Spectrum Explorer

Managing and securing the radio frequency spectrum

The increasing value of the limited radio spectrum, as well as security concerns, such as those relating to hosting major political events, are putting the issue of radio frequency (RF) spectrum monitoring and surveillance on the front page.

Advanced technology

Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) is working with Industry Canada's Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector, and Defence R&D; Canada - Ottawa (DRDC-O), to develop advanced spectrum monitoring and surveillance technology. The products, Spectrum Explorer™ (SE), and the military version, MiDAS (Military Digital Analysis System), have flexibility and capability beyond those of high-grade commercial equipment.

This sophisticated radio-frequency surveillance approach uses a unique combination of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) RF receivers, digitizers and personal computer technology. A set of flexible software applications runs on a Windows™ workstation, that when combined with high-performance receivers and digital interface hardware result in a sophisticated spectrum-monitoring measurement and analysis system.

Spectrum Explorer

Spectrum Explorer can be controlled, and data can be accessed, by any number of personal computers over a TCP/IP network. It is designed to operate with state-of-the-art high-speed sampling and digitization hardware, allowing it to process many MegaHertz of spectrum simultaneously - a must in today's highly complex wireless environment. Several options and configurations are available, allowing users to customize SE to meet their needs. The result is an integrated sensor solution that is capable of addressing the most demanding spectrum-monitoring problems, today and in the future.

Uses

SE is deployed across the country by the regional offices of Industry Canada. In addition to using SE to manage Canada's radio spectrum, Industry Canada's radio inspectors have supported the RCMP by using SE to provide radio surveillance for events such as the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in 2001, the G20 Summit in Ottawa in 2001 and the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2002.

MiDAS

MiDAS has also attracted favourable attention. It is a key part of the TDP (Technology Development Program) ICEWARS project for the Canadian Army. The U.S. Army Prophet Block III Program invited DRDC-O and CRC to participate with the MiDAS technology in Foreign Competitive Tests in Arizona in 2001.

Results

Three licences have been granted to Canadian companies to use parts of the SE technology.

"The SE/MiDAS innovation has kept Canada at the forefront of radio-spectrum monitoring, and aided Canadian industry in international competitiveness," says CRC's John Lodge, the project manager.

The team at CRC is currently engaged in developing new monitoring applications for the technology. For example, it will assist in problem solving and evolution for the Search-and-Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System, known as Cospas-Sarsat.

For more information, please visit the Spectrum Explorer™ (SE), and the military version, MiDAS (Military Digital Analysis System), have flexibility and Spectrum Explorer site or contact John Lodge.