Radar Altimeter Interference Contextualization

Details

• Creators:
  Redman, D. ; Fox, M. ; Hogestad, M. ; Ritchie, J. ; Steinle, R. ; Tasso, A.
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas A&M University. Engineering Experiment Station
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Policy & Standards Division
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Radio frequency interference
  • Electromagnetic compatibility
  • Altimeters
  • Radio frequency
  • C-band
  • 5G
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/TC-26/25
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1qxf-9g48
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center
• Abstract:
  This document presents a comprehensive assess sment of the compatibility between 5G systems operating in the 3700-4200 MHz band and radio altimeters (RAs) operating in the adjacent 4200-4400 MHz band. The report includes background information and describes relevant 5G emitter and RA parameters necessary to determine compatibility in the context of a limiting close encounter scenario. This report evaluates interference mechanisms arising from both fundamental and unwanted emissions of 5G base stations and user equipment. The worst-case close encounter scenario is proposed to reflect aviation safety requirements, including minimal spatial separation, maximum transmitter power, and adverse operational conditions. Analysis of this scenario demonstrates that existing and proposed regulations limiting in-band (fundamental) 5G emissions to 65 dBm/MHz Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) are compatible with proposed Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) tolerance requirements for future Radar Altimeter (RA) systems expressed as an interference tolerance mask (ITM). However, unwanted emissions from 5G base stations potentially pose a risk to RA performance. Results indicate that existing and proposed regulations limiting 5G conducted unwanted emissions to -13 dBm/MHz can lead to radiated emissions that exceed the exposure limit defined by the ITM. However, maximum radiated unwanted emissions limited to -30 dBm/MHz EIRP are found to be compatible with the proposed ITM.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  692M15-26-T-00002
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93176/dot_93176_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.53 MB]
• Collection(s):
  FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7fdd0e8651cba4515389a56cd4d71b309f0a7d4f137a6a5e30e45f611c2cd92e3961348b6d4de2785cd4c8cab46540b16dfecf9d70639e2d90e676468af91011