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Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000 |
To promote a programme of contracted research to underpin developments in the utilisation of the radio spectrum.
Propagation Research
The Agency spent £2.8m on research during 1999/2000. This expenditure supported propagation studies mainly at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, but also at other locations including universities. Other research areas included emerging technology, the use of mathematical modelling in frequency assignment and the development of spectrum sharing models.
A Research Review was published during the latter part of 1999/2000, the culmination of over two years' work. This review is on the Agency's website at: www.radio.gov.uk/busunit/research/resintro.htm One of the recommendations to come from the report was for a new committee - the Radio Research Advisory Committee - to be established to oversee the direction of the Agency's research programme in the future. The committee will have an external chairman.
Mathematical Research in Spectrum Management
The Agency's mathematical programme is concerned with constructing mathematical models that can be used in spectrum management. The goal of the mathematical programme is to find an objective measure of spectrum efficiency which will enable the calculation of better assignments. In addition to the theoretical work, considerable effort is being focussed on computational techniques.
Radio Technology and Compatibility Group (RTCG)
RTCG, which is located at Whyteleafe, Surrey, continues to provide the Agency with a specialised technical resource to help provide engineering solutions to a wide range of compatibility and interference issues. These focus particularly on new and emerging radio systems and services and their interaction with existing services. Using advanced computer techniques in addition to traditional test equipment, this facility complements the external research work supported by the Agency.
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The RTCG is frequently asked to assess the interference potential of new and innovative technologies. In this picture, the potential for a mobile meteor burst communications system to disturb UK analogue and digital television reception is being assessed |
The Solar Eclipse
The Agency supported the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's design and organisation of an experiment which was conducted by members of the public and school children across the UK. This experiment set out to determine the effect of the eclipse on radio reception where the signals passed through the path of the eclipse.
Since the experiment was not dependent on optical measurements it was a success despite cloud cover obscuring the eclipse. The event generated a great deal of media interest, with the Agency being mentioned in many print and broadcast reports. It is hoped that the publicity gained will encourage interest in careers in radio engineering.
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