Radio Frequency Interference Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15

Radio Frequency Interference Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 Lima, Peru March 12, 2013 Mike Biggs Senior Engineer US FAA Spectrum Engineering Services Federal Aviation Administration

What is Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)? • ITU Definition: The effect of unwanted energy due to one or a combination of emissions, radiations, or inductions upon reception in a radiocommunication system, manifested by any performance degradation, misinterpretation, or loss of information which could be extracted in the absence of such unwanted energy. • Criteria to mitigate inter-system interference are established as an element of ICAO SARPs. – E. g. , 8 d. B D/U for co-channel DME assignments Federal Aviation Administration 2

US RFI Yearly Activity Statistics • Maintenance Management System (MMS) Data • Event Manager System (EMS) Data ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 • Spectrum RFI Tracking System (RFIT) Data Federal Aviation Administration 3

RFI Categories QAuthorized Transmissions QProperly Licensed (i. e. FM, AM, TV) QUnauthorized Transmissions QWireless Video Cameras QHigh Power Cordless Telephones QUnlicensed Pirate FM Stations Spurious QIntentional QUnauthorized Jamming Q“Phantom” Controllers QUnintentional QSpurious Transmissions ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 4

RFI Sources QCitizens Band (CB) Radios (5 th harmonic) QPaging Systems QStuck Microphone Transmissions QCell phone Spurious Emissions QElectronic Attack (EA) Missions QPower line Noise (Broadband Noise) QAnomalous Propagation QAtmospheric Conditions QAmateur “HAM” Radio QLand Mobile/Dispatch ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 5

US National Airspace System RFI QMost Common Source of RFI: QUnauthorized Transmissions QPirate FM Broadcast Spurious QMost Common FAA Victim: QVHF/UHF Voice Communications QMost Difficult RFI to Resolve: QHigh Altitude Pilot Only Reported RFI QIntermittent RFI (Airborne/Ground) QBroadband RFI on Many Frequencies QPhase Shift Keying RF Transmissions ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 6

US RFI Investigation Resources QFAA Personnel and Organizations: QATO Spectrum Engineering Services QHeadquarters QTechnical Center QCommand Center QFrequency Management Officers (FMO) QTechnical Operations Service Areas QAeronautical Center QTechnical Support Field Specialists (Technicians) QAviation System Standards (Flight Inspection) QOne International FIO QSix National FIOs ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 7

RFI Investigation Resources QFAA Assets and Software Tools Q Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring (RFIM) Vans Automated or Manual DF Control/Mapping Full Equipment Suite 20 - 3000 MHz ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Regional Used mainly by FMOs Most Complete Measurement System Federal Aviation Administration 8

Portable DF (RFID) Regional Automated Vehicle mounted mobile DF Detection Band 20 -2000 MHz 29 RFID GPS DF Antenna Systems L 1 - 1575. 42 MHz ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 9

Handheld DF (K 95 -103) Regional System Management Office (SMO) 33 Offices in the NAS K 95 -103 Detection Coverage 20 – 3000 MHz Typically 2 miles Regional Most Cost effective First choice instrument for technicians Approx. 300 GPS DF Antenna VHF Yagi Antenna K 95 -100 Systems L 1, L 2, L 5 Directional ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 10

Airborne DF AVN Flight Check NASE/RFI Program to assist in locating RFI/GPS sources First Choice when High Altitude PIREPS ONLY DF Control/Mapping Operated Automation GPS DF Array & VHF DF Array L 1, L 2, L 5 & 108 - 174 MHz ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 11

National RFI Initiative QFAA Assets and Software Tools Q Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA) Q FAA Intranet Web based Graphical User Interface (GUI) Q Web Browser Control of Fixed DF and Spectrum Analyzer Chicago NIMDS New York NIMDS Master IMDS Los Angeles NIMDS Miami NIMDS ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 12

Interference Monitoring Detection System (IMDS) WEB IMDS Receiver Tuned Frequency DF Processor Bearing Averaging Triangulation Multiple Audio Playback Capability Synchronized Spectrum Analyzer Spectral View ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 13

Mapping Triangulation WEB IMDS Triangulated Bearing Averages Overlay on Map Increases Fix Calculation Ellipse Accuracy Multiple Ellipse Calculation for Smaller Ellipse ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 14

Flight Explorer ASD Aircraft Situation Display (ASD) Traffic Flow of potential aircraft PIREPS RLOS Footprint Lowest Aircraft Altitude VENN Diagram Overlay Area ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 15

Audio Spectrogram Analysis Audio Detection Visual Intensities Used for Matching with known sources Audio Spectral Views ICAO Regional Preparatory Workshop for WRC-15 March 2013 Federal Aviation Administration 16