November 2001 | Special Publication SP 01-47
Assessment of Compatibility Between Ultrawideband Systems and Global Positioning System Receivers
Cite This Publication
David S. Anderson, Edward F. Drocella Jr., Steven K. Jones, and Mark A. Settle, “Assessment of Compatibility Between Ultrawideband Systems and Global Positioning System Receivers,” Special Publication SP 01-47, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, November 2001.
David S. Anderson, Edward F. Drocella Jr., Steven K. Jones, and Mark A. Settle
Abstract: The study described in this report was undertaken by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) concerning the operation of a new class of spectrum-dependent devices, designated as ultrawideband (UWB) devices under the FCC’s rules and regulations in Part 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).1 This NPRM raises a number of questions and concerns regarding the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the proposed UWB transmitting devices with those spectrum-dependent systems currently in operation.
The NTIA, as the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for developing and articulating domestic and international telecommunications policy affecting Federal Government spectrum users, is particularly interested in the potential for interference to telecommunications infrastructure utilizing Federal Government spectrum for critical and/or safety-of-life functions, many of which operate in spectrum designated as the restricted frequency bands for that reason. Before UWB devices can operate in restricted frequency bands used by critical Federal Government radiocommunication systems, NTIA must examine the potential interference introduced from their proposed operations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is an example of a critical radionavigation system that operates in several of the restricted frequency bands.
In February of 2001, NTIA released Special Publication 01-45, Assessment of Compatibility Between Ultrawideband (UWB) Systems and Global Positioning System (GPS) Receivers. This document reported on measurements and analysis results obtained for the C/A code tracking and semi-codeless GPS receiver architectures, and indicated ongoing efforts to measure and analyze the interference susceptibility for a C/A code tracking receiver employing multiple narrowly spaced correlators and a Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-129a compliant aviation receiver. This report serves as an addendum to NTIA Report 01-45, and details the results obtained for the remaining two receivers, and also provides a comparison to other data sets that are on the public record.
Keywords: spectrum engineering; global positioning system (GPS); spectrum management
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Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.
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