Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012 1443

Ambient Electromagnetic Noise Environment Measurement

L. Nowosielski1 , B. Bogdan2 , M. Wnuk1 , R. Przesmycki1 , K. Piwowarczyk1 , and M. Bugaj1 Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology Gen. S. Kaliskiego 2 Str., Warsaw 00-908, Poland 2 KenBIT Sp.j., Zytnia 15/22 Str., Warsaw 01-014, Poland
1

Abstract The external Radio Frequency (RF) ambience establishes the minimum usable
signal level for satisfactory radio communication service. Sources of the RF ambience may be naturally occurring or due to manmade sources. In order to evaluate the level of the local RF electromagnetic environment the level of the electromagnetic eld strength for selected frequencies has to be measured. In the article the automated measurement system for electromagnetic eld strength measurement is presented. In the system the precautions were taken to ensure that the measuring and controlling equipment does not aect the measured electromagnetic elds. The measurement system consists of the measurement receiver, antenna and personal computer. On the deck of the personal computer the dedicated software for remote control of the measurement system is running. In the article the software graphical user interface description and the algorithm for the measurement process, data collection and analysis are presented. The algorithm is based on the IEEE Std 473-1985 standard IEEE recommended practice for an electromagnetic site survey. The measurement results of the electromagnetic eld strength in HF band in selected rural and urban areas are presented too. 1. INTRODUCTION

In some frequency ranges external noises usually prevail over individual noises of receiving radio communication and radio direction nding systems and they are often the main obstacle in radio signal reception. In order to maximize receiving sensitivity of radio communication and radio direction nding systems it is necessary to choose location characterized by as low level of environmental noises as possible. Therefore before installation of this kind of devices it is necessary to characterize environmental properties of radio engineering disturbances in a chosen location within frequency range covering operation of installed receiving systems. The environment of radio engineering disturbances consists of natural interferences (atmospheric, solar and cosmic) and those generated by human as a result of intentional and unintentional actions additive noises of technical character which are often called as man-made noise. Quantitative description of uctuation noises, both external and individual of a receiver, can be very seriously simplied and reduced to one numerical factor for the needs of analysis of the measuring system noises. This numerical factor is described below. Let us mark tuning frequency of the receiver by f and substitute bandwidth of the whole predetection path in the receiver by B . A simplied methodology of analysis of the eect of external noise consists in assumption that it aects the receiver input only in narrow frequency band B . So we can accept constant value of spectral power density at the receiver input G(f ). Mean computational power of that noise at the receiver input is equal to: Pn = GB, (1)

On the basis of the value of noise power at the receiver input expressed by Equation (1) a notion of external noise coecient fa is being introduced, analogically to a well-known notion of noise coecient of element or electronic system. We start with a general equation for uctuation noise power: Pn = kTo Bfa , (2) where: k Boltzmann constant, equal to 1.38 1023 J/K, To absolute temperature in kelvins, B equivalent bandwidth of reference selective system in Hz, fa noise coecient, with dimension W/W and value 1.

1444

PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012

The Equation (2) binds with each other quantities: Pn , k , To and B which are directly or indirectly measurable and it is used to dene noise coecient fa in non-logarithmic units: fa = Pn kTo B (3)

In technical practice noise coecient is expressed in decibels and marked symbolically with the symbol Fa . External noise coecient fa is also dened by properly interpreted formula (3) and it is the measure of noise of radio channel referred to the receiver input (or to the ambience of receiving antenna). We nd non-negative value fa (f ) 0 constant in narrow frequency ambience f , but generally variable with frequency. In further part of this study external noise coecient will be used as the measure of evaluation of a particular location as regards the level of external noises. The values of coecient Fa for a model area QRSL (Quiet Rural Site Line), predestined to place receiving radio communication and radio direction nding, have been determined from the dependence [2]: Fa (f ) = 28.6 log10 f + 53.6, (4)

whereas the values of coecient Fa adequately for rural, suburban and urban area have been determined according to [2] on the basis of the dependence: - for rural area - for suburban area - for urban area Fa (f ) = 27.7 log10 f +67.2, Fa (f ) = 27.7 log10 f +72.5, Fa (f ) = 27.7 log10 f +76.8. (5) (6) (7)

In further part of this study a sample implementation of a measuring set for assessment of the level of external noises for a particular location and a procedure of measuring external noise coecient Fa have been presented. Moreover sample measurement results for rural and urban areas have been shown which goal is to evaluate a given location to be used as a place of installation of receiving radio communication systems.
2. MEASURING POSITION

