internationally agreed guidelines and recommendations on measurement procedures, performance of spectrum monitoring equipment and performance verification procedures. Rohde & Schwarz spectrum monitoring solutions are in line with ITU Recommendations and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring.

Monitoring and DF antennas

Rohde & Schwarz provides monitoring and DF antennas in line with ITU Recommendations and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, see table below for details:

Feature In line with Benefit
Passive antenna elements or active antenna elements that can be switched to passive mode in VHF/UHF Antenna should use passive antenna elements in VHF/UHF
ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, chapter 3.2.4.1 		Intermodulation on the frequency of interest can be impeded by a simple mouse click
Integrated lightning protection Lightning rod should be mounted vertically above the antenna system
(ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, chapter 2.6.2.4.6) 		High DF accuracy that is not affected by the lightning rod
Even horizontal antenna pattern Deviation of horizontal radiation diagram from a non-directional diagram should not exceed 3 dB (ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, chapter 4.4.3.2) Accurate signal level measurements for all signals independent from the angle of arrival

Monitoring receivers

Rohde & Schwarz provides monitoring receivers in line with ITU Recommendations and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, see table below for details:

Feature In line with Benefit
Sufficiently high RF performance Performance of a good quality commercial monitoring receiver (ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, table 3.3-1) The measurement of weak signals is possible even in case of strong unwanted signals in the spectrum.
Reliable performance Measurements of monitoring receivers in line with ITU Recommendations (Recommendations ITU-R SM.1836, SM.1837, SM.1838, SM.1839 and SM.1840) Trustworthy performance that allows for comparison

Direction finders (DF)

Rohde & Schwarz provides direction finders in line with ITU Recommendations and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, see table below for details:

Feature In line with Benefit
Sufficiently high DF performance in HF Typical specifications for fixed and mobile stations in HF (ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, table 3.4-1) Accurate radiolocation even of weak and distant HF signals
Sufficiently high DF performance in VHF/UHF Typical specifications for fixed and mobile stations in VHF/UHF (ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, table 3.4-2) Accurate radiolocation even of weak and distant VHF/UHF signals
Reliable performance Measurements of direction finders in line with ITU Recommendations (Recommendations ITU-R SM.1836, SM.1837, SM.1838, SM.1839 and SM.1840) Trustworthy performance that allows for comparison

Control software

Rohde & Schwarz provides spectrum monitoring control software in line with ITU Recommendations and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, see table below for details:

Feature In line with Benefit
Calibration of the signal path ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring, edition 2010, chapter 4.4 Accurate field strength measurements
Signal bandwidth measurements Signal bandwidth measurement in line with Recommendation ITU-R SM.443 Reliable and comparable bandwidth measurements
Measurements of signals with digital modulation Technical identification of digital signals in line with Recommendation ITU-R SM.1600 Identification and measurement of FSK, QAM and other digitally modulated signals
Spectrum occupancy measurements Spectrum occupancy measurement in line with Recommendation ITU-R SM.1880 Reliable and comparable measurements of spectrum occupancy
ITU Webcast

ITU Webcast

Further information about the ITU requirements for monitoring receivers is provided in the following webcast. This webcast gives an overview of ITU recommendations concerning monitoring receivers, radio direction finders, monitoring and direction finding antennas.

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