Radiolocation Using AM Broadcast Signals

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Radiolocation Using AM Broadcast Signals Radiolocation Using AM Broadcast Signals by Timothy Douglas Hall B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri, 1993 M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri, 1994 Submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology September 2002 Massachusetts Institute of Technology All Rights Reserved Signature of Author________________________________________________________ Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 26 August 2002 Certified by ______________________________________________________________ Charles C. Counselman III Professor of Planetary Science Thesis supervisor Accepted by _____________________________________________________________ Arthur C. Smith Chairman, Department Committee on Graduate Student Radiolocation Using AM Broadcast Signals by Timothy Douglas Hall Abstract I have designed, built, and evaluated a passive radiolocation system that uses only signals of opportunity, that is, signals that exist for purposes other than radiolocation. The system estimates the relative position vector between a base station, which is a navigation receiver at a known location, and a rover, which is like the base station but free to move about. The relative position vector, called the baseline vector, is determined by multilateration from observations of the carrier phases of signals received from AM broadcast stations. This system determines the horizontal components of the baseline with about ten-meter uncertainties for baseline lengths up to about 35 kilometers. The navigation receivers are implemented as software radios on standard Intel®-based personal computers. The signals received by a one-meter vertical whip antenna are band- pass-filtered, amplified, and digitized. The entire AM band is digitized so simultaneous observation of all available signals is achieved. All further processing of the signals, including carrier-phase determination, is implemented in software run on the personal computer. The base station and rover record observed phase, frequency, and amplitude data on their local hard drives; and navigation algorithms are implemented in post-real- time. The interpretation of a carrier-phase observation in terms of position is ambiguous because one cycle of a carrier wave is virtually indistinguishable from the next. Previous attempts at signal-of-opportunity navigation using carrier phase sidestepped the ambiguity problem by requiring that the initial position of the rover be known and that phase variations be tracked without interruption. I designed and implemented an ambiguity-function method that enables the phase ambiguity to be resolved instantaneously without position initialization or signal-tracking continuity. I encountered several impediments to AM-broadcast-based radiolocation that, if not dealt with appropriately, reduce positioning accuracy, reduce ambiguity-resolution robustness, or both. AM transmitter position uncertainty directly causes receiver position- determination uncertainty. Since the error in published antenna positions sometimes exceeds 100 meters, I conducted sub-meter-accuracy geodetic surveys of 29 Boston-area 3 AM-broadcast antennas. The directional radiation patterns of the array antennas of many AM broadcast radio stations have phases that vary with azimuth angle. I developed and implemented a model for the phase of a directional antenna that nearly eliminated the errors caused by this effect. AM broadcast signals travel primarily as groundwaves, which propagate with phase velocities that depend on the electrical properties of the ground. Using simulations and empirical data, I designed and implemented a model for groundwave propagation that greatly reduced the errors caused by this effect over a broad geographic area. Proximate overhead and underground conductors, especially ones that are part of vast interconnected networks, can perturb phase locally by a radian or more, and in some cases can cause ambiguity-resolution failure. At night when the D-layer of the ionosphere recombines, signals in the AM band reflect off the ionosphere, which enables so-called skywave propagation. Since skywave can lead to interference with distant stations, regulations require many radio stations to significantly reduce power at night. Therefore, signals from far fewer AM radio stations are useful for nighttime navigation. Among signals that are still useful at night, skywave signals interfere with the desired groundwave signals and cause positioning performance accuracy to degrade by more than an order of magnitude. AM radiolocation positioning performance varies greatly with the local environment of the navigation receivers. Outdoors in the open, 95% of positioning errors are smaller than 15 meters for baselines up to 35 kilometers long. In wooded areas, where GPS positioning performance drops significantly, AM positioning performance is not affected. However, significant challenges remain to make AM positioning useful near tall buildings in urban areas, or inside structures. Thesis Supervisor: Charles C. Counselman III Title: Professor of Planetary Science 4 Acknowledgements I thank Prof. Charles C. Counselman III, my thesis advisor, for the countless hours he spent helping me with this work. Working with Chuck was not only educational but also enjoyable. I could not possibly have had a better advisor. I also thank the other members of my thesis committee: Prof. John Tsitsiklis and Prof. John Kassakian. Both took time out of their vacations