A measuring position includes: - active measuring antenna SAS-550-25 working within the frequency range from 100 Hz to 60 MHz produced by the company A. H. Systems, INC, - coaxial cable 50 , - measuring receiver ESPI working in the frequency range from 9 kHz to 7 GHz produced by the company Rohde & Schwarz, - personal computer (PC) with software operating a measuring process and the Ethernet interface used for remote controlling of a measuring receiver, - Ethernet cable, - a shielding enclosure with interface panel providing insertion to input of the measuring receiver a coaxial cable leading to output of the receiving antenna and power supply AC 230 V 50 Hz, - supply lter AC 230 V 50 Hz of type FN2070-3-06 by Schaner, placed inside the shielding enclosure which provides ltration of radio signals generated by the Ethernet cable and active elements of the measuring receiver inducing on power leads. Block diagram of the measuring position is presented in Fig. 1. The photo of the measuring set is shown in Fig. 2. A position for measuring coecient of environment noises contains components typical for the system of measuring electromagnetic eld strength. Basic components of such system are antenna and measuring receiver connected to the antenna output by coaxial cable. The used antenna should have the measured antenna coecients AF (f ) allowing to convert voltage induced at the antenna output into electric eld strength at the site of antenna installation. In order to convert the signal level induced at the antenna output into the input level of the measuring receiver, after passing of signal through the coaxial cable connecting the antenna with the receiver input it is necessary to determine its transmittance A(f ) for particular measuring

Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012 1445

Figure 1: Block diagram of the measuring position.

Figure 2: Photo of the measuring set.

frequencies. Both antenna coecients and transmittance of transmission line are data used by software operating the measuring process for calculations discussed in the further part of this article. A task of the measuring receiver is detection and measurement of signal levels with radio frequencies with the use of RMS and AVG detectors. The used receiver is equipped with the Ethernet interface used for remote controlling of the receiver with the use of software installed on the PC. An important element of the measuring position is the shielding enclosure and supply lter AC, which task is to provide separation of the measuring antenna from radiated interference signals generated unintentionally by the measuring system. The above separation is extremely important during measurements of environment noise coecients in rural areas where measured levels of environment noise signals are repeatedly lower than the levels of interferences generated by the measuring system. The sources of particularly large disturbances generated by the measuring system are the Ethernet cable and PC used for remote controlling of the measuring receiver.
3. MEASURING PROCEDURE

An algorithm of proceeding during evaluation of a particular location to be used as the site of installation of the receiving radio communication system working in the frequency range from 1 MHz to 30 MHz has been described below. The above algorithm includes the below listed activities to be performed:
3.1. Selection of Silent Radio Frequencies

In order to conduct the above mentioned procedure, rst it is necessary to make a spectral analysis of radio frequency band from 1 MHz to 30 MHz which goal is to select at least m of measuring frequencies evenly distributed in the whole analyzed band on which emissions coming from devices generating and radiating energy of radio-waves intentionally do not occur (e.g., radio communication and radio diusion transmitters, radars). In further part of the study the above frequencies will be called silent frequencies. At the above mentioned frequencies only natural interferences (atmospheric, solar and cosmic) occur as well as those generated by human unintentionally.
3.2. Measurement of Electromagnetic Field Strength at Each of Selected Measuring Frequencies

At selected silent frequencies one should measure electromagnetic eld strength using the measuring set described in the previous subsection. During measurements it is necessary to take into account the value of antenna coecients AF (f ) characterizing a particular measuring antenna and attenuation of coaxial cable A(f ) connecting antenna with input of the measuring receiver. The measurements should be performed with the detector of RMS value and AVG value. The levels UAV G (f ) measured by the AVG detector will be used in item 5 of this measuring procedure during calculation of deviation of signal level Vd (f ). It is necessary to conduct n of measurements of electromagnetic eld strength for each measuring frequency. With consideration that values of all components are set in the decibel measure, the value of electromagnetic eld strength at the measuring site should be determined with the use of the dependence: E (f ) = URM S (f ) + AF (f )A(f ), (8)

1446

PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012

where: AF (f ) antenna coecient [dB/m], URM S (f ) value of signal level measured by measuring receiver with the detector of rootmean-square value [dBV], A(f ) attenuation of cable connecting measuring antenna with measuring receiver [dB].
3.3. Determining External Noise Coecient for Each of Measuring Frequency

External noise coecient Fa (f ) for each of so called silent frequencies should be determined for every n of measured values of electromagnetic eld strength, from the dependence: Fa (f )= E (f ) 20 log10 (f ) + 95.5 10 log10 (B ), where: f frequency of measured signal [MHz], B bandwidth of measuring receiver [Hz].
3.4. Determining Median of External Noise Coecient for Each of Measuring Frequency

