BALDOCK - Monitoring Facilities

Mobile monitoring facilities

Unattended Monitoring Systems

The Unattended Monitoring Systems (UMS) cover the frequency range 20 MHz to 3 GHz. Each system is capable of measuring field strength, occupancy, Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System (CTCSS), Digitally Coded Squelch (DCS), MPT 1327 and a number of paging and packet data formats. Audio can be digitally recorded and listened to via the normal telephone network. A large number of channels can be monitored, with a scan rate in excess of 2,000 channels per second.

All parameters including antenna selection can be controlled by the UMS. The frequencies monitored and configuration changes can be accessed by dial up modem. Results are also available by remote transfer. This approach provides a cost-effective monitoring solution for routine tasks and is easily adapted for more specialised jobs.

A library of antenna factors and feeder characteristics are available within the unit which result in field strength statistics being directly stored on disk.

The CTCSS and DCS decoders permit the Section to apportion occupancy to a variety of licensees on a shared channel and derive "user profile" for each type of business user. This information is invaluable for future planning and frequency management.

Mobile monitoring vehicle

A purpose built monitoring vehicle is available for spectrum surveillance between 9 kHz and 18 GHz. The vehicle has been optimised for radio spectrum monitoring and is completely self-contained. A ten metre centrally mounted pneumatic mast can carry a 60 kg head load and the vehicle can be equipped for most monitoring and measuring requirements.

Power is provided by an onboard 4.5 kVA diesel generator, which can run continuously for five days. This provides a nominal 240 VAC power supply that is conditioned by a high quality uninterruptable power supply, providing a continuous sinusoidal 50 Hz supply for the electronic equipment. 12 and 24 VDC supplies are also available to ensure an extremely quiet RF environment. Automatic spectrum monitoring equipment is employed to record parameters such as RF level and occupancy data for channels between 20 MHz and 3 GHz.

Sophisticated processing software can report on busy hours, user profiles and signal strength. The capability to resolve spectrum management details from trunked systems and certain data and paging systems is also available.

Measurements can be made in the range 9 kHz to 18 GHz using a wide range of high quality measuring receivers meeting CISPR requirements.

RF Direction-finding capabilities are available and a VHF/UHF Adcock antenna array is provided for this. Other supporting equipment such as audio recording, demodulation and spectrum analysis equipment etc are all available.