to read my thesis for which I am very grateful. I am grateful to many people at MIT Lincoln Laboratory for their support. Specifically, I thank Dr. Pratap Misra for introducing me to the field of radiolocation and for being an outstanding mentor. Pratap’s unwavering encouragement while I was working on my thesis is greatly appreciated. I also thank Dr. Jay Sklar for providing me with a research assistantship after other funding at the lab dried up. Many thanks also go to Brian Adams for providing me with lab and office space and for helping me on countless occasions with experiment logistics. I also thank the National Science Foundation for supporting my research through a Graduate Research Fellowship for the first three years of my program at MIT. Finally, I thank my family and friends for their love and support. I especially thank my parents, Ron and Gayle Hall, for their unquestioning love and encouragement. I believe my success in life is due in no small part to their selfless commitment to family. My family is my anchor. Last, but certainly not least, I thank Kristin Little for her love and friendship. 5 Table of Contents Abstract..................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements .................................................................................. 5 Table of Contents..................................................................................... 7 List of Figures .......................................................................................... 11 List of Tables............................................................................................ 17 Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................................................... 19 1.1 Navigation Using GPS ....................................................................................... 19 1.1.1 Navigation Using Differential GPS............................................................ 20 1.1.2 Navigation Using Observations of GPS Carrier Phases............................. 20 1.2 Navigation Using Signals of Opportunity.......................................................... 21 1.3 Motivation.......................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2: Navigation Receiver ............................................................. 23 2.1 Frequency Band ................................................................................................. 23 2.2 AM Navigation System Considerations............................................................. 23 2.3 AM Navigation Receiver Hardware................................................................... 24 2.3.1 Antenna ...................................................................................................... 24 2.3.2 Pre-Amp ..................................................................................................... 25 2.3.3 Low Pass Filter........................................................................................... 26 2.3.4 Amplifier .................................................................................................... 27 2.3.5 Power Supply, Gain Control, and Peak Detection ..................................... 28 2.3.6 Calibrator.................................................................................................... 29 2.3.7 A/D Converter............................................................................................ 30 2.3.8 Clock Circuitry........................................................................................... 31 2.3.9 Computer.................................................................................................... 31 2.3.10 Construction ............................................................................................. 32 7 2.4 AM Navigation Receiver Software...................................................................
Recommended publications
  • ETR 132 TECHNICAL August 1994 REPORT
    ETSI ETR 132 TECHNICAL August 1994 REPORT Source: EBU/ETSI JTC Reference: DTR/JTC-00011 ICS: 33.060 Key words: Broadcasting, FM, radio, transmitter, VHF European Broadcasting Union Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision EBU UER Radio broadcasting systems; Code of practice for site engineering Very High Frequency (VHF), frequency modulated, sound broadcasting transmitters ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute ETSI Secretariat Postal address: F-06921 Sophia Antipolis CEDEX - FRANCE Office address: 650 Route des Lucioles - Sophia Antipolis - Valbonne - FRANCE X.400: c=fr, a=atlas, p=etsi, s=secretariat - Internet: [email protected] Tel.: +33 92 94 42 00 - Fax: +33 93 65 47 16 Copyright Notification: No part may be reproduced except as authorized by written permission. The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media. © European Telecommunications Standards Institute 1994. All rights reserved. New presentation - see History box © European Broadcasting Union 1994. All rights reserved. Page 2 ETR 132: August 1994 Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation and publication of this document, errors in content, typographical or otherwise, may occur. If you have comments concerning its accuracy, please write to "ETSI Editing and Committee Support Dept." at the address shown on the title page. Page 3 ETR 132: August 1994 Contents Foreword .......................................................................................................................................................7 1 Scope
    [Show full text]
  • BETS-5 Issue 1 November 1, 1996
    BETS-5 Issue 1 November 1, 1996 Spectrum Management Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standard Technical Standards and Requirements for AM Broadcasting Transmitters Aussi disponible en français - NTMR-5 Purpose This document contains the technical standards and requirements for the issuance of a Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) for AM broadcasting transmitters. A certificate issued for equipment classified as type approved or as technically acceptable before the coming into force of these technical standards and requirements is considered to be a valid and subsisting TAC. A Technical Acceptance Certificate is not required for equipment manufactured or imported solely for re-export, prototyping, demonstration, exhibition or testing purposes. i Table of Contents Page 1. General ...............................................................1 2. Testing and Labelling ..................................................1 3. Standard Test Conditions ..............................................2 4. Transmitting Equipment Standards .....................................3 5. Equipment Requirements ..............................................4 6. RF Carrier Performance Standards .................................... 5 6.1 Power Output Rating .................................................5 6.2 Modulation Capability ................................................5 6.3 Carrier Frequency Stability ............................................6 6.4 Carrier Level Shift ...................................................7 6.5 Spurious Emissions
    [Show full text]
  • Radio Communications in the Digital Age
    Radio Communications In the Digital Age Volume 1 HF TECHNOLOGY Edition 2 First Edition: September 1996 Second Edition: October 2005 © Harris Corporation 2005 All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-94476 Harris Corporation, RF Communications Division Radio Communications in the Digital Age Volume One: HF Technology, Edition 2 Printed in USA © 10/05 R.O. 10K B1006A All Harris RF Communications products and systems included herein are registered trademarks of the Harris Corporation. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...............................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 PRINCIPLES OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS .....................................6 CHAPTER 2 THE IONOSPHERE AND HF RADIO PROPAGATION..........................16 CHAPTER 3 ELEMENTS IN AN HF RADIO ..........................................................24 CHAPTER 4 NOISE AND INTERFERENCE............................................................36 CHAPTER 5 HF MODEMS .................................................................................40 CHAPTER 6 AUTOMATIC LINK ESTABLISHMENT (ALE) TECHNOLOGY...............48 CHAPTER 7 DIGITAL VOICE ..............................................................................55 CHAPTER 8 DATA SYSTEMS .............................................................................59 CHAPTER 9 SECURING COMMUNICATIONS.....................................................71 CHAPTER 10 FUTURE DIRECTIONS .....................................................................77 APPENDIX A STANDARDS
    [Show full text]
  • Accurate Location Detection 911 Help SMS App
    System and method that allows for cost effective location detection accuracy that exceeds current FCC standards. Accurate Location Detection 911 Help SMS App White Paper White Paper: 911 Help SMS App 1 Cost Effective Location Detection Techniques Used by the 911 Help SMS App to Overcome Smartphone Flaws and GPS Discrepancies Minh Tran, DMD Box 1089 Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: (267) 250-0594 Email: [email protected] Introduction As of April 2015, approximately 64% of Americans own smartphones. Although there has been progress with E911 and NG911, locating cell phone callers remains a major obstacle for 911 dispatchers. This white papers gives an overview of techniques used by the 911 Help SMS App to more accurately locate victims indoors and outdoors when using smartphones. Background Location information is not only transmitted to the call center for the purpose of sending emergency services to the scene of the incident, it is used by the wireless network operator to determine to which PSAP to route the call. With regards to E911 Phase 2, wireless network operators must provide the latitude and longitude of callers within 300 meters, within six minutes of a request by a PSAP. To locate a mobile telephone geographically, there are two general approaches. One is to use some form of radiolocation from the cellular network; the other is to use a Global Positioning System receiver built into the phone itself. Radiolocation in cell phones use base stations. Most often this is done through triangulation between radio towers. White Paper: 911 Help SMS App 2 Problem GPS accuracy varies and could incorrectly place the victim’s location at their neighbor’s home.
    [Show full text]
  • Essentials of Radio Wave Propagation