(9)

Values of external noise coecient Fa (f ) determined in the above mentioned way should be subject to statistical processing. For set n of external noise coecients for each measuring frequency it is necessary to determine median and condence interval in which 90% of determined value Fa (f ) is included. The determined values of external noise coecient Fa (f ) along with marked condence intervals should be presented in a graphical form.
3.5. Determining Deviation Value of Signal Level for Each Measuring Frequency

Except the value of coecient Fa (f ) for each of so called silent frequencies it is necessary to determine so called value of the level deviation Vd (f ) understood as the dierence between the value of signal level measured by the measuring receiver using the detector of RMS (root-meansquare) value and the detector of AVG (average) value, according to the dependence: Vd (f ) = URM S (f ) UAV G (f ). (10)

Also in this case every set of deviation values of signal level for a particular silent frequency should be subject to statistical processing in order to determine condence interval in which 90% of calculated deviation values is included. The determined deviation values of signal level along with marked condence intervals should be presented in a graphical form.
3.6. Evaluation of Particular Location

After calculating the values Fa (f ) and Vd (f ) one can decide about quality of particular location as regards the level of external noises. A good location should be characterized by the value Fa (f ) not larger from 3dB to 4dB than the value of coecient Fa (f ) for model QRSL area. A good location should also be characterized by deviation value of the level Vd (f ) for signal levels measured during the day which is not larger than 3. The measurements which the algorithm has been presented above should be performed for each of four seasons. Time intervals for carrying out the measurements should cover hours from 800 to 1200 (the lowest levels of interferences of technical origin) and from 2000 to 2400 (the highest levels of interferences of technical origin). Number of frequencies at which measurements for radio frequency band from 3 MHz to 30 MHz should be conducted is at least m = 12. Each series of measurements should be performed every 15 seconds for 3 minutes within 10 to 14 days.
4. RESEARCH RESULTS

In order to check operation correctness of the designed measuring position and measuring procedure, evaluation of the fallowing three locations have been conducted: interior of anechoic shielded chamber, urban and rural area. The measurement results for these locations have been shown adequately in Figs. 3, 4 & 5. Diagrams in colours: green, yellow, orange and red mean values of external noise coecient Fa (f ) adequately for: QRSL, rural area, suburban area and urban area. The diagram marked blue means values Fa (f ) and Vd (f ) for selected location. Error columns show condence interval for signicance level equal to 0.1. Comparing levels Fa (f ) measured inside anechoic shielded chamber (Fig. 3) and in rural area one can state that the levels of external noises are at comparable level. The level Fa (f ) at frequencies

Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012 1447

Figure 3: Values of ambient noise coecient Fa (f ) and value of the level deviation Vd (f ) for shielded chamber.

Figure 4: Values of ambient noise coecient Fa (f ) and value of the level deviation Vd (f ) for urban area.

Figure 5: Values of ambient noise coecient Fa (f ) and value of the level deviation Vd (f ) for rural area.

below 2.5 MHz seems to be disputable. In case of interior of anechoic shielded chamber a component of such frequency should not have such a signicant level. The source of the above signal is emission of radiated interferences of PC operating the measuring process. The above mentioned interferences induce on power leads AC 230 V 50 Hz and nd their way outside a shielding enclosure of the measuring system through a path conducted by supply lter. The above can be prevented by using supply lter AC 230 V with greater attenuation in stopband.
5. CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the presented in Figs. 3, 4 & 5 measurement results of ambient noise coecient Fa (f ) and the value of level deviation Vd (f ) for selected location we can state that the designed procedure and measuring set work correctly. The obtained measurement results conrm a character of electromagnetic environment chosen for the test at: interior of anechoic shielded chamber, urban and rural area. Exceptions are signals at frequencies below 2.5 MHz for which the level of external noise coefcient exceeds assumed admissible levels for a particular location. The above phenomenon results from insucient ltering o by the lter AC 230 V conducted interferences generated by the mea-

1448

PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia, August 1923, 2012

suring system. For prevention it is necessary to use power line lters with a greater attenuation value in stopband. The designed procedure and measuring set can be successfully used for choosing location for radio communication and radio direction nding systems which provide the lowest level of external noises.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The research work nanced from the nancial funds assigned to the science in the years 2010/2012 as the development work. The research work is realized in Poland. The number of work is 0005/R/T00/2010/11, No. OR00000511.
REFERENCES

1. IEEE Std. 473-1985, IEEE recommended practice for an electromagnetic site survey (10 kHz to 10 GHz), 1985. 2. AECTP-250, Electrical and Electromagnetic Environmental Conditions, 2nd Edition, 2006.