    This page intentionally left blank Essentials of Radio Wave Propagation If you need to maximise efficiency in wireless network planning an understanding of radio propagation issues is vital, and this quick reference guide is for you. Using real-world case studies, practical problems and minimum mathematics, the author explains simply and clearly how to predict signal strengths in a variety of situations. Fundamentals are explained in the context of their practical significance. Applications, including point-to-point radio links, broadcasting and earth–space communications, are thoroughly treated, and more sophisticated methods, which form the basis of software tools both for network planning and for spectrum management, are also described. For a rapid understanding of and insight into radio propagation, sufficient to enable you to undertake real-world engineering tasks, this concise book is an invaluable resource for network planners, hardware designers, spectrum managers, senior technical managers and policy makers who are either new to radio propagation or need a quick reference guide. christopher haslett is the Principal Propagation Adviser at Ofcom, the UK Communication Industries Regulator. As well as experience conducting and directing research projects, he has many years’ industrial radio-planning experience with Cable and Wireless plc., and as Director of Planning and Optimisation at Aircom International Ltd., where he directed the optimisa- tion of UMTS networks. He was also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Glamorgan. The Cambridge
    [Show full text]
  • CBRS Commercial Weather RADAR Comments WINNF-RC-1001-V1.0.0
    CBRS Commercial Weather RADAR Comments Document WINNF-RC-1001 Version V1.0.0 24 July 2017 Spectrum Sharing Committee Steering Group CBRS Commercial Weather RADAR Comments WINNF-RC-1001-V1.0.0 TERMS, CONDITIONS & NOTICES This document has been prepared by the Spectrum Sharing Committee Steering Group to assist The Software Defined Radio Forum Inc. (or its successors or assigns, hereafter “the Forum”). It may be amended or withdrawn at a later time and it is not binding on any member of the Forum or of the Spectrum Sharing Committee Steering Group. Contributors to this document that have submitted copyrighted materials (the Submission) to the Forum for use in this document retain copyright ownership of their original work, while at the same time granting the Forum a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license under the Submitter’s copyrights in the Submission to reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, and create derivative works of the Submission based on that original work for the purpose of developing this document under the Forum's own copyright. Permission is granted to the Forum’s participants to copy any portion of this document for legitimate purposes of the Forum. Copying for monetary gain or for other non-Forum related purposes is prohibited. THIS DOCUMENT IS BEING OFFERED WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, AND IN PARTICULAR, ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. ANY USE OF THIS SPECIFICATION SHALL BE MADE ENTIRELY AT THE IMPLEMENTER'S OWN RISK, AND NEITHER THE FORUM, NOR ANY OF ITS MEMBERS OR SUBMITTERS, SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER TO ANY IMPLEMENTER OR THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENT.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Radio Broadcasting in Montana
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1963 History of radio broadcasting in Montana Ron P. Richards The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Richards, Ron P., "History of radio broadcasting in Montana" (1963). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 5869. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/5869 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE HISTORY OF RADIO BROADCASTING IN MONTANA ty RON P. RICHARDS B. A. in Journalism Montana State University, 1959 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY 1963 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners Dean, Graduate School Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number; EP36670 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Oiuartation PVUithing UMI EP36670 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013).
    [Show full text]
  • TX1 FM Broadcast Transmitter
    TX1 FM Broadcast Transmitter Technical manual No part of this manual may be re-produced in any form without prior written permission from Broadcast Warehouse. The information and specifications contained in this document is subject to change at any time without notice. Copyright 2008 Broadcast Warehouse www.bwbroadcast.com WARNING This transmitter should never be operated without a suitable antenna or test dum- my load! Failure to observe this requirement may result in damage to the transmit- ter that is not covered by the warranty. IMPORTANT This transmitter has been shipped with the internal stereo generator enabled. The internal jumper J1 (MPX loop-through) is set to ON. If you intend to connect a MPX signal to the MPX input BNC connector you will need to move J1 (MPX loop-through) to the OFF position. Examples of configurations requiring setting J1 to OFF include: ● Routing the internal MPX signal through an external RDS encoder. ● Connecting an external audio processor or stereo generator to the transmitter. ● Connecting a re-broadcast or STL receiver to the transmitter. Consult the manual for further information on the transmitter’s jumpers and con- nections. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1 TX FM Transmitter 1.2 Safety 1. Quick setups 1.4 Front And Rear Panels 1.5 Control And Monitor LCD 2. Installation And Setup 2.1 Frequency Setup 2.2 R.F. Power Setup 2. Alarms 2.4 RS22 Control & Monitoring 2.41 Windows remote control application 2.42 Terminal control of the transmitter 2.5 Modes Of Operation 2.51 A guide to the jumpers 2.52 Multiplex / Broadband Input 2.5 Stereo With Limiters 2.54 Stereo With Limiters Disabled 2.55 Mono From Two Channels 2.56 Mono From One Channel 2.6 Other Setup Considerations 3.
    [Show full text]
  • The Market Leader in Over-The-Air Broadcasting Solutions
    Connecting What’s Next The Market Leader in Over-the-Air Broadcasting Solutions GatesAir efficiently leverages broadcast spectrum to maximize performance for multichannel TV and radio services, offering the industry’s broadest portfolio to help broadcasters wirelessly deliver and monetize content. With nearly 100 years in broadcasting, GatesAir’s exclusive focus on the over-the-air market helps broadcasters optimize services today and prepare for future revenue-generating business opportunities. All research, development and innovation is driven from the company’s facilities in Mason, Ohio and supported by the long-standing manufacturing center in Quincy, Illinois. GatesAir’s turnkey solutions are built on three pillars: Content Transport, TV Transmission, and Radio Transmission. GatesAir’s globally renowned Intraplex range comprises the Transport pillar, enabling audio contribution and distribution (along with data) over IP and TDM networks. Intraplex solutions provide value for broadcasters for point-to-point (STL, remote broadcast) and multipoint (single-frequency networks, syndicated distribution) connectivity. GatesAir continues to innovate robust and reliable solutions for traditional RF STL connections that can also accommodate IP traffic. In larger transmitter networks, Simulcasting technology ensures all GatesAir transmitters are time-locked for synchronous, over-the-air content delivery. Powering over-the-air analog and digital radio/TV stations and networks worldwide with the industry’s most operationally efficient transmitters is a longtime measure of success for GatesAir. Groundbreaking innovations in low, medium and high- power transmitters reduce footprint, energy use and more to establish the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership. Support for all digital standards and convergence with mobile networks ensure futureproof systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Solving the Multilateration Problem Without Iteration
    Article Solving the Multilateration Problem without Iteration Thomas H. Meyer 1 and Ahmed F. Elaksher 2,* 1 Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4087, USA; [email protected] 2 Geomatics Program, College of Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The process of positioning, using only distances from control stations, is called trilateration (or multilateration if the problem is over-determined). The observation equation is Pythagoras’s formula, in terms of the summed squares of coordinate differences and, thus, is nonlinear. There is one observation equation for each control station, at a minimum, which produces a system of simultaneous equations to solve. Over-determined nonlinear systems of simultaneous equations are typically solved using iterative least squares after forming the system as a truncated Taylor’s series, omitting the nonlinear terms. This paper provides a linearization of the observation equation that is not a truncated infinite series—it is exact—and, thus, is solved exactly, with full rigor, without iteration and, thus, without the need of first providing approximate coordinates to seed the iteration. However, there is a cost of requiring an additional observation beyond that required by the non-linear approach. The examples and terminology come from terrestrial land surveying, but the method is fully general: it works for, say, radio beacon positioning, as well. The approach can use slope distances directly, which avoids the possible errors introduced by atmospheric refraction into the zenith-angle observations needed to provide horizontal distances.
    [Show full text]
  • En 303 345 V1.1.0 (2015-07)
    Draft ETSI EN 303 345 V1.1.0 (2015-07) HARMONISED EUROPEAN STANDARD Radio Broadcast Receivers; Harmonised Standard covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the Directive 2014/53/EU 2 Draft ETSI EN 303 345 V1.1.0 (2015-07) Reference DEN/ERM-TG17-15 Keywords broadcast, digital, radio, receiver ETSI 650 Route des Lucioles F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex - FRANCE Tel.: +33 4 92 94 42 00 Fax: +33 4 93 65 47 16 Siret N° 348 623 562 00017 - NAF 742 C Association à but non lucratif enregistrée à la Sous-Préfecture de Grasse (06) N° 7803/88 Important notice The present document can be downloaded from: http://www.etsi.org/standards-search The present document may be made available in electronic versions and/or in print. The content of any electronic and/or print versions of the present document shall not be modified without the prior written authorization of ETSI. In case of any existing or perceived difference in contents between such versions and/or in print, the only prevailing document is the print of the Portable Document Format (PDF) version kept on a specific network drive within ETSI Secretariat. Users of the present document should be aware that the document may be subject to revision or change of status. Information on the current status of this and other ETSI documents is available at http://portal.etsi.org/tb/status/status.asp If you find errors in the present document, please send your comment to one of the following services: https://portal.etsi.org/People/CommiteeSupportStaff.aspx Copyright Notification No part may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm except as authorized by written permission of ETSI.
    [Show full text]
  • Collicot Elementary School 80 Edge Hill Road, Milton, MA 02186
    Milton Public Schools Elementary Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook 2011-2012 Collicot Elementary School 80 Edge Hill Road, Milton, MA 02186 Respect, Achievement, Citizenship Collicot Elementary School Message from the Principal: At the Collicot School there is a commitment to academic excellence and high standards for administrators, teachers, and students. The dedicated and creative Collicot teachers and staff are committed to maximizing the individual potential of each child. Through a wide variety of challenging activities and experiences, we strive to provide a strong academic foundation and a love of learning in a secure, safe, and stimulating environment that values individual differences. The Collicot School promotes Milton Public Schools’ core values: High Academic Achievement for All Excellence in the Classroom Collaborative Relationships and Communication Respect for Human Differences Risk Taking and Innovation for Education Family interest and involvement are at the foundation of the Collicot School’s success. We look forward to nurturing this relationship and to continuing this educational partnership. Table of Contents District Directory Page 3-6 Collicot Elementary School Procedures Pages Collicot School Hours, Early Arrival/ Extended Day Program, Arrival and Dismissal Procedures, Early 6-8 Dismissal, Late Student Pick-up Policy, Lunch Milton Public Schools Administrative Information Pages School Cancellations, Home/School Communication, Attendance, Residency, Birthdays, Homework 9-13 and Reading Policy, Family Educational
    [Show